Cozy trattoria with a California-leaning cellar
Old Colorado City · Colorado Springs · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 2, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ristorante Di Sopra’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Di Sopra feels like someone's Italian grandmother decorated the place — warm lighting, old-world charm, the whole thing. The wine list shows up with 100+ bottles and a confident price tag, which is promising. Then you start reading and notice Lodi, California doing a lot of the heavy lifting where Tuscany probably should be.
The list leans heavily on Michael David Winery and the Freakshow label out of Lodi — accessible, fruit-forward stuff that plays well with a crowd but doesn't exactly scream Italian trattoria. There's a stated Italian focus, but the actual depth on Italian producers isn't reflected in what's surfaced publicly. If you're hunting for a Barolo or a Brunello to go with your osso buco, you may find the Italian side of the list thinner than the vibe promises. At $45 a bottle for featured wines, the pricing is reasonable, but the selection feels more like a neighborhood American bistro than a destination Italian wine program.
Glass pours come in at $12, which is a fair entry point for Colorado Springs. The Freakshow lineup — Zinfandel, Cabernet, Chardonnay — likely anchors the by-the-glass program, which means you're getting reliable, crowd-friendly pours rather than anything adventurous. Rotation appears minimal; this list has a set-it-and-forget-it quality.
Michael David Merlot — $45
Michael David makes solid, approachable Merlot that regularly retails around $15-18. At $45 on the list, the markup is restrained by restaurant standards and it's a smooth match for pasta-heavy menus.
Lodi Red
Most diners scan past anything labeled generically, but Lodi Reds can be genuinely interesting — the region runs warm and produces bold, ripe stuff. Worth asking what's actually in the blend before you dismiss it.
Freakshow Chardonnay
Freakshow Chardonnay is a grocery store staple dressed up in a fun label. At restaurant markup, you're paying significantly over what a bottle costs at Total Wine, and it brings nothing interesting to an Italian dinner.
Freakshow Zinfandel + Osso buco
Lodi Zinfandel has the body and dark fruit to hold up against braised veal shank without getting lost. It's not the most refined match, but the richness tracks and it's reliably available by the glass.
The Bottom Line
Di Sopra is a charming room with food that deserves a stronger wine list — the California-heavy selection is competent but mismatched to the Italian ambition. Come for the osso buco and housemade pasta; manage your wine expectations accordingly.
Broadmoor · Colorado Springs · Steakhouse and American
La Taverne is a well-run, properly staffed wine program inside one of Colorado's most storied resort properties — expect to pay for the privilege and the setting. If you stick to Jordan and Peter Michael and resist the siren call of the trophy bottles, you'll drink very well here.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Broadmoor · Colorado Springs · Italian (Northern Italian, trattoria-style)
Ristorante del Lago is the rare resort restaurant where the wine program actually earns some respect — the Italian focus is real, the sommelier knows the list, and a few genuinely exciting bottles are hiding in there if you look past the marquee names. Just go in knowing you're paying Broadmoor prices, and order accordingly.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Colorado Springs · Colorado Springs · Steakhouse
Famous Steakhouse is the dependable old hand — the wine list won't excite you, but it won't embarrass you either, and with a prime rib in front of you and a Stag's Leap in the glass, that's a perfectly decent Thursday night. Just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manitou Springs · Colorado Springs · Mexican / Tex-Mex
Crystal Park Cantina is a genuinely fun spot for tacos and margaritas with a mountain view — lean into that and skip the wine entirely. The list is overpriced grocery store inventory with no ambition, and no amount of scenery changes that.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manitou Springs · Colorado Springs · Upscale American, Contemporary Fine Dining
The Cliff House wine program is the dependable friend who always shows up dressed well — you know exactly what you're getting, and it's genuinely good, even if it never blows your mind. For a special occasion in the mountains, this is a comfortable, well-run room that will take care of you.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / West Colorado · Colorado Springs · Fine Dining / Steak & Seafood
Pepper Tree is a reliable wine stop for what it is — a classic Colorado fine-dining room where the tableside Steak Diane is the main event and the wine list is a well-behaved supporting cast. Don't come here chasing discovery, but do come knowing you'll drink decently without drama.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Gilbert · Gilbert · Italian
North Italia Gilbert is a chain that does the bare minimum of interesting things — and sometimes that's exactly what you need on a Tuesday in Gilbert. The Italian regional whites are the real reason to open this list; everything else is serviceable.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Nob Hill · San Francisco · Italian
Seven Hills is doing something most Italian restaurants in this city won't — building a wine list that actually reflects the breadth of Italian winemaking rather than the highlights reel. If you're even mildly curious about obscure Italian whites, this is one of the better places in SF to take the leap.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Plano · Italian
Roma has enough wine on the list to get you through a good dinner, but it leans hard on California crowd-pleasers and marks them up accordingly. Stick to the Italian reds, avoid the Napa trophies, and you'll drink well enough — just don't expect the list to match the ambition of the cuisine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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