Napa Greatest Hits, Hotel Prices, Great Views
Gaylord Rockies / DIA Corridor · Aurora · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Old Hickory Steakhouse at Gaylord Rockies’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Old Hickory reads exactly like you'd expect from a resort steakhouse attached to a convention center — heavy on California Cabernet, comfortable with Napa name recognition, and priced for a corporate expense account. There's nothing surprising here, but the execution is polished enough that you won't feel cheated if someone else is paying.
This is a California-forward list built around the steakhouse canon: Caymus, Silver Oak, Jordan, Duckhorn, and Opus One are the tent poles, and the list doesn't stray far from that Napa-Sonoma comfort zone. Bordeaux likely makes a cameo but the depth outside of American Cab is thin — don't come here hunting for a grower Champagne or a Barolo. It's a list that was designed to satisfy the conference crowd and anniversary dinners simultaneously, which means it succeeds on familiarity rather than discovery. If you already know what you like and it's a California red, you'll land fine.
Expect 12 to 20 pours in the $15–$30 range, skewing toward the same recognizable names that anchor the bottle list. Rotation appears minimal — this is a set-and-forget program rather than one that cycles in seasonal or adventurous picks. You're not going to find anything surprising by the glass, but the standards will be properly stored and correctly served.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $60–$80 (estimated bottle)
Jordan is the most honest bottle on a list like this — consistently well-made Alexander Valley Cab that doesn't need a Napa zip code to justify its price. On a steakhouse list dominated by bigger markups, it's the one that keeps the math reasonable while still drinking like a proper special-occasion wine.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone at the table is going to order Cabernet, and that's fine. But Duckhorn's Napa Merlot is genuinely excellent — structured, plummy, and built for red meat — and gets overlooked every time Silver Oak is on the same list. It usually comes in at a softer price point too, which doesn't hurt.
Opus One
Opus One is a great wine. It is not a great wine at hotel steakhouse markup. By the time a resort adds its margin on top of an already premium bottle, you're deep into territory where the price is paying for the name on the label more than what's in the glass. Save it for somewhere that treats it like a treasure, not a transaction.
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Ribeye
Silver Oak's Alexander Valley Cab is soft enough on the tannins that it doesn't fight a well-marbled ribeye — it leans into the fat and char rather than clashing with it. It's the most crowd-pleasing version of the classic steakhouse pairing on this list, and the staff will know exactly what you're ordering.
The Bottom Line
Old Hickory is a reliable steakhouse wine program that knows its audience and doesn't try to be anything else — if you're here for a celebration dinner or a work dinner on someone's card, the California hits list will do its job. Just go in with eyes open on the pricing, and let Jordan or Duckhorn do the heavy lifting instead of reaching straight for Opus.
· Aurora · Wine Bar / Small Plates
PH1315 is doing something genuinely interesting for Aurora — a tight, Italian-accented glass-only list at prices that don't insult you. It's not a destination wine bar, but it's the kind of neighborhood spot that makes you glad it exists.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southlands · Aurora · New American / Wine Bar
Wine Experience Cafe is the kind of place that earns its name in a neighborhood where most restaurants don't try at all. It's not a destination list, but it's an honest one — and in a shopping center in Aurora, that's worth celebrating.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aurora · Meadery Tasting Room
Dragon Meadery isn't a wine destination — it's something more interesting. If you send a friend here expecting Burgundy, they'll be lost; if you send them open-minded and curious, they'll probably come home with a bottle of something they've never tried before and can't stop talking about.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
· Aurora · Sinaloan / Mexican Seafood
Nobody walks into a Sinaloan seafood restaurant expecting Billecart-Salmon and Pieropan on the glass list, and that surprise is exactly what earns this place a Wild Card. If you're ordering from the sea side of the menu, the wine list here will actually help you — which is more than you can say for most restaurants twice the price point.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aurora · Mediterranean
Pita Central is here for the food, full stop — the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved seems fine with that. Order a beer or a soft drink and save the wine for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greenwood Village · Aurora · Urban Winery
InVINtions is a genuine neighborhood wine spot in a market that doesn't have enough of them — the staff enthusiasm and approachable format make it worth a visit even if we can't pin down every bottle. Go with an open mind and a friend who likes to try things; you'll leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
Golden Nugget Casino · Atlantic City · Steakhouse
Vic & Anthony's is a competent casino steakhouse wine list — it won't embarrass you and it won't thrill you. If you're already there for the steak, grab the Siduri by the glass and don't look too hard at the markups.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hilton Head Island · Steakhouse
Crane's Tavern won't make any top wine lists, but for Hilton Head, the by-the-glass program is unusually honest and the pricing doesn't insult you. If you're eating steak here, you have solid options — and that Brocard Bourgogne Blanc is a legitimate surprise.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hilo · Steakhouse
WSW won't make any wine lists' most-wanted lists, but it prices honestly, pours generously, and doesn't embarrass itself in a category where hotel restaurants often do. If you're in Hilo and want a bottle of wine with your steak without getting gouged, this is a safe call.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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