Great Schnitzel, Forgettable Wine List
Taos Ski Valley · Taos · German · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 27, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed The Bavarian Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're on a mountain in New Mexico eating schnitzel in a cozy alpine lodge — the wine list is clearly an afterthought. Three by-the-glass pours and a handful of bottles, all domestic, all recognizable from the grocery store shelf. At least they know their lane.
The list leans entirely on California mass-market brands — Freakshow and Underwood are the headliners here, and that tells you everything. There's no nod to German Riesling, no Austrian Grüner Veltliner, no Alsatian anything — which feels like a missed opportunity for a restaurant built around Bavarian food. The one concession to theme is the Glühwein, which earns points for atmosphere if not for complexity. If you're hoping to find something interesting or region-appropriate, you won't.
Three options — Freakshow Cab, Freakshow Chardonnay, and Underwood Bubbles — at $10 a pour, with the Glühwein at $12. It's a short, uninspired lineup, but the pricing is honest for a ski resort where $18 glasses are common. Rotation appears nonexistent.
Underwood Bubbles NV — $10
At $10 a glass on a ski mountain, a cold pour of bubbles after a morning on the slopes is hard to argue with. It's not serious wine, but it's fizzy, fun, and priced like they're not trying to take your wallet.
Glühwein NV
Yes, it's essentially mulled wine. But you're on a ski mountain in New Mexico in the dead of winter sitting on a lodge deck — this is exactly the right drink, and at $12 it's the most on-theme thing on the entire list.
Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon NV
Big, jammy, and built for people who want something they recognize. Nothing wrong with it at retail, but there are better ways to spend your mountain wine money — order the bubbles or the Glühwein and call it a day.
Underwood Rosé NV + Bratwurst
The Rosé's fruit-forward lightness cuts through the richness of a grilled brat without fighting it. It's casual, it's cold, and it works better than a heavy Cab would on a warm-ish deck lunch.
The Bottom Line
The Bavarian is worth the trip for the schnitzel, the pretzels, and the alpine atmosphere — just don't come here for the wine. Order a Glühwein, embrace the vibe, and save your serious wine drinking for back in town.
· Taos · German
The Bavarian's wine program is an afterthought in a setting that deserves better. If you're here, drink the Glühwein, enjoy the view, and save the wine conversation for dinner back in town.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Taos · Contemporary American
NOSA is doing something genuinely rare: curating a short, smart, globally curious wine list in a place where no one would expect it. The pricing is fair, the picks are specific, and the list has a clear point of view. If you're driving through Taos and care about what's in your glass, this is the room to be in.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Taos · Contemporary American
medley. has no business running a wine list this considered in a small New Mexico mountain town, and yet here we are. Pricing is fair across the board, the selection leans curious over commercial, and the rosé section alone is worth the visit. If you're in Taos and care about what's in your glass, this is where you eat.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northside / Paseo del Pueblo Norte · Taos · Burger / American
Come for the burgers — seriously, people love them — but manage your wine expectations hard. This list is a placeholder, not a program, and you're paying convenience store wine prices at restaurant markups.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Taos Plaza Alley · Taos · Mexican bar & grill
We would never send anyone to The Alley Cantina specifically for the wine, but we'd absolutely send them for the vibe — and if you hit that 5–7pm happy hour, a $5 glass of Porto while a band tunes up is one of Taos's more charming small pleasures. The Wild Card badge isn't for the list quality; it's for the unexpected delight of finding Warre's Warrior in a cantina that also has a pool table.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Taos · Steakhouse
Martyrs is punching above its weight class for a steakhouse in Taos — the Italian selections alone make it worth a look. The markups are real and the pricing on the classics is aggressive, but if you order smart, this list rewards you.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gatlinburg · German
Hofbräuhaus Gatlinburg is here to sell you a liter of beer in a giant mug, and honestly, that's the right call. The wine program is six unlabeled varietals with no pricing transparency and zero evidence of anyone tending to it with care. Order the Märzen, skip the wine.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Revolutsia / North Downtown · Wichita · German
Prost isn't a wine destination — it's a biergarten that respects its theme enough to put a coherent German wine list on the table. The Thirsty Thursday bottle deal is legitimately good, and if you show up on the right night with the right dish, you'll leave happier than you expected.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Heather Gardens / Havana Corridor · Aurora · German
Helga's is a beer hall that happens to sell wine, and the list reflects exactly that level of effort. Come for the schnitzel and the steins — but if you need a glass of wine, the Dr. Loosen won't let you down.
Plays It Safe
Fair
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.
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