Great Beer Town, Forgettable Wine List
Midtown · Fort Collins · American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Moot House’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The Moot House is a genuinely charming English-style pub — warm wood, good energy, and a beer list that clearly gets the most attention. The wine list, on the other hand, reads like someone printed off the first page of a national distributor catalog and called it a day. Nothing here is going to excite you, but if you just need a glass of something red with your burger, you won't be stranded.
Twenty to thirty labels, almost entirely California mainstream and recognizable international brands — this is a list built for the path of least resistance. Joel Gott Cabernet, Meiomi Pinot Noir, Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio: these are grocery store staples that people already know, which is exactly the point. There's no depth here, no regional exploration, no independent producers worth talking about. Fort Collins has a genuinely curious drinking culture, and this list doesn't come close to meeting it.
Ten pours by the glass is a reasonable number for a spot like this, but the range doesn't stretch beyond what you'd expect. At $8–$14 a glass, you're paying restaurant prices for wines that top out at about $18 retail. The selection rotates little if at all — this feels like a set-and-forget program more than an active one.
Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon — $38
Joel Gott is a reliable, fruit-forward Cab that holds up to a table of burgers without embarrassing itself. It's not thrilling, but it's probably the best bang-for-buck on this list relative to what else is on offer.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Overexposed nationally, yes — but on a list this limited, it's actually one of the more food-friendly options. Light, clean, and honest, it's a better call than the Chardonnay if you're eating anything from the lighter side of the menu.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
At $36 a bottle, you're paying a 200% markup on a $12 retail wine. K-J Chard is fine in a grocery cart; it's not fine at three times the shelf price. Order the beer instead — this place actually knows what it's doing there.
Meiomi Pinot Noir + Prime Rib
Meiomi is plush, soft, and low in tannin — it won't fight the fat in a slice of prime rib the way a bigger Cab might. It's not a sophisticated pairing, but it works, and at Wednesday half-price bottle pricing it's at least an honest deal.
Wednesday — Half-price bottles on Wednesdays — the one real reason to drink wine here. Note: this promo is based on local reports and may not be formally advertised; confirm before you go.
The Bottom Line
Come to The Moot House for the atmosphere, the craft beer, and the fish and chips — not the wine. This list is a placeholder, not a program, and the markups don't justify the effort of choosing carefully.
Old Town · Fort Collins · Vegetarian / Plant-Based American
Tasty Harmony is not a wine bar, and it doesn't try to be — but it charges fair prices, pours across the whole list by the glass, and assembles a short list that actually makes sense with plant-based food. If you're eating here, drink the wine; you won't regret it.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town · Fort Collins · Tex-Mex / Mexican
Rio Grande isn't a wine destination, and it knows it — but Wine Down Wednesdays with 50% off bottles is a legitimately good deal that earns it a second look. Bring your margarita crew, order the Malbec with your burrito, and call it a win.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Steakhouse
The Still is a genuinely fun spot for whiskey and red meat, but the wine list is a clear afterthought — overpriced grocery store bottles with no story to tell. Order a pour from their whiskey program and save the wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Fort Collins · Fort Collins · French-influenced bistro; seafood-focused
Bistro Nautile is a genuinely appealing restaurant let down by a wine list that plays it safe with familiar labels and then charges aggressively for the privilege. Drink by the glass, stick to the interesting outliers, and don't let the French bistro atmosphere talk you into a $68 bottle of Daou.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Southwestern
Coyote's isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the pricing is fair, the Wednesday deal is genuinely excellent, and there's nothing actively wrong here. Show up on a Wednesday, order a bottle of Pinot Grigio for $19.50, and focus on the burrito.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Casual Seafood Chain
Red Lobster isn't trying to be a wine destination and the list makes that abundantly clear — grab the Riesling, enjoy the biscuits, and don't come here expecting anything beyond the expected. If wine matters to your dinner, eat somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Broadway at the Beach · Myrtle Beach · American Gastropub
Liberty Tap Room is a solid spot for cold beer, a burger, and a game on the screen — but the wine list is an afterthought and the pricing reflects zero effort to earn your wine dollars. Come for the beer, skip the bottle.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · La Crosse · American Gastropub
The Crow is a legitimately fun bar — just come for the bourbon and craft beer, not the wine. If you need a glass, grab the Elmaro Rosa to support a local producer and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
College Area / Mount Royal · Duluth · American Gastropub
Tavern on the Hill is not a destination wine spot, but it's a fair, unpretentious list that earns its keep in a fun room. If you're in the neighborhood and want a decent glass with your pizza, you won't leave disappointed — just don't come in expecting anything beyond the basics.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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