3 Denver Restaurants Named Among Top Wine Spots In Country

DENVER, CO — Three Denver eateries have been named among America's 100 Best Wine Restaurants of 2019 — a list put together by editors at Wine Enthusiast. Another Colorado restaurant, in Winter Park, also made the cut.

The list isn't a ranking, nor is it based on prices or the restaurant's bottle count, the magazine said.

"Instead, it is a selection of restaurants where wine is shared and celebrated, and where, in our experiences, the selection, food, service and atmosphere are all exceptional."

The following restaurants in Denver made the cut:

Barolo Grill

Wine Enthusiast noted the restaurant has one of the largest Italian wine collections in the country, and said Barolo Grill "constantly introduces new producers and lesser-known regions, while de-cellaring older Barolo vintages."

Dish the magazine editors loved: Octopus, carrot-cardamom puree, pistachio-fava pesto, and pickled Fresno Chile

Morin

Editors said the new Denver restaurant "puts an exciting spin on traditional French cuisine," with menu items such as its foie gras terrine paired with whey caramel and its lamb tartare with lime yogurt and smoked egg yolk.

"The wine list features mostly smaller natural winemakers, with symbols for qualities like 'gulpable,' 'crystalline,' 'benchmark' and 'the funk.'"

Dish the magazine editors loved: Scallop, Asian pear, yam blanquette, chamomile, kelp

Tavernetta

Wine Enthusiast applauded the restaurant's ability to educate its guests about "new-to-them" wines.

“I know that if our team is behind a wine we can absolutely turn our guests on to something we love,” Tavernetta Wine Director Carlin Karr told the magazine. “We can still be a high volume restaurant in a large market and champion small, natural growers by the glass for more than just a week or two.”

Dish the magazine editors loved: Tagliatelle with Maine lobster, Calabrian chile, preserved tomato and celery

Deno's Mountain Bistro in Winter Park also made the cut. The magazine noted that the restaurant has one of Colorado's "deepest lists, with more than 1,000 labels."

"Look for lots of well-priced back-vintage bottles amassed over its 43 years in business"

Dish the magazine editors loved: 14oz certified Angus center-cut ribeye, broiled at 1700 degrees

Famous restaurants across the country were named on the list, including Atomix in New York, Alinea in Chicago and Republique in Los Angeles.

Read the full Wine Enthusiast report here.