Red Rocks, Malbec, and Serious Latin Heat
Sedona · Latin · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're on a hillside in Sedona watching the red rocks turn gold at sunset, and the wine list arrives with a clear point of view — South America and California, built to match the bold, fire-driven food. It's not trying to be everything; it's trying to be the right thing. That focus earns some respect right out of the gate.
The list runs 120-180 bottles and leans hard into Argentina and Chile, which is the correct call for a Latin kitchen. Catena Zapata and Achaval Ferrer anchor the Mendoza side, while Clos Apalta and Concha y Toro's Don Melchor give the Chilean section real credibility — these aren't tourist-trap labels. California gets its due with Jordan, Silver Oak, Caymus, and Duckhorn rounding out the bottle list for guests who won't venture south of the border. The gaps are in Old World coverage and anything remotely adventurous — this list is crowd-pleasing by design, and it mostly works.
With 18-28 pours available, the by-the-glass program is genuinely generous for a restaurant of this size and setting. Prices run $12-$18, which is fair for Sedona where altitude and scenery add a silent surcharge to everything. We'd push for more rotation and a couple of surprises in the pour lineup, but having this many options in a hillside Latin grill is better than most of what you'll find nearby.
Achaval Ferrer Malbec — $12–$18 by glass
Achaval Ferrer punches well above its price point — a serious Mendoza producer making structured, food-friendly Malbec that can go head-to-head with bottles costing twice as much. Order this by the glass next to the chimichurri skirt steak and you'll understand why this list earned a Wine Spectator badge.
Clos Apalta
Most tables at Mariposa will drift toward the California Cabs, and they'll miss this entirely. Clos Apalta from the Colchagua Valley is one of Chile's most acclaimed wines — a Carmenère-forward blend with depth and structure that the Malbecs can't match. It's the most interesting bottle on the list and it's sitting there largely ignored.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is a reliable crowd-pleaser but it's everywhere, the markup on it is rarely kind, and it doesn't belong on a Latin-inspired list in any meaningful way. You're paying for the brand name, not the experience. Spend that money on the Don Melchor instead.
Catena Zapata Malbec + Grilled Lamb Chops with Latin Spices
Catena Zapata's Malbec has the dark fruit, structure, and earthy depth to stand up to spiced lamb without smothering the herbs and char. It's a textbook match — and it's the kind of pairing that makes the Wine Spectator credential feel earned.
The Bottom Line
Mariposa isn't a wine destination on its own, but a focused South American and California list, a solid by-the-glass program, and a genuinely beautiful setting make it one of the better wine experiences you'll find in Sedona. Come for the views, stay for the Clos Apalta.
· Sedona · New American
The Vault Uptown is a reliable place to drink decent wine with a genuinely great view — and in Sedona, that counts for something. The wine program won't blow any minds, but it won't ruin dinner either. If you're there for the red rocks and the filet, order a glass of something Californian and enjoy the moment. For serious wine exploration, look elsewhere.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sedona · Regional Mexican
Elote Cafe isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its list is better than it has any right to be for a 18-label program at a Mexican restaurant in a tourist town. The Arizona representation from Page Springs Cellars is the real story here, and the pricing is fair across the board. If you're in Sedona and care about what's in your glass, this is a better bet than most of the steakhouses charging twice as much for the same bottles.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sedona · Mexican
89Agave is almost certainly a fun spot to eat — it's a cantina in Sedona, and the margaritas are probably doing the heavy lifting here anyway. The wine list, though, is purely functional and priced without much generosity, particularly at the higher end. If wine matters to your evening, order something simple by the glass and move on; this program isn't the reason to visit.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sedona · Cafe / American
The Secret Garden Cafe's wine list is a perfectly adequate afterthought — familiar labels that get the job done when the real draw is the patio setting and Sedona scenery. We wouldn't send anyone here specifically for the wine, but if you're already there for the view, the Balleyana is your best bet on the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sedona · Southwestern
SaltRock is doing something genuinely worthwhile for a resort wine program: it's leaning into Arizona's emerging wine identity instead of hiding behind an all-California safety net. The markup is fair across most of the list, the glass selection is almost absurdly broad, and the local producers are the real reason to pay attention here. If you're in Sedona and curious about Verde Valley wines, this is a legitimate place to explore them.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sedona · Wine Bar / New American
Vino Di Sedona earns the Wild Card badge by doing what few tourist-destination wine bars bother to do: stocking skin-contact pours, Arizona locals, and genuinely interesting worldly whites at prices that don't punish you for being in a scenery hotspot. If you're in Sedona and want a real glass of wine — not just something red in a big glass — this is the move.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Lee · Fort Lee · Latin
Ventanas is a reliable wine destination for California lovers who want familiar names, a gorgeous view, and a polished evening — just don't come looking for discovery or bargains. Send a friend here if they love Napa and want to feel like they're on top of the world.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Key West · Key West · Latin
Hot Tin Roof is a Wild Card in the best possible sense: a California-focused wine list at a waterside Latin kitchen in Key West shouldn't work as well as it does, but the quality of the producers and the fairness of the pricing make it a legitimate wine stop, not just a resort afterthought. Send a friend here — just tell them to skip the Caymus.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Snowmass Village · Snowmass Village · Latin
TORO is a solid resort wine program that plays it safe but plays it well — California and France done right, with enough glass pours to keep the après-ski crowd happy without breaking everyone's bank. Send a friend here if they want something reliable and crowd-pleasing with their lobster tacos; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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