Salt Lake's Most Ambitious List, Nearly Delivered
Unknown · Salt Lake City · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 31, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Rouser’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Rouser signals that someone here actually cares — there's a sommelier on staff, and the range runs from solid crowd-pleasers to genuinely interesting picks. It's a polished, grown-up list that doesn't feel like it was assembled by clicking 'add to cart' on a distributor sheet. The $56–$328 bottle range covers a lot of ground without being gratuitously expensive.
The list hits the expected regions — California, Oregon, France, Spain — but earns points for the specifics. Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva '13 is a legitimately great Rioja that most restaurants wouldn't bother with, and Tablas Creek's Patelin de Tablas Blanc shows someone was paying attention in Paso Robles. The Henri Goutorbe Spécial Club Grand Cru '12 suggests real ambition on the Champagne side. Argyle Pinot Noir rounds out the Oregon representation credibly. The list could push further into old-world depth — Austria and New Zealand are noted as regions but specific bottles in those categories weren't surfaced, leaving some intrigue unfulfilled.
Twelve by-the-glass options at $15–$28 is a solid spread for Salt Lake City. The range appears to move between approachable entry points and some genuinely interesting mid-tier pours. We'd like to see more rotation signaling — there's no evidence of a seasonal BTG program, which means these pours risk going stale.
La Marca Prosecco NV — $15
At $15 a glass on a retail bottle that runs $13, the markup is nearly nonexistent — a rare case where the restaurant is practically giving it away. Perfect opening move before you commit to a bottle.
Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva '13
Most diners will scroll right past this and grab the Prisoner, which is a mistake. Tondonia Reserva from Lopez de Heredia is a classic, earthy, age-worthy Rioja from one of Spain's most storied producers — and the 2013 vintage is drinking beautifully right now. This is the kind of bottle that makes you feel like you found something.
Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut NV
At $28 a glass on a bottle that retails for $55, this is actually a rare undercharge — but it's still Moët. With a Henri Goutorbe Spécial Club '12 on the same list, there's no reason to default to the NV airport Champagne. Spend a little more, drink a lot better.
Tablas Creek Vineyards Patelin de Tablas Blanc '23 + Ask your server for the current white-friendly protein or seafood option
The Patelin Blanc is a Rhône-style white — Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Marsanne — with enough texture and aromatics to hold up to richer preparations. It's the kind of wine that makes whatever's on the plate taste more intentional.
The Bottom Line
Rouser is doing real work on its wine program in a city where that's still not a given. The Lopez de Heredia and Goutorbe alone are worth a visit — yes, we'd send a friend here for wine.
· 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
Beaver Creek Plaza · Vail · Contemporary American
Golden Eagle Inn is the kind of reliable mountain wine list that won't embarrass you on a date or a client dinner, but it'll charge you for the altitude at every turn. The Brunello and the Bouchard Beaune are genuine bright spots — find those, skip the Veuve, and you'll have a good night.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Contemporary American
Sweet Basil is the best wine list in Vail by a wide margin — 400 bottles, a real Cruvinet program, and a sommelier who put actual thought into the selections. The markups sting, but that's mountain dining; the quality justifies the trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Sedona · Sedona · Contemporary American
The Hudson isn't going to make any wine lists for its wine list, but it's a solid, competent program for what this place is — a lively upscale-casual spot where the views are doing a lot of the work. Send your friends here for dinner and tell them to stick to the bottles under $70.
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
