Cozy Jackson institution that drinks well enough
Downtown Jackson · Jackson Hole · Upscale American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed May 19, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The Blue Lion has been feeding Jackson Hole since 1978, and the wine list feels like it's been quietly tended to without ever being seriously overhauled. It's not embarrassing — there are real producers here — but it's not a list that makes you lean forward either. Think: reliable house wine program for a room full of people who've just come in from a ski day.
At 80–120 bottles, this is a legitimate list with genuine geographic spread — Washington state, Oregon, France's Loire and Rhône, Bordeaux, Italy, Argentina, and Australia's Barossa all show up. Gramercy Cellars bringing a Washington red blend and Holloran Pinot Noir from Oregon give it some Pacific Northwest credibility that you don't always see at tourist-adjacent fine dining spots. The French contingent is thoughtful — a Domaine Curot Sancerre and Pesquié Terrasses Rosé signal someone here has taste. That said, gaps are real: Burgundy is thin, there's no serious Rhône depth beyond rosé, and the Italy selections lean predictable.
Fourteen options by the glass is genuinely solid — seven white/sparkling/rosé and seven red, with pours running $17–$24. The range is better than the price point suggests: you can get a Deux Vallées Chenin Blanc from the Loire or a Seppeltsfield Barossa Shiraz, which aren't wines you typically see on a by-the-glass program at a Wyoming steakhouse. The list rotates slowly if at all, which is fine until it isn't.
Deux Vallées Chenin Blanc (Loire, France) — $17–$24/glass (estimated)
Chenin Blanc by the glass anywhere outside a wine bar is a small miracle. Loire Chenin has the texture to stand up to rich dishes and the acid to cut through butter sauces — and it's almost certainly the least-hyped pour on this list, which usually means it's priced more fairly than the safe picks.
Gramercy Cellars 'Lower East' Red Blend (Washington)
Gramercy is one of Washington's most serious producers and 'Lower East' is a legitimately ambitious red blend. Most tables at a place like this will reach for the Bordeaux or the Malbec — walk right past them and order this. It's the kind of wine that rewards the curious drinker and makes the elk tenderloin order look very smart.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
A $13 retail bottle priced at $50 is a nearly 285% markup on a wine that was never worth $50 at any markup. This is a supermarket Chardonnay in a fine dining frame, and the math is insulting. There are at least three better Chardonnay options in this zip code — and on this same list.
Holloran Pinot Noir (Oregon) + Roasted Rack of Lamb
Oregon Pinot Noir and lamb is not a surprising call, but it's a correct one. The earthy, red-fruited profile of Holloran has enough structure to meet the lamb's richness without stomping on the delicate herb crust. It's the most elegant pairing on a menu built for it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Blue Lion is a reliable wine program in a genuinely lovely setting — live guitar, historic house, serious game on the menu. The markup on some bottles is hard to forgive, but if you order with intention there are real wines here worth drinking. Send your friends, just brief them on what to avoid.
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