Top of the Town 2011

When we sit down and scope out a wine list, there are a couple of things in particular we’re looking for. The first is to be surprised. The second is a price range that won’t force us to take out a second mortgage for a bottle of grape juice. Row 14 in downtown’s Spire hits the sweet spot with its constantly changing list. When we visited not long ago, we found a fantastic bottle of Pinot Noir from Germany (Germany!) and had a killer Grüner Veltliner from Austria. Both bottles were under $50. And for those of you not into lesser-known wines from lesser-known regions, fear not: There’s plenty from France, Italy, California, and New Zealand here. The list, in fact, is so diverse and so reasonably priced that everyone—from the wine novice to the hard-core oenophile—will find something to enjoy. 891 14th St., Ste. 100, 303-825-0100, www.row14denver.com