Park City wine lists that wow
Local restaurants that are known for their winning wine ways
Winter/Spring 22-23
Written By: Ted Scheffler | Images: Courtesy The St. Regis Deer Valley and Bangkok Thai on Main
Park City boasts more than its fair share of outstanding dining destinations. But alas, man cannot survive on food alone. A well-selected beverage paired with your favorite dish can elevate the dining experience in the same way a newly tuned pair of skis can improve your style on the snow.
Keeping in mind that the biggest wine list isn’t always the best, here are a handful of local restaurants that excel in providing well-selected wines that enhance the dining experience.
Tupelo Park City owners Maggie Alvarez and Matt Harris pride themselves on the well-chosen wines they offer their guests. It’s a beautiful wine list that spans the globe’s winemaking regions — from the ancient vines of Sonoma’s Bucklin Old Hill Ranch and Châteauneuf-du-Pape in France to the Douro Valley in Portugal and the Marlborough region of New Zealand. The brut sparkling wine from New Mexico’s Gruet Winery is the perfect pairing for Chef Harris’ buttermilk biscuits with honey butter.
You wouldn’t be off-base to assume that a Thai eatery wouldn’t have a sensational wine list — most don’t. But Bangkok Thai on Main is a notable exception. The upscale Thai restaurant has garnered numerous Wine Spectator magazine awards for its distinct wine selection. That selection ranges from Dom Pérignon Vintage Champagne, which pairs beautifully with the lobster mango spring rolls, to magnums of The Prisoner Red Blend to enjoy with rich dishes like pork belly prik king or the roasted duck with lychee red curry.
If you believe that it’s preferable to drink French wines with French fare and Spanish wines with Spanish tapas, then Grappa Italian Restaurant is a great place to investigate. The restaurant has a staggering selection of imported Italian wines to accompany their Italian cuisine (in addition to wines from around the world). I’d reach for a glass of Vietti Roero Arneis to sip alongside the risotto with scallops and maybe a bold Barolo to complement Grappa’s slow- braised veal osso bucco.
The 45-page wine list at RIME in The St. Regis Deer Valley is an eye-popping one. Thankfully, a very skilled sommelier named Polina Jensen is on hand to help guests navigate it. You can trust her when she recommends a glass of Trimbach Gewürztraminer to enjoy with the spicy and smoky Octopus a la Plancha or a sampling of the Ada Nada Cichin Barbaresco Riserva with their Snake River Farms Wagyu Steak.
Although Courchevel Bistro sports wines from around the world, it’s not surprising that this French-style bistro leans heavily toward French fermented grapes. And why not? It makes perfect sense to indulge in Château Bernadotte Bordeaux with an order of bison rib-eye steak frites or to sip Domaine Richel Apremont with Arctic char bouillabaisse, right?
Deer Valley Resort’s Mariposa restaurant tempts thirsty guests with one of the best wine lists in the state. There is something for everybody’s wine palate on the extensive list — but maybe you’d like an expert to do the hard work of pairing wines for you. If so, just opt for one of the multi-course tasting menus at Mariposa, which come with sommelier-recommended wine pairings like a glass of Albert Bichot Fixin or Domaine Faiveley Vosne-Romanée to sip alongside the rustic Wild Mushroom Tart.
And finally, this list wouldn’t be complete without mention of 350 Main, a fine dining go-to in the heart of historic Park City. They’ve received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence every year since 1998 (the restaurant opened in 1995). Their curated Captain’s List includes the finest French sparkling wines along with reds and whites from vineyards as far flung as Africa and Argentina.
