Serious Pours in High Desert Steak Country
Downtown · Taos · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Martyrs Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The list opens with a confidence you don't expect from a steakhouse sitting at 7,000 feet in northern New Mexico. Seventy-five labels, Cristal, Dom P, a Bâtard-Montrachet — this isn't a tourist trap wine program. It's trying, and mostly succeeding, to be taken seriously.
California anchors the list hard, with Caymus, Silver Oak, Far Niente, and Château Montelena doing the heavy lifting in the crowd-pleaser lane. The real surprise is the Italian flank: Vietti Barolo Castiglione and the Gaja-affiliated Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille Brunello are legitimately serious bottles that have no business being this far off the beaten path. Brick House Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir from Oregon adds a left-field pick that shows someone here is paying attention. A nod to New Mexico producers rounds things out and earns local credibility, though the regional selections are outgunned by the prestige imports.
Twenty-three by-the-glass options is a generous pour for a steakhouse of this size, and the $7–$15 price window keeps it accessible. We don't have full visibility into the rotating BTG lineup, but that range suggests house pours at the bottom and something with a pulse at the top — just ask your server what's open.
Vietti Barolo Castiglione — null
Barolo from Vietti on a steakhouse list in Taos is genuinely surprising. It's a world-class producer making serious Nebbiolo, and if it's priced anywhere near the lower end of this list's bottle range, it's the smartest order in the house — especially alongside the ribeye.
Brick House Ribbon Ridge Cuvee du Tonnelier Pinot Noir
Everyone at this table is ordering Caymus. Don't be everyone. Brick House is a biodynamic Oregon producer flying under the radar on most steakhouse lists, and their Ribbon Ridge Cuvee du Tonnelier is the kind of Pinot that actually makes you stop mid-bite. It's the contrarian call, and it's the right one.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
At $150 a bottle, Caymus is doing what Caymus always does — charging premium prices on the back of brand recognition. Retail runs around $80–$90, putting the markup in eye-watering territory. It's a fine wine, but you can drink better for less on this same list.
Gaja Brunello di Montalcino Pieve Santa Restituta Sugarille 2007 + Prime Ribeye
A 2007 Brunello from Pieve Santa Restituta — the Gaja estate in Montalcino — is a mature, structured Sangiovese with the kind of iron grip and dark fruit that was built to cut through a fat-marbled prime ribeye. This is the splurge pairing that earns its price tag.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Martyrs is punching above its weight class for a steakhouse in Taos — the Italian selections alone make it worth a look. The markups are real and the pricing on the classics is aggressive, but if you order smart, this list rewards you.
Northside / Paseo del Pueblo Norte · Taos · Burger / American
Come for the burgers — seriously, people love them — but manage your wine expectations hard. This list is a placeholder, not a program, and you're paying convenience store wine prices at restaurant markups.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Taos Plaza Alley · Taos · Mexican bar & grill
We would never send anyone to The Alley Cantina specifically for the wine, but we'd absolutely send them for the vibe — and if you hit that 5–7pm happy hour, a $5 glass of Porto while a band tunes up is one of Taos's more charming small pleasures. The Wild Card badge isn't for the list quality; it's for the unexpected delight of finding Warre's Warrior in a cantina that also has a pool table.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Northside / Historic Chapel · Taos · Northern New Mexican, organic, locally sourced
The Love Apple is a Wild Card in the best possible way — a tiny organic wine list in a centuries-old adobe chapel that somehow makes more sense than most dedicated wine bars. If you're a Pinot person with a soft spot for biodynamic producers, this is your kind of detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bent Street / Historic District · Taos · Fine Dining / New American
Lambert's is a reliable dinner destination in Taos, and the wine list won't ruin your night — but it won't make it either. Send a friend here for the elk tenderloin; tell them to order the Duckhorn and not overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ledoux Street Arts District · Taos · Wine Bar / Mediterranean
Barra Vino is the kind of place that earns its reputation quietly — a small, smart list in an unexpected location, priced fairly, with enough personality to make the wine the point of the evening. If you're in Taos and care about what's in your glass, Ledoux Street is where you should be.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Taos · Wine Bar / European
Corner Office is a Wild Card in the best possible sense — a tiny, focused natural wine list in downtown Taos that punches well above its size. If you're passing through northern New Mexico and care about what's in your glass, this is a mandatory stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Aspen · Steakhouse
Catch Steak Aspen earns its stripes with a genuinely impressive, well-curated list backed by a sommelier who clearly did the work — just know you're paying Aspen prices for the privilege. If someone else is buying, order freely; if you're watching the tab, stick to the French glass pours and call it a win.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Waterfront · Hood River · Steakhouse
Riverside Grill is a perfectly decent place to drink wine if you're also there for the ribeye and the river view — just don't come expecting the list to match the scenery. Order the Pinot Gris, watch the kiteboarders, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere else in Hood River.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / South Main Street · Canandaigua · Steakhouse
Nick's is a perfectly respectable chophouse wine list for Canandaigua — locals get two solid Finger Lakes Rieslings, steak lovers get their Napa Cabs, and there's enough Italian depth to keep things from being totally predictable. The markups on the trophy bottles are aggressive, but play it smart and you'll drink well.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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