Hop Alley

A 60-80 bottle list at a modern Chinese spot already signals ambition, but Hop Alley's deep bench of German Riesling and Loire Valley whites makes it clear: someone here actually thinks about wine with Sichuan peppercorns. The list skews European and acid-driven, exactly what you want when bone marrow fried rice hits the table.

This is a Mosel lover's playground tucked into an industrial-chic RiNo space. You've got serious German producers like Peter Lauer and Ulli Stein alongside Loire stalwarts and clean Italian expressions from Foradori. The focus is tight: high-acid, mineral-driven whites and light, juicy reds that can stand up to chili oil without getting steamrolled. France dominates the bottle count with strong showings from Beaujolais, Loire, and Rhône, while Italy and Spain fill out the edges. No California crowd-pleasers here—this list commits to a point of view and sticks with it.

Ten-plus glass pours in the $10-13 range is solid accessibility for a list this considered. You'll find legitimate producers like Hauts-Baigneux Chenin Blanc and Ulli Stein Riesling available by the glass, not just the house plonk. The by-the-glass program rotates seasonally but doesn't chase weekly specials, which keeps things consistent but not exactly thrilling.