Mediterranean Flavors Meet Mediterranean Wines Done Right
RiNo · Denver · Mediterranean, Israeli · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Safta’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You open the wine list at this Israeli restaurant and realize someone actually committed to the theme — this isn't token Mediterranean varietals padding a Napa-heavy list. We're talking 100+ selections laser-focused on Greece, Israel, Lebanon, southern France, and Morocco, with a sommelier who clearly knows the regions cold.
The list reads like a passionate love letter to the eastern Mediterranean wine belt, featuring Israeli producers like Galil Mountain alongside Greek gems like Markogianni's Assyrtiko and rare Armenian Areni from Yacoubian-Hobbs. Slovenia's Kobal Furmint appears next to Lebanese bottlings, while southern France and Spain fill supporting roles. This is what happens when a restaurant takes its cultural identity seriously and builds a wine program to match — zero Kendall-Jackson, zero safe Sonoma Chardonnay, just committed regional storytelling with real depth.
Fourteen to eighteen by-the-glass options rotate through the same Mediterranean focus, from a semi-sparkling Greek orange wine (Paleokerisio at $12) to Spanish Albariño and Israeli Cabernet. The Vita Vivet Cava Brut Nature at $16 is the kind of smart sparkler you want starting a hummus feast, and they're clearly refreshing the selection with current vintages like that 2024 Via Alpina Sauvignon.
Paleokerisio Semi-Sparkling Orange 2022 — $12
A semi-sparkling Greek orange wine for twelve bucks by the glass? That's adventurous drinking at everyday pricing, perfect with their salatim spreads
Yacoubian-Hobbs Areni 2022
Armenian Areni is one of the wine world's best-kept secrets — ancient grape, mountainous terroir, savory red fruit that works beautifully with wood-fired lamb
Presqu'ile Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2023
At $17 a glass, this California Pinot feels like a theme-breaking safety net for boring drinkers — stick to the Mediterranean focus
Markogianni Vorias & Helios Assyrtiko 2022 + Wood-fired lamb
Santorini's volcanic Assyrtiko brings razor-sharp acidity and mineral backbone to cut through rich, smoky lamb — classic Greek pairing executed perfectly
The Bottom Line
Safta doesn't just talk the Mediterranean talk — they walk it with a wine list that's genuinely exciting, fairly priced, and staffed by people who know their Areni from their Assyrtiko. This is how you do theme-driven wine right.
· 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
Downtown Denver · Denver · American, Steakhouse
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.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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