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🎲The Wild Card

LaVenture

Desert Art Town's Surprisingly Legit Wine Program

Hotel Saint George Β· Marfa Β· New American Β· Visit Website β†—

by-the-glass-herocasual-vibesdate-nighthidden-gem

Reviewed April 15, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietySolid Range
MarkupFair
GlasswareBasic Stemmed
StaffWilling but Green
Specials & DealsSet & Forget
Storage & TempAcceptable

First Impression

You're in the middle of the Chihuahuan Desert, surrounded by reclaimed brick walls and art that costs more than your car, and somehow the wine list has 18 by-the-glass options. That's not what we expected pulling into Marfa, and we mean that as a compliment. The list reads like someone actually thought about it rather than just calling their Sysco rep.

Selection Deep Dive

The list leans on a tight rotation of value-forward producers — Hobo Wine Company, Felino, and Bellusi anchor things with reliable, crowd-pleasing quality. Argentina gets real representation with Felino's Chardonnay, Cab, and Malbec all showing up, which makes sense given how well those price-to-quality ratios play out on a hotel restaurant list. There's a nod to France with the 2022 Les Athlètes du Vin Gamay, which is a genuine outlier in a lineup otherwise built for accessibility. Gaps exist — no domestic Pinot Noir, no real Spanish presence, and the depth stops pretty quickly once you scratch the surface.

By the Glass

Eighteen options by the glass is genuinely impressive for a hotel restaurant in a town of 2,000 people. Prices run $12–$16, which keeps things honest and lets you explore without committing to a bottle. We'd love to see more rotation, but for a set list, the range covers bubbly, white, rosΓ©, and red without making anyone feel stuck.

πŸ’°Best Value

2023 Felino Malbec (Argentina) β€” $16

Felino is a Paul Hobbs project from Mendoza, and getting it by the glass for $16 in a hotel restaurant is the kind of deal that makes you order a second pour without guilt. Solid structure, drinks well with the wood-fired pizza or a steak.

πŸ’ŽHidden Gem

2022 Les Athlètes du Vin Gamay

Nobody comes to a Marfa hotel bar looking for Gamay, and that's exactly why you should order it. It's the most interesting thing on the list β€” lighter, fresher, and totally out of step with the Malbec-and-Cab crowd around it. A welcome left turn.

β›”Skip This

Shebang NV 17th CuvΓ©e

Shebang is a budget-tier blended red that retails for around $10 a bottle. Seeing it on a hotel restaurant list at glass prices feels like a filler pick β€” there are better options on this same list for the same money.

🍽️Perfect Pairing

2023 Deux Moulins Sauvignon Blanc + Wood oven-fired pizza

A bright, herby Sauvignon Blanc against the char and acidity of a wood-fired pizza is a better call than you'd think β€” the wine's citrus edge cuts through the richness without fighting the toppings.

🎲 The Bottom Line

LaVenture is punching well above its weight for a hotel restaurant in the middle of nowhere, and the by-the-glass program alone makes it worth sitting down for a pour. Not destination-worthy on the wine alone, but if you're already in Marfa, this is exactly where you want to drink.

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