Tiny list, big mountain energy, honest prices
· Aspen · Mountain American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed September 26, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Pine Creek Cookhouse’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Nine bottles. That's the whole list. At a remote mountain cookhouse in Aspen — a place you likely arrived at by horse-drawn sleigh in winter or a dusty trail ride in summer — nine bottles is actually plenty. The prices are refreshingly honest for a zip code where a glass of anything can run $25 before you blink.
The list spans four continents in nine labels, which is either impressively global or a little scattered depending on your mood. You get two Chandon bubblies plus the Chapel Down Brut Rosé anchoring the sparkling end, a Gascon white and an Italian Chardonnay for whites, and a South African red blend, a Chilean Cab, an Argentine Malbec, and an Australian Shiraz rounding out the reds. The producers are approachable and crowd-pleasing rather than destination-worthy — Montes, Excelsior, Alpha Zeta — but nobody came up a mountain trail expecting a vertically-listed Barolo. What's here works for the setting, and the price ceiling of $47.95 keeps things from getting painful.
By-the-glass options aren't specified on the menu, so we can't tell you whether you're committing to a bottle or just a pour. Given the remote, event-style nature of the experience here, bottle service feels like the operating assumption — plan accordingly and bring a friend.
The Bottom Line
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.
· Aspen · Seafood and Oyster Bar
Clark's Oyster Bar Aspen earns the Wild Card badge by doing something almost no oyster bar does: ditching the dry wine playbook entirely and building a focused, globally-sourced dessert wine list with real producers at fair prices. It's a bizarre and commendable choice. Come for the oysters, stay for the Madeira — just don't expect a Muscadet to wash them down.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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 · Italian
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.
Grocery Store
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
· Stowe · Mountain American
The Cliff House is stunning scenery with a wine list that didn't get the memo. Four grocery-store pours at resort markups isn't a wine program — it's a placeholder. Come for the views, order a cocktail, and save the wine for dinner back in town.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Teton Village · Jackson Hole · Mountain American
Spur is a reliable wine stop for resort guests who want something familiar and well-executed with dinner — just don't expect the list to match the drama of the Teton views outside. If you're a serious wine drinker, manage expectations; if you just want a good glass of California red with your elk tenderloin, 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.
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