Aspen Prices, Grocery Store Ambition
· Aspen · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Mezzaluna’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Mezzaluna reads like someone raided the endcap at Total Wine and called it a program. Thirty-one labels for an Aspen Italian restaurant is thin, and when the names start rolling in — Josh Cellars, Meomi, Fetzer — it's hard not to wince a little. This is a list that exists to fill a menu slot, not to make anyone's night.
The whites lean heavily on Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, with three Chardonnay options that are functionally interchangeable at the $11–$12/glass tier. The Italian representation is actually the most interesting corner of the list — a Ruffino Chianti tier system ranging from the base label up to the Gold Label at $120/bottle gives you some range — but the reds outside of that are a parade of mass-market Cabs and Pinot Noirs you've seen at every chain restaurant from here to Denver. There's no regional exploration, no grower producers, no natural wine, no bubbles worth discussing. For a city that attracts serious diners with serious budgets, this list is remarkably incurious.
Twenty-five by-the-glass options sounds impressive until you realize most of the 31-bottle list pours by the glass, and the range tops out at $18 for the Ruffino Chianti Riserva Ducale Tan Label. The glass program covers the basics — white, red, something in between — but there's no rotating feature pour, no seasonal addition, nothing that suggests anyone is actively tending this list.
The Bottom Line
Mezzaluna's wine list is a missed opportunity in a town that could easily support something far more interesting. The markups are real — Santa Margherita at $64 and Joel Gott Cab at $60 are doing the heavy lifting on margin — and the selection never ventures beyond brands your parents recognize. If you're eating here, drink the Frescobaldi or the Ruffino Riserva and call it a night; don't expect the list to surprise you.
· Aspen · Hotel dining
MOLLIE runs one of the most thoughtful compact lists in Aspen, and the all-by-the-glass format means you can drink your way through France without committing to a bottle. The pricing is fair for the altitude and the address, and the curation punches above a typical hotel program. If you're passing through and want a smart glass of wine without a thesis-length wine list, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aspen · Historic hotel dining
Hotel Jerome's Living Room list is a pleasant surprise in a market where hotel wine programs often coast on tourist ignorance and Famous Names. The selection is short but curated, with enough Old World intrigue — the Vajra Barbera, the Quintodecimo, the Bandol rosé — to reward the curious. Markups are real and Aspen-appropriate, so set your expectations accordingly. If you're staying at the hotel or catching a drink after a ski day, you'll drink well here without feeling insulted.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aspen · Seasonal New American
AspenX Beach Club is exactly what it advertises: a spectacle first, a wine program second. There's a sommelier on staff and the Champagne-and-rosé focus is at least intentional and coherent, but pricing at this address in this atmosphere is going to sting. Go for the experience, order something cold and bubbly, and don't stress about the list — that's clearly not the point.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aspen · Japanese-Peruvian
Nobu Aspen's wine list won't win awards for depth or value, but it earns respect for its unexpected Australian backbone and a by-the-glass program that actually has range and structure. If you're dropping serious money at this address anyway, lean into the Swinney Grenache or the Domaine Laroche Chablis — someone cared enough to put them there.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aspen · Mountain American
Pine Creek Cookhouse is not a wine destination — it's an experience destination where the wine list exists to complement a genuinely special setting, and to its credit, it doesn't try to be more than that. The pricing is fair, the range covers the basics without embarrassing anyone, and the Gascon white alone is worth knowing about. Come for the mountain, stay for the sleigh ride, and don't overthink the wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aspen · French Bistro
Petit Trois Aspen earns its Wild Card badge by keeping the list lean, French-forward, and genuinely considered — rare for a resort-market restaurant where the wine list is usually an afterthought. The markups are real, and the glass prices climb steeply toward the top, but the Ajax Cellars Riesling and the Estezargue give you a reason to explore. If you're in town and want something with more personality than the usual Aspen lineup, this list delivers — just go in with your eyes open on price.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Logan Square · Chicago · Italian
For a bottle night, start with Thursday's advertised half-price selection. Wednesday's posted four-course menu is $55 with an optional $30 wine pairing, before other charges. The restaurant discloses a 3.75% administrative fee on guest checks; confirm current terms when booking.
Back Bay · Boston · Italian
Keep a white-glass budget below $20 with the posted Bollini or CasalFarneto options. Want reserve Nebbiolo? Compare the $36 Barbaresco with the $46 Barolo after checking pour sizes. Menu-based guidance checked in September 2026; prices and availability can change.
Buckhead · Atlanta · Italian
Cucina Baci earns its place as a reliable neighborhood Italian — the kind of spot where the wine list won't blow your mind but it won't embarrass you either. If you're going for the pizza, the pasta, and the warm room energy, order something Italian and red and let the evening do the work. We'd want a full look at the list before calling it anything more than that.
Plays It Safe
Fair
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.
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