You’ve probably heard that the air is more pure at higher altitudes and that’s certainly true in Denver, Colorado. The mile-high city has pure oxygen and purer argon gas in many of the wine bottles at the restaurants on this list. If you’re an adventurous wine drinker looking for your next best glass, here are the top spots to visit to satisfy your palate – all of which have Coravin pours on the menu.
Best Denver Wine Bars and Restaurants Pouring with Coravin
1. Corridor 44
This chic Champagne bar in Larimer Square is open for dinner and late night sips and bites, and after one look at the menu you’ll wonder why this isn’t your go-to date night spot. Want oysters on the half shell? This is your place. Fancy a quatre fromages grilled cheese? Corridor 44 has got that too. Espresso crème brulee? You’ve come to the right place. Don’t miss happy hour on Monday thru Friday from 3-6pm, or ladies’ night on Wednesdays from 4pm to close where $4 champagne cocktails are available all night. (Also, please check the Google reviews to see the most asked question: “What’s the name of the ghost in the building? Answer: Amelia.)
2. Sushi Den
Reservations are limited at this local-favorite sushi spot, but that’s only because the team saves room for walk-ins, so don’t be too bummed if there’s nothing available on Resy. Call before you head over and you might get lucky! Almost all of the wines on the menu are available by the glass, including a Dr. Hermann German Riesling (don’t sleep on off-dry European white wines with spicy tuna – it’s a match made in sushi heaven) and Overture by Opus One. Try one of the kitchen specials and trust your server – this place has outstanding service to match the atmosphere and fresh fish!
3. Cranelli’s
Picture this: you’ve just spent the day out in the Rockies, blazing new trails and seeing for miles, and now you’re in need of some serious carbs. Shower off, get dressed, and make your way to Cranelli’s, a place that’s as authentically Italian as it sounds. Baked shells, linguine carbonara, and chicken parmigiana pasta await you, along with perfectly paired Italian wines by the glass, thanks to Coravin! Try something new: a Scarbolo Pinot Grigio Ramato (orange wine!), a glass of the Poggerino Sangiovese Rosato (rosè!), or a Lambrusco (sparkling red!) from Emilia-Romagna. You could pick your meal by pointing at the menu with your eyes closed and not be disappointed at this Denver institution.
4. 1914 House
There’s nothing old and creaky about this place, no matter what the name might imply. This New American restaurant in Niwot has what I might consider the perfect assortment of appetizers ranging from fried Brussels sprouts to yellowfin tuna poke, and if you make it past the appetizer menu, you’ll have just as difficult a time choosing an entree. Everything looks too delicious to rule out. 1914 House accommodates reservations for up to six people for dinner Wednesday thru Sunday, so pick your five favorite friends who are down to share plates. Everyone is going to want a bite of whatever you order – and a sip of your wine! All are served by the glass.
5. Frasca Food and Wine
Planning a ~special~ date? Need to impress your in-laws who are coming to town? Look no further than Frasca Food and Wine, a northern Italian James Beard Foundation Award winning restaurant in Boulder on Pearl Street. A la carte dining includes sole, risotto, short rib agnolotti, and various other delights, but if you’re splurging, choose the Friulano Tasting Menu and optional wine pairings. This prix fixe menu showcases Italian mountain cuisine and includes pairings from France, Austria, and Italy. Finish up with a vintage amari and pretend you’re in the foothills of the Alps with every sip.
6. Sunday Vinyl
If I ever go missing, please post my photos in wine bars like Sunday Vinyl instead of on milk cartons so that I’m more likely to be found. In all likelihood, I’m not lost, I’m just working my way through the menu! On Mondays, Sunday Vinyl hosts supper club, a weekly prix fixe dinner club with wine (duh) and a curated vinyl playlist. Check the SV supper club page to see what’s on the menu this week. Practicing dry Mondays? No problem. Sunday Vinyl hosts regular events and flight nights, or you can stop in for happy hour Tuesdays thru Saturday from 4:30–6pm or Sundays from 2–6pm. Thanks to Coravin, you can craft your own custom flight of three half glasses at any time, or check out the daily “dream flight,” consisting of three stellar sommelier picks from the SV cellar, until sold out.
7. Tavernetta
If you liked the thought of Frasca, you’ll love this sister restaurant in the Kimpton Hotel Born on 16th Street. Lunch is served Monday thru Friday from 11am–2pm, and dinner is served nightly (5–10pm; happy hour is available from 4–6pm). The menu offers cheeses and salumi, antipasti, handmade pastas, and robust entrees. The wine menu is a by-the-glass love letter to Italy, and includes a country-spanning list of wines by the glass. Order the burrata and a glass of the Le Monde Pinot Grigio from Fruili and cozy up in the fireplace lounge. Locals rave that the service is as lovely as the food.
Do you have other Denver hot spots or best-kept secrets to add to this list, or have you been to the restaurants listed here? Let us know!
Brielle Buckler (she/her), founder of Viva la Vino (on Instagram as @vivalavino_nyc) , is a wine enthusiast who loves rare varietals, busting wine myths, and making the world of wine more approachable. While Brielle is typically based in the NYC area, she has been traveling the country by car for the past year, hosting virtual wine tastings from the road (check out her brick background – it’s a backdrop she brings with her!). The philosophy of Viva la Vino is that wine is only good if you like it, and Brielle is passionate about helping wine drinkers of all levels understand what qualities they prefer in wine and why. She wants to help others be more confident ordering wine in a restaurant or asking for recommendations in a wine shop. Brielle currently holds her WSET II certification and is waiting to sit for her WSET III exam.