Utah wines winning trophies, not apologies
Park City · Salt Lake City · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 2, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Old Town Wine Cellars’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Walk in expecting a tourist trap wine shop and instead find a genuinely passionate operation built around house-label Utah wines that have actually earned hardware on the competition circuit. The vibe is approachable and educational without being preachy — more knowledgeable friend than lecture hall. It's a boutique retail-and-bar hybrid that makes you want to slow down and actually pay attention.
The list runs 100 to 200 bottles deep, anchored hard by the oTc house label, which is doing real work here — their S.O.M. Cabernet Sauvignon took best in class and best in show at the 2022 Utah Wine Festival, and that's not a participation trophy. Beyond the local focus, there's a curated global selection filling out the range, though the international depth is harder to pin down without a full list in hand. The gaps are real — if you're hunting for a deep old-world cellar, this probably isn't your spot. But if you're curious about what Utah viticulture is actually capable of, this is the most credible place in the state to find out.
Twenty to forty pours by the glass is a serious commitment for a boutique operation, and at $10 to $20 a glass the pricing sits squarely in honest wine bar territory. The oTc house wines anchor the glass program, giving you a chance to work through the lineup without committing to a bottle. Rotation details are thin, but with a sommelier on staff there's at least a human making decisions about what's in the pour.
oTc Mountain Town White — $12
A gold medal Utah white at wine bar prices is a genuinely low-risk bet — if it can beat the competition circuit, it can hold its own in your glass.
oTc S.O.M. Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people write off Utah Cabernet before they taste it. This one won best in class and best in show at a statewide competition — order it before you form an opinion.
oTc Rosé
When the Townie Rosé is sitting right next to it with a gold medal to its name, the standard Rosé is hard to justify — spend the same money on the one that actually distinguished itself.
oTc Townie Rosé + Charcuterie board
A gold medal rosé with enough structure to cut through cured meat fat and enough brightness to keep a charcuterie spread from getting heavy — it's the easiest call on the menu.
The Bottom Line
Old Town Wine Cellars is the rare place where ordering local isn't a consolation prize — the oTc wines have the medals to back up the enthusiasm. If you've never taken Utah wine seriously, this is where that changes.
· Salt Lake City · Steakhouse
STK Salt Lake City has the bones of a wine program but none of the follow-through — three by-the-glass options and a bottle list built around brand recognition rather than quality. Order a cocktail, or spring for the Veuve if you want to feel good about what's in your glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Steakhouse and Seafood with Scandinavian/European Influences
Kimi's earns its reputation as one of Salt Lake City's better nights out, and the wine program has real bones — a sommelier, a thoughtful Italian-leaning list, and proper glassware. Just go in knowing the markups are aggressive on the bubbles, anchor yourself to the Riesling if you're watching the spend, and let the room do the rest of the work.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
9th & 9th · Salt Lake City · Middle Eastern
Mazza isn't a wine destination, but it's doing something genuinely interesting by building a list around Lebanese producers that actually belong on the table with this food. If you're in Salt Lake City and want to drink something you won't find anywhere else in town, this is worth a detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Japanese and Sushi
Takashi is a great restaurant with a wine list that's just along for the ride — functional, safe, and a little overpriced relative to what you get. Go for the sushi, order the Cloudy Bay or the Oregon Pinot, and don't expect the wine program to keep pace with the kitchen.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Raw Bar
Market Street Oyster Bar is a reliable spot for wine if you calibrate your expectations accordingly — this is a crowd-pleaser list built for a crowd-pleaser room, and it mostly delivers. Send a friend here for oysters and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, not for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cottonwood Heights · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill Cottonwood is a dependable neighborhood anchor with a wine list that does exactly what it needs to — nothing more. Send a friend here for the oysters and the Sonoma-Cutrer; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Los Angeles · Wine Bar
Buvons is for people who already know what natural wine is and want nine well-chosen pours without a 50-page list getting in the way. If that's you, you'll feel right at home.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Wine Bar
Little Wine House is doing something genuinely rare: a small list that actually required thought, priced like someone who wants you to come back. If you're in San Jose and want a glass of something interesting without a lecture attached, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
John Wayne Airport – Terminal B · Santa Ana · Wine Bar
Vino Volo clears the airport bar bar by a comfortable margin — better-than-expected service, a list that at least tries, and a seat that makes a delay feel like less of a punishment. Just don't look too hard at the markup and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
