California Cabs Meet Colorado Big Sky Energy
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · May 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Range Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Range sits inside the grand bones of the old Colorado National Bank building, and the wine list feels like it was dressed to match — heavy on California prestige names, built to impress a corporate expense account. It's a handsome list, no question, but it leans hard into the greatest hits rather than taking any real risks. Still, with sommelier Dan Vivacqua holding the wheel and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2023, there's real intention behind it.
California is the clear headliner here — Caymus, Stag's Leap, Jordan, Duckhorn, Frank Family, Cakebread, Rombauer. These are names that sell themselves, and Range knows it. You won't find much Colorado local representation or anything that'll make a wine nerd's heart race, but if you want a reliably excellent Napa Cab to go with your bison ribeye, this list delivers without question. The Chardonnay side is similarly California-dominant, which makes sense for the crowd but leaves the Old World largely in the rearview. It's a list curated for the guest who wants the familiar done well, not the guest hunting for discovery.
We don't have a confirmed by-the-glass count, but the bottle roster suggests the pours likely mirror the same California-forward anchors. Expect Rombauer Chardonnay and something from the Prisoner family to be your glass options — solid crowd-pleasers, nothing adventurous. If they're rotating the glass pours seasonally, there's no visible evidence of it.
Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay — $90
In a steakhouse setting where bottles routinely crack $150, Rombauer at $90 is the relative value play — a crowd-pleasing, full-bodied California Chard that won't shock your tablemates and won't crater your check.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
At $145, Jordan is the most underestimated bottle on this list. Most people reach past it for Caymus or Stag's Leap, but Jordan's Alexander Valley Cab is genuinely elegant and more food-friendly with the Colorado lamb than anything else in the lineup.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
At $210 a bottle, you're paying a serious premium for a wine that's become the screaming eagle of the approachable Napa set — ubiquitous, consistent, but deeply overpriced at this markup when Jordan and Stag's Leap Artemis are sitting right next to it for less money.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon + Bison Ribeye
The Artemis has the structure to handle bison's lean, mineral-forward intensity without overwhelming it — something the bigger, jammier Cabs on this list can't always say. It's the most food-friendly Cab here, and bison ribeye is exactly the moment for it.
The Bottom Line
Range is a confident, well-kept steakhouse list that won't surprise you but absolutely won't let you down — especially if California Cabs are your language. Just come in with your eyes open on pricing, and let Dan steer you toward the Jordan.
· Denver · Steakhouse
STK Denver is a place where wine exists to support a vibe, not to excite a drinker. If you're here for the scene and the steak, grab a glass of Bonanza at happy hour and call it a night — but don't come expecting the wine list to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cherry Creek · Denver · American, Seafood
Salt Water Social plays it safe with wine but plays it well — California classics at fair prices, with a Wednesday half-price night that makes it a genuine weekly option. No one's discovering anything new here, but you won't be disappointed either.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Regional Steakhouse
Urban Farmer is a solid, no-drama wine stop for anyone who loves California Cab and wants a proper glass with a well-cooked steak. It won't surprise you, but it won't disappoint you either — and in Denver's steakhouse scene, that's worth something.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
LoDo · Denver · Mediterranean, Spanish
Rioja earned its Wine Spectator nod, and then some — a Spanish wine list this focused and this well-stocked is rare anywhere, let alone Denver. If Spain is your thing, or you want it to become your thing, this is the room.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Denver · Denver · Italian
Restaurant Olivia is the kind of neighborhood Italian spot that quietly holds a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and earns it without making a fuss about it. Send your friends who think Denver can't do wine right — this list will change the conversation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
RiNo · Denver · American, Seasonal
Nocturne is a jazz club that moonlights as a serious wine destination — the combo shouldn't work this well, but it does. Tuesday half-price nights make this an easy recommendation; any other night, lean toward the Flowers or the Leroy and let the music do the rest.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
National Park Corridor / Parkway · Gatlinburg · American, Steakhouse
The Park Grill is a reliable dinner stop if you're winding down after a day in the Smokies and want a solid glass of California wine with your steak — just don't expect the list to reward curiosity or spare your wallet. Send your friends here for the food and the vibe; tell them to drink the Sonoma-Cutrer and not overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stowe Village · Stowe · American, Steakhouse
Harrison's is the kind of reliable neighborhood anchor that Stowe regulars and ski-weekend visitors can count on — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't let you down either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine; just don't send them expecting a deep dive.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Geneva · Geneva · American, Steakhouse
The James is a dependable California-focused steakhouse list that earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for doing one thing consistently well. If you're there for the beef and the big reds, you'll leave satisfied — just go in with your eyes open on the markups.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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