Ski Boots, Schnitzel, and Five Wines Total
· Taos · German · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Bavarian’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Bavarian fits on a cocktail napkin — because it basically is one. Five options, all by the glass, no bottles listed, no regions, no vintages. At a ski lodge perched above Taos Ski Valley, you'd at least hope for something adventurous to match the altitude.
The entire program runs on two Freakshow labels (Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay), two Underwood canned-wine staples (Bubbles and Rosé), and a Glühwein. That's it. Freakshow and Underwood are both widely available grocery and gas-station finds — solid for a casual pour, but nothing that signals any curation or care. There's no Riesling, no Grüner Veltliner, no nod to the German theme beyond the Glühwein. For a restaurant leaning hard into Bavarian identity, it's a missed opportunity.
Everything on the list is by the glass, priced at $10–$12, which is actually reasonable for a ski resort setting where $18 pours are the norm. The Glühwein at $12 is the only option that leans into the restaurant's concept at all. Rotation appears nonexistent — this looks like a set-it-and-forget-it program.
The Bottom Line
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.
· 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
Northside / Historic Chapel · Taos · Northern New Mexican, organic, locally sourced
The Love Apple is a Wild Card in the best possible way — a tiny organic wine list in a centuries-old adobe chapel that somehow makes more sense than most dedicated wine bars. If you're a Pinot person with a soft spot for biodynamic producers, this is your kind of detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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
Taos Ski Valley · Taos · German
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.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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