Aurora's Surprisingly Thoughtful Wine Room
· Aurora · New American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 2, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Common Good’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Seventy-three labels at a New American spot in Aurora isn't what most people are expecting, and the list earns a second look. The sparkling and Chardonnay sections alone have more going on than plenty of Denver proper spots. It reads like someone genuinely put thought into this, even if the price tags push back a little.
The list leans heavily into Chardonnay — and not lazily. You've got Jordan, Stag's Leap Karia, Leeuwin Estate from Western Australia, and Giant Steps Circle of Fifths from Yarra Valley all sharing the same page, which is a range you don't often see outside a dedicated wine bar. The sparkling section is similarly ambitious: Chapel Down Brut from England, Jean Josselin Contexture from Champagne, and Nicolas Feuillatte all sitting alongside Veuve Clicquot at $145. Rosé gets its own section with real options — Tormaresca Calafuria and Gust Rosé of Pinot Noir show some range beyond the usual suspects. The gaps are mostly on the red side, where the data thins out, but what's here suggests someone is curating this list with a point of view.
Twenty-four glass pours is a serious commitment, and the range runs from $12 to $22. The Benvolio Prosecco ($15/glass) and Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve ($15/glass) give you bubbles at approachable price points, while Hartford Court Chardonnay ($18/glass) and Lettre d'Eloise Chardonnay ($20/glass) push the quality ceiling for pours. That's a solid spread for a table that can't agree on a bottle.
The Bottom Line
The Common Good is doing more with its wine list than its Aurora zip code might suggest — 73 labels, a thoughtful Chardonnay section spanning California to Western Australia, and 24 pours by the glass gives you real options. Markup runs a bit steep across the board, and we don't have enough intel on staff knowledge or red selections to call this anything more than a reliable neighborhood overachiever. If you care about wine and you're eating in Aurora, this is the room.
· Aurora · Wine Bar / Small Plates
PH1315 is doing something genuinely interesting for Aurora — a tight, Italian-accented glass-only list at prices that don't insult you. It's not a destination wine bar, but it's the kind of neighborhood spot that makes you glad it exists.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southlands · Aurora · New American / Wine Bar
Wine Experience Cafe is the kind of place that earns its name in a neighborhood where most restaurants don't try at all. It's not a destination list, but it's an honest one — and in a shopping center in Aurora, that's worth celebrating.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aurora · Meadery Tasting Room
Dragon Meadery isn't a wine destination — it's something more interesting. If you send a friend here expecting Burgundy, they'll be lost; if you send them open-minded and curious, they'll probably come home with a bottle of something they've never tried before and can't stop talking about.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
· Aurora · Sinaloan / Mexican Seafood
Nobody walks into a Sinaloan seafood restaurant expecting Billecart-Salmon and Pieropan on the glass list, and that surprise is exactly what earns this place a Wild Card. If you're ordering from the sea side of the menu, the wine list here will actually help you — which is more than you can say for most restaurants twice the price point.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Aurora · Mediterranean
Pita Central is here for the food, full stop — the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved seems fine with that. Order a beer or a soft drink and save the wine for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greenwood Village · Aurora · Urban Winery
InVINtions is a genuine neighborhood wine spot in a market that doesn't have enough of them — the staff enthusiasm and approachable format make it worth a visit even if we can't pin down every bottle. Go with an open mind and a friend who likes to try things; you'll leave happy.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
Smyrna · Atlanta · New American
Muss & Turner's isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and that honesty is oddly refreshing. If you're in Smyrna on a Tuesday, the reported wine-focused night is reason enough to show up early, grab a seat, and let the shrimp and grits do the heavy lifting while you figure out what's on the list.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American
Soho's wine list is built for people who already know what they like — California reds, recognizable labels, no curveballs. The markup is real (Faust at $132/bottle and Moët at $138 are tough to justify), but the by-the-glass depth gives you flexibility to stay in a reasonable range. If you're here for the food and want a no-drama pour, you'll find it — just don't come expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sandy Springs · New American
The Ashford runs a tidy, unpretentious wine program that punches at roughly the weight you'd expect from a neighborhood New American spot. The pricing is fair, the Sancerre and Chenin Blanc suggest some real curation happened, and the all-glass format means you're never forced into a bottle. It won't move you, but it won't embarrass you either — which in Sandy Springs counts for something.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.