Denton's Best-Kept Wine Secret, Full Stop
Downtown Denton · Denton · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Steve's Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into a wine bar with 200+ bottles and 48 by-the-glass options in Denton, Texas is not what you expect — and that's exactly the point. Steve's punches well above its zip code, with a global list that takes real swings from Sicily to Burgundy to Oregon without apology. This is not a steakhouse wine list with a fancy name slapped on it.
The list roams confidently across the globe — Etna Bianco from Sicily's Pietradolce, a proper Chablis from Domaine Alain Pautré, Colterenzio's St. Magdalener from Alto Adige, and a Sancerre from Moreux alongside crowd-pleasing California heavyweights like St. Francis and Truchard. There's clear range here: Old World precision sitting right next to approachable New World comfort, which tells us someone with actual taste built this list. The Rioja Reserva from Viña Eguía and the Bouchard Burgundy Pinot Noir give mid-tier drinkers a real stepping stone toward something more interesting. The only gap we can point to is that popular dishes aren't documented, which makes recommending food pairings a bit of an educated guess.
Forty-eight by-the-glass options is not a typo — it's a genuine program, spanning $8 to $26 and covering enough ground that decision paralysis is a real risk. That range means you can sip a proper Burgundy Pinot Noir without committing to a full bottle, which is exactly how a wine bar should work. Cheryl's monthly Half-Price Thursday selections keep the BTG program from going stale, rotating fresh picks into the spotlight regularly.
Viña Eguía Rioja Reserva Tempranillo — $8-$26 glass range
Rioja Reserva at a wine bar price point is almost always a win — aged Tempranillo with real structure for what amounts to Tuesday-night money. It's the kind of wine that makes you look smart without trying.
Pietradolce Etna Bianco Carricante
Most people at a Texas wine bar are scanning for Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc and will blow right past this Sicilian Carricante from the slopes of Mount Etna. That's a mistake. It's volcanic, mineral, and genuinely interesting — the kind of bottle that makes you rethink what white wine can do.
St. Francis 'Buttery' Chardonnay
It's fine. It's also named 'Buttery,' which tells you everything you need to know. With 48 BTG options and an actual Chablis on the list, spending your pour on the most predictable California Chardonnay in the state is a missed opportunity.
Colterenzio St. Magdalener, Alto Adige + Charcuterie board
St. Magdalener is a light, cherry-bright Schiava from Northern Italy that's practically engineered to cut through cured meats and hard cheeses without bullying them. It's the kind of pairing that makes a simple board feel like a thought-out meal.
Thursday — Half-Price Thursday features 10 select bottles each month, personally chosen by Cheryl. The rotating picks are announced via social media, so follow along or risk missing the best deal in Denton.
The Bottom Line
Steve's Wine Bar is the kind of place that shouldn't exist in a mid-sized Texas college town — and yet here it is, with a sommelier, 48 pours by the glass, and half-price Thursdays that make it genuinely dangerous for your wallet. Send your friends here; just warn them to clear their schedule.
Downtown Denton · Denton · Seafood, American Cajun
Hoochies is an oyster bar first and a wine destination never, but the list is functional enough that you won't feel stranded. Order the catfish, grab a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, and save the wine deep-dive for another night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · American
Cheddar's wine program exists to check a box, not to serve you well. Order a cocktail or a beer — they've actually put thought into those — and save the wine for a restaurant that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · American
BJ's Denton is a beer hall that happens to stock wine, and the list makes that priority crystal clear. If you must drink wine here, come on a Tuesday — Half Off Wine Tuesday is the one thing this program does that actually earns a tip of the glass.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · Texas steakhouse / American
Saltgrass Denton is a solid place to eat a steak; it is not a place to drink wine. Order a Shiner, grab the J. Lohr if you need something in a glass, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that shares it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
South Denton · Denton · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Denton is not a wine destination — it's a rolls-and-steak destination, and that's completely fine. Order the cocktail, drink the beer, and save your wine enthusiasm for somewhere that returns the favor.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Denton · Denton · American / Tex-Mex
This wine program exists to check a box, not to enhance your meal — if you're at Chili's Denton for the wine, something has gone wrong. Stick to the margaritas, which is almost certainly what the restaurant intended all along.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Wine Bar
Rootstock is doing something genuinely uncommon for San Jose: building a wine list with a real perspective, fair prices, and enough depth to reward repeat visits. The pét-nat and multi-vintage Reeve presence alone put it ahead of most dedicated wine bars in the Bay. If you care about what's in your glass, this place deserves your attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Telluride · Wine Bar
Communion is a focused, deliberate wine bar that built a short list with real intention — anchored on Leitz, punctuated by a standout Chave Selections white, and thoughtful enough to include non-alcoholic options alongside the serious stuff. We don't have pricing data to confirm value, and the list is compact enough that adventurous drinkers may want more range — but what's here is chosen with care. If you're in Telluride and want wine that someone actually thought about, this is your stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown St. Helena · St. Helena · Wine Bar
Elsewhere is doing something genuinely useful in St. Helena: giving people a place to drink well after dinner without the pageantry of a tasting room or the markup theater of a hotel bar. We can't confirm every bottle or price point from here, but a sommelier-driven list with Napa, Burgundy, and Bordeaux range plus honest small plates earns a look. Go in, talk to the staff, and let them guide you — that's exactly what this kind of place is built for.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
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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