Mountain Fine Dining With Napa on Its Mind
Manitou Springs · Colorado Springs · Upscale American, Contemporary Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 14, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Cliff House leans into its white-tablecloth identity — this is not a place that surprises you, but it takes the job seriously. A sommelier on staff and a list of 150–250 bottles signals real intention. The room sets expectations high, and the wine program mostly meets them.
The backbone here is California, full stop — Caymus, Jordan, Rombauer, and Duckhorn are the headliners, and they're playing to a crowd that already knows what it wants. There's a supporting cast from Willamette Valley and France that keeps things from feeling like a pure Napa greatest-hits compilation, but don't come expecting anything left of center. The regional mountain-Colorado angle is largely absent, which feels like a missed opportunity given the setting. It's a confident, conventional list — one that rewards guests who love the classics and leaves adventurous drinkers slightly under-served.
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass is a respectable spread for a hotel dining room at this level. You'll likely find the usual suspects — a Rombauer Chardonnay, something from Caymus — represented on the glass list, which means quality is there even if creativity isn't. We'd love to see more rotation and a few curveballs from the Willamette or Rhône to give the program some pulse.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — null
Jordan consistently overdelivers relative to its price point in the Cab category. In a room full of four-figure Napa bottles, it's the move that gets you Alexander Valley elegance without the markup guilt — and it holds up against anything game or beef on this menu.
Duckhorn Merlot
Everyone overlooks Merlot in a Cab-heavy list, but Duckhorn's is the real thing — structured, age-worthy, and underordered because the table next to you just said 'Cabernet.' It's a smarter pick than most people give it credit for, especially against the Colorado lamb.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine — we're not disputing that — but it's the most requested Cab in America and restaurants know it. That demand translates into an aggressive markup that rarely reflects what's in the glass anymore. You're paying for the label recognition, not a hidden steal.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Elk entrée (rotating seasonal preparation)
Jordan's Alexander Valley fruit profile — plum, cedar, restrained tannin — is practically built for game. The elk's earthiness and the wine's structure find each other without either one throwing a punch. It's the most Colorado pairing on a list that otherwise reads like it was written in Napa.
✔️ The Bottom Line
The Cliff House wine program is the dependable friend who always shows up dressed well — you know exactly what you're getting, and it's genuinely good, even if it never blows your mind. For a special occasion in the mountains, this is a comfortable, well-run room that will take care of you.
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