Great Margaritas, Skip the Wine List
Multiple · Boulder · Mexican · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The Rio Grande is a Boulder institution, and its margaritas are the stuff of local legend — but glance at the wine list and it's clear this place knows exactly what its priorities are. The wine program feels like an afterthought stapled to the back of a menu built around tequila and chips. Three recognizable grocery-store labels and a happy hour price point pretty much tell the whole story.
The list leans on approachable, mass-market imports: a Matua Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, a Ruta 22 Malbec out of Argentina, and a Mirrasou Pinot Grigio from California. These are not bad wines — they're just wines you've seen in the supermarket checkout aisle a hundred times. There's no regional depth, no surprises, and no apparent attempt to find producers that might actually complement Mexican food in an interesting way. If you came here hoping for something beyond the basics, you'll leave disappointed.
Everything on the list appears to be available by the glass at $8.50, which drops to $5 during happy hour — and honestly, that happy hour price is where this program earns a single point of redemption. There's no rotation or seasonal program to speak of; what you see is what you get, every visit.
Ruta 22 Malbec — $8.50
At happy hour pricing it's $5 for a glass of Malbec that actually makes sense alongside spiced meat dishes — not a revelation, but a reasonable pour for the money.
Matua Sauvignon Blanc
Most people here are ordering margaritas, which means the Matua Sauvignon Blanc sits quietly on the list. It's a crowd-pleaser with enough citrus snap to cut through guacamole and lighter dishes — the most food-friendly option on a short list.
Mirrasou Pinot Grigio
At $8.50 a glass the retail math almost works out — Mirrasou retails around $9 a bottle — but this is a $9 bottle. The markup is technically fair, the wine just has no business being ordered when a margarita exists.
Ruta 22 Malbec + Carne Asada
Malbec and grilled beef is a cliché for a reason — the fruit and soft tannins play well against charred, seasoned steak, and it's the one combination on this list that feels intentional rather than accidental.
The Bottom Line
Rio Grande is a margarita bar that happens to serve wine, and there's nothing wrong with knowing what you are. Order the cocktails, enjoy the food, and treat the wine list as a last resort.
University Hill · Boulder · Spanish- and Moroccan-inspired tapas and small plates
Cafe Aion's wine list is solidly built around its concept, and the daily 50% off bottles deal from 3pm to close is one of the most generous standing wine programs in Boulder — full stop. The markups at full price are steep enough to give you pause, so do yourself a favor and show up before dinner.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Baseline / CU South · Boulder · Brewpub / American
Boulder Social is a solid neighborhood hangout where beer is the move and wine is an afterthought priced accordingly. If it's Tuesday, half-price bottles change the math — otherwise, stick to the taps.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Pearl Street · Boulder · Italian
Via Perla isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's trying to be a great Italian osteria, and the wine list serves that goal honestly. Come for the pasta and the Barolo, don't overthink it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Williams Village / Baseline · Boulder · Italian
Carelli's is a dependable neighborhood Italian with a wine list that matches its ambition — comfortable and crowd-pleasing, not adventurous. Send your friend here if they want a nice Italian night and a bottle of Antinori; steer them elsewhere if they're hoping to find something they've never tried before.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Pearl Street · Boulder · Spanish-inspired, wood-fired cuisine and tapas with Mediterranean influences
Gemini is the kind of place Boulder doesn't have enough of — a restaurant where the wine list actually reflects the food and the region it's inspired by. If you eat Spanish, you should be drinking Iberian, and Gemini makes that case effortlessly.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Goss-Grove · Boulder · Argentinian / Latin American
Rincon Argentino is a genuinely good casual spot for Argentine food, but the wine list is a missed opportunity — overpriced supermarket bottles with no rotation, no discovery, and no apparent effort. Grab a glass with your empanadas, but don't build a night around the wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sedona · Mexican
89Agave is almost certainly a fun spot to eat — it's a cantina in Sedona, and the margaritas are probably doing the heavy lifting here anyway. The wine list, though, is purely functional and priced without much generosity, particularly at the higher end. If wine matters to your evening, order something simple by the glass and move on; this program isn't the reason to visit.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Murfreesboro · Mexican
Casa Tios is a Mexican restaurant that serves wine because people ask for it, not because anyone here is passionate about it. Order the margarita, or lean into the sangria — and save your serious wine night for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Mexican
Mi Cocina McKinney put exactly zero thought into their wine program, and it shows in every predictable bottle on that nine-label list. Order a margarita and don't look back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
