Desert steakhouse wine list, no surprises
Downtown / Hoodoo Moab · Moab · Southwest-inspired steakhouse and bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 28, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Josie Wyatt's Pool Bar & Patio’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're in the middle of the Utah desert, inside a hotel restaurant with a barn-style vaulted ceiling and rustic charm, and the wine list reads exactly like you'd expect — safe, familiar, and built for guests who want Caymus with their ribeye. Nothing about it surprises you, but nothing actively offends either. It's doing the job.
Twenty-nine labels anchored firmly in crowd-tested California territory: Napa Cabs, Rombauer Chard, Justin from Paso, and a token nod to France via Whispering Angel Rosé and Pascal Jolivet Sancerre. Italy gets a small seat at the table with the Marchesi Di Barolo Ruvei and a Catena Malbec covering South America. Oregon shows up via Willamette Valley, which is a welcome sign of life. But there are no natural wines, no deep regional discoveries, and no indication anyone on staff is hunting for interesting bottles — this list was built to sell, not to excite.
Eighteen by-the-glass options on a 29-bottle list is actually a generous ratio, and $12–$22 a glass covers a reasonable spread. The problem is the pour prices trend toward the ceiling quickly — Whispering Angel at $22 a glass is a tough sell when retail has conditioned everyone to know that bottle. Rotation doesn't appear to be a feature here; what you see is what you get, night after night.
Pascal Jolivet Sancerre, France — $N/A — bottle price not listed
It's the one wine on this list that signals someone cared even slightly about old-world finesse. Jolivet is a legitimate Loire producer, and against a menu loaded with seafood and Southwest-spiced dishes, a crisp Sancerre earns its keep. If the glass price lands under $18, grab it.
Marchesi Di Barolo Ruvei, Piedmont
A Piedmont red on a Moab hotel list is genuinely unexpected. Most tables here will order the Caymus and call it a night, which means this bottle sits quietly and underordered. If you're at a steakhouse and want something with actual structure and a story, this is your move.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
At $210 a bottle, you're paying a significant premium on a wine that retails around $80–$90. It's the most-ordered red in America and the restaurant knows it — that's why the markup holds. Nothing wrong with the wine itself, but there's no value here whatsoever.
Catena Malbec, Mendoza + Premium steak
Catena Malbec is built for red meat — dark fruit, firm tannins, enough body to stand up to a well-seared cut without overwhelming it. It's the most honest wine-to-steak match on this list, and likely the best value in the red column.
The Bottom Line
Josie Wyatt's does exactly what a hotel restaurant wine list is supposed to do — keep the guests comfortable and the margins healthy. If you're after discovery, look elsewhere; if you're after a decent glass with a good steak after a day in Arches, it'll do the trick.
· Moab · American breakfast and dinner
For a cafe in the middle of the Utah desert, Jailhouse punches above its weight class on the wine front — fair markups, a nearly all-by-the-glass menu, and a couple of genuine highlights in the Gruet and the Jadot. If you're rolling in off a trail and want something better than a gas station beer, this list will take care of you.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Moab · Brewpub
Moab Brewery is a solid brewpub doing exactly what it should — pouring craft beer to dusty hikers and mountain bikers. The wine list is an afterthought, and that's fine, as long as you treat it like one. Order the beer. If someone at your table insists on wine, the Trapiche Malbec is probably your least-bad option, but don't come here for the wine.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Moab · Italian
Pasta Jay's wine list is a list in the most technical sense — it has wines on it, they cost money, you can order them. But with no whites, no rosé, steep markups on grocery-tier labels, and a selection that ignores most of Italy's wine country, it's hard to recommend anyone spend real money here on wine. Order the pasta, drink water, and save the bottle for somewhere that actually cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Highway 128 / Red Cliffs Lodge · Moab · Winery Patio
Castle Creek isn't competing with your favorite wine bar — it's competing with the view, and honestly both win. If you're driving Highway 128 and you don't stop here, you made a mistake.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Highway 128 / Sorrel River Ranch · Moab · Hotel Bar / New American
Sorrel River Ranch's bar and lounge isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly serviceable place to drink while the canyon walls turn red at sunset. Come for the view, order the Jordan, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Main / Hillside Overlook · Moab · Outdoor Bar / Steakhouse
Sunset Grill's wine list is a passenger, not a driver — you're really here for the view and the prime rib, and the wine program knows it. Come for the canyon sunset, order the Justin, and don't let the Silver Oak price tag ruin your evening.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
