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 →
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
Westwood · Los Angeles · American, Steakhouse
A Cabernet-first list with 30 glasses and a long bottle book, but no wine prices posted online. If you want a known price, the $9 happy hour Bonanza Cabernet by Caymus is the one posted figure, and if you want to step away from Cabernet, try the Il Bruciato Super Tuscan by the glass. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · American, Steakhouse
A very large list with a long glass section, from a $14 Muscadet to a $90 pour of Krug. Start with the $14/glass Mélon de Bourgogne, then look at the Arizona Selections page if you want an Arizona bottle, and confirm prices because the PDF says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Van Ness / Polk · San Francisco · American, Steakhouse
A serious steakhouse list with a glass program you can actually use: 32 pours by the stem from 14 to 99 and California Cabernet across eight pages. Start with the Keenan Cabernet at 22 by the stem, or step up to the Jordan Alexander Valley at 129 with the Porterhouse, and ask which vintages are current since the list is subject to vintage change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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