Mountain Lodge Hiding a Serious California Cellar
Boone · Boone · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You drive a winding back road through ferns and forest, arrive at a stone cottage, and the last thing you expect is a Wine Spectator-recognized list waiting inside. The contrast is the whole point — this place is gourmet in hiking boots, and the wine list leans into that same confident-but-unpretentious energy.
Gamekeeper runs a tight California-forward program of 150-250 bottles anchored by the names serious wine drinkers already know: Jordan, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, Duckhorn, Caymus, Cakebread, Rombauer. It's not adventurous — you won't find a skin-contact Friulano or an obscure Jura Savagnin — but the hits are well-chosen and the pricing stays honest. The list pairs logically with a menu heavy on game meats and bold flavors, where a Napa Cab actually earns its place. We'd love to see some domestic Pinot from Oregon or a Rhône-style red sneak in to break up the California monoculture.
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass gives you genuine range for a mountain restaurant of this size. The rotation doesn't appear to change aggressively, but the quality floor is high — you're not getting mystery bulk wine in a Rombauer or Cakebread lineup. Order a glass, see the view, order another.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $35–$50 (estimated glass/entry bottle tier)
Jordan consistently overdelivers for its price point, and on a list where Caymus and Silver Oak often command a premium, Jordan is where the smart money goes — structured, approachable, and honestly one of California's most reliable Cabs at this tier.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Most tables here are reaching for Caymus on autopilot, but Stag's Leap is the more interesting bottle — historically significant, more restrained than its neighbors on this list, and it handles venison and elk in a way the bigger, jammier Cabs can't quite match.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
It's everywhere, it's marked up everywhere, and it's the default order for guests who haven't looked past the first page. Nothing wrong with the wine itself, but at whatever premium a destination restaurant charges for the most-ordered Cab in America, your money works harder elsewhere on this list.
Duckhorn Merlot + Venison
Duckhorn Merlot is plush and structured enough to stand up to the iron-rich intensity of venison without bulldozing it — the wine's dark fruit and cedar notes act as a bridge rather than a fight. It's a more elegant call than the obvious Cab grab and lets the game meat actually shine.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Gamekeeper is a genuinely surprising find tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains — the setting alone would justify a trip, but a Wine Spectator-recognized list with fair pricing on serious California names makes it worth the winding road. Don't come expecting discovery pours, but do come expecting to drink well.
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