Nob Hill's Dependable Pour, Night After Night
Nob Hill · Albuquerque · Contemporary American bistro with global and New Mexican influences · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro’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
Walk into Zinc and the wine bar energy hits immediately — this place takes its list seriously enough to put it front and center, both in name and in practice. A 150-200 bottle list in Nob Hill feels ambitious, and it mostly delivers. The cellar bar downstairs adds a layer of atmosphere that makes you want to linger over a second glass.
The list leans California-heavy with familiar faces from France, Italy, and the Pacific Northwest filling in the gaps. New Mexico producers get a respectable nod, which earns real points — not many bistros bother. The problem is the anchor producers feel safe to the point of predictable: Jordan Cab, Sonoma-Cutrer Chard, Meiomi Pinot. These are crowd pleasers that work, but there's not much here that'll make a wine geek's eyes light up. The French and Italian selections are where the list could use more love — right now they feel like supporting cast rather than co-stars.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is genuinely strong for an Albuquerque bistro — most places half-heartedly offer eight and call it a day. The presence of Whispering Angel on pour signals they know their audience and aren't afraid to stock something with real demand. Rotation appears limited though; this reads more like a fixed list than one that gets refreshed with seasonal energy.
Local New Mexico Selections — null
New Mexico wine punches well above its national profile, and Zinc is one of the few spots in the city actually championing local producers on a serious list. If you're visiting from out of state especially, skipping these for a California label you can get anywhere is a missed opportunity.
Local New Mexico Selections
Most diners beeline for the Jordan or the Sonoma-Cutrer without a second thought. The New Mexico pours are the ones worth asking about — high desert viticulture produces genuinely interesting wines and Zinc is one of the better places in town to explore them.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a $12-14 retail bottle that shows up on lists everywhere at a steep premium. There's nothing wrong with it as a wine, but at restaurant markup it's a bad deal when more interesting options are sitting right next to it on the same list.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Steak Frites
Jordan Cab is classic California — ripe, structured, with enough tannin to stand up to red meat without overwhelming it. The steak frites gives it a proper stage, and the richness of the dish smooths out any rough edges. It's a straightforward call, but it works every time.
The Bottom Line
Zinc is the kind of place you're glad exists in your neighborhood — a genuine wine bar with a real list, decent by-the-glass depth, and a room that actually feels suited for drinking well. Markups keep it from being a destination, but for Nob Hill on a weeknight, it earns its reputation.
· Albuquerque · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Albuquerque won't win any awards for wine creativity, but as a corporate steakhouse list goes, the South American focus is thematically solid and the VIK selections give wine-curious diners something to actually get excited about. Bring a Malbec drinker, skip the Casillero, and consider ordering up into the VIK range if the occasion calls for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Albuquerque · New Mexican / Farm-to-Table
Campo's wine list shouldn't be this good for a 16-bottle farm restaurant, and the pricing is almost suspiciously reasonable. If you're passing through Albuquerque, this alone is worth the detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Nob Hill · Albuquerque · French Bistro
P'tit Louis is doing something genuinely uncommon in Albuquerque: a French wine list that actually earns the bistro name. It's not the deepest list in the world, but it's focused, fairly priced, and full of bottles worth ordering — send a friend here and tell them to skip the Jadot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Uptown · Albuquerque · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Albuquerque won't win any awards for wine creativity, but the South American red game is solid enough to get you through a meat marathon without regret. Just don't expect to discover anything new — this list is on autopilot.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Uptown · Albuquerque · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Albuquerque is the reliable airport terminal of wine lists — you know exactly what you're getting, it'll cost more than it should, and nothing will go wrong. If you're celebrating and want to hand someone a bottle of Silver Oak without any drama, this is your spot; if you're here for wine discovery, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
North Valley/Los Poblanos · Albuquerque · Cocktail & Wine Bar
The Library Bar at Los Poblanos isn't trying to be a serious wine destination — it's trying to be an honest expression of place, and it largely succeeds. If you care about drinking local and you haven't touched a New Mexico bottle in a while, this is the right room to fix that.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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
