Cozy Jackson institution that drinks well enough
Downtown Jackson · Jackson Hole · Upscale American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · May 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Blue Lion’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 Blue Lion has been feeding Jackson Hole since 1978, and the wine list feels like it's been quietly tended to without ever being seriously overhauled. It's not embarrassing — there are real producers here — but it's not a list that makes you lean forward either. Think: reliable house wine program for a room full of people who've just come in from a ski day.
At 80–120 bottles, this is a legitimate list with genuine geographic spread — Washington state, Oregon, France's Loire and Rhône, Bordeaux, Italy, Argentina, and Australia's Barossa all show up. Gramercy Cellars bringing a Washington red blend and Holloran Pinot Noir from Oregon give it some Pacific Northwest credibility that you don't always see at tourist-adjacent fine dining spots. The French contingent is thoughtful — a Domaine Curot Sancerre and Pesquié Terrasses Rosé signal someone here has taste. That said, gaps are real: Burgundy is thin, there's no serious Rhône depth beyond rosé, and the Italy selections lean predictable.
Fourteen options by the glass is genuinely solid — seven white/sparkling/rosé and seven red, with pours running $17–$24. The range is better than the price point suggests: you can get a Deux Vallées Chenin Blanc from the Loire or a Seppeltsfield Barossa Shiraz, which aren't wines you typically see on a by-the-glass program at a Wyoming steakhouse. The list rotates slowly if at all, which is fine until it isn't.
Deux Vallées Chenin Blanc (Loire, France) — $17–$24/glass (estimated)
Chenin Blanc by the glass anywhere outside a wine bar is a small miracle. Loire Chenin has the texture to stand up to rich dishes and the acid to cut through butter sauces — and it's almost certainly the least-hyped pour on this list, which usually means it's priced more fairly than the safe picks.
Gramercy Cellars 'Lower East' Red Blend (Washington)
Gramercy is one of Washington's most serious producers and 'Lower East' is a legitimately ambitious red blend. Most tables at a place like this will reach for the Bordeaux or the Malbec — walk right past them and order this. It's the kind of wine that rewards the curious drinker and makes the elk tenderloin order look very smart.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
A $13 retail bottle priced at $50 is a nearly 285% markup on a wine that was never worth $50 at any markup. This is a supermarket Chardonnay in a fine dining frame, and the math is insulting. There are at least three better Chardonnay options in this zip code — and on this same list.
Holloran Pinot Noir (Oregon) + Roasted Rack of Lamb
Oregon Pinot Noir and lamb is not a surprising call, but it's a correct one. The earthy, red-fruited profile of Holloran has enough structure to meet the lamb's richness without stomping on the delicate herb crust. It's the most elegant pairing on a menu built for it.
The Bottom Line
The Blue Lion is a reliable wine program in a genuinely lovely setting — live guitar, historic house, serious game on the menu. The markup on some bottles is hard to forgive, but if you order with intention there are real wines here worth drinking. Send your friends, just brief them on what to avoid.
Jackson Town · Jackson Hole · Barbecue
Bubba's doesn't pretend to be a wine destination, and we respect the honesty — but the list is the definition of set-it-and-forget-it. Order a beer, enjoy the ribs, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Teton Village · Jackson Hole · Outdoor Bar
The Handle Bar is the kind of wine program that does exactly what it needs to do for its setting — no more, no less. You'll drink well here if you pick smart, but this isn't a destination for wine people so much as a very competent resort bar that happens to have Opus One on the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Jackson · Jackson Hole · Cafe / Bakery
Persephone isn't a wine destination, but it absolutely punches above its weight for what it is — a bakery-café with a genuinely thoughtful short list of natural pours at fair prices. If you're in Jackson and want a glass of something interesting without the steakhouse markup, this is your move.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Town of Jackson · Jackson Hole · French-Inspired Bistro
The Bistro earns its stripes as a reliable wine destination in Jackson Hole — the sommelier influence is visible, the European focus is coherent, and the list has depth worth exploring. Just go in knowing the markups are hotel-resort territory, and steer toward the Old World bottles where the curation is strongest.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
East of Jackson · Jackson Hole · Steakhouse / Grill
The Grill at Spring Creek Ranch delivers a competent, crowd-pleasing wine list that matches the lodge aesthetic perfectly — reliable, a little expensive, and zero risk. If you're here for the views and the bison, you'll drink well enough; just don't come expecting the list to match the drama outside the window.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Town Square · Jackson Hole · Tapas / Wine Bar
Bin22 is the wine bar that has no business being this good in the middle of Wyoming ski country, and that's exactly why we're sending people here. If you're in Jackson Hole and you care about what's in your glass, this is the only address that matters.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Big Cedar / Ridgedale Area · Branson · Upscale American
Osage Restaurant is a reliable wine stop, not a destination for it — the list is safe, the markups are real, and the views are doing a lot of heavy lifting. Come for the bison and the scenery; treat the wine list as background music, not the main act.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fitger's / Waterfront · Duluth · Upscale American
Boat Club is a reliable wine room for Duluth — a sommelier on staff, a genuinely broad glass pour program, and a Monday half-price bottle deal that should be on every local's calendar. The markups keep it from being a Rager, but if you play the specials and lean into the European selections, you'll drink well with a great view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Bluff Street / West St. George · St. George · Upscale American
Cliffside is a great place to eat in St. George, and a fine place to drink if you manage your expectations — the wine list won't excite you, but it won't embarrass you either. Order the Riesling, watch the sunset, and save the serious wine hunting for somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
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
