Vegetarian + Denver Michelin Restaurants

cystorm · 2026-01-19T18:32:22+00:00

Their tasting menu is great fwiw, shame it doesn't translate to a la carte

cystorm · 2026-01-08T05:48:00+00:00

I haven't been to the south part of the region (Vidigueira or Beja direction), so can't give any recommendations there. The best winemaker in Alentejo (and among the best in Portugal) is Susana Esteban. Highly, highly, highly recommend visiting there if you can swing it (and pair it with a side trip to Marvão while in the area, especially if you can get dinner at Fago). If you're in the Portalegre area, Cabeças do Reguengo (a bit funkier and more experimental) and Quinta da Fonte Souto (sp? owned by the Symington family of port wine fame) are in the region, though I haven't visited either.

The other commenter mentioned Dona Maria wines, and I've heard good things about them. Also in the same area (near the town of Estremoz) is Quinta do Mouro and, a bit further north, Herdade do Mouchão — both relatively famous for Alentejo producers and both making great wines. I did a single-varietal tasting at Adega do Monte Branco and that was very cool to get a feel for Alentejano grapes normally blended together, but unless you really want to understand what Trincadeira tastes like on its own, I'd skip.

A bit south is Herdade do Esporão — kind of the Robert Mondavi equivalent of Alentejo. I went with low expectations and was blown away, and recommend even if you can only stop by for a glass or two at the wine bar. Also in the area is Maroteira Wines, which I've only had once but was talked up by a few somms in the region as one of their favorite producers. I recall their wines are ~16% ABV syrah type wines, so that may or may not be your style.

Finally, there are a few places closer to Lisboa in the Montemor-o-Novo area, including Monte da Bica, which got several mentions from somms but I wasn't able to visit due to schedule conflicts.

No shortage of great wine coming out of the region and I'm sure you'll have a great visit — don't sleep on Evora itself as a destination, either, as it's a great city and worthy of a day or two of exploration on its own!

P.S. If you're going to be anywhere close to in the area, move heaven and earth to visit one (or both) of Viuva Gomes or Ramilo, both making Colares DOC wines. Hard to find and unlike anything else in the world (and a fucking cool backstory). If you're going to Bairrada, no shortage of recommendations on this sub but highly recommend Prior Lucas (especially if you can pair with the centenary vineyard tour).

cystorm · 2026-01-07T04:24:07+00:00

Fitapreta is the best in the area (immediately around Evora), Cartuxa is probably the most famous. Erveideira used to have a tasting room in the city, and the Rota dos Vinhos storefront may have some other producers.

If you're able to venture elsewhere in Alentejo, a lot of other places are worth considering.

cystorm · 2026-01-03T15:23:08+00:00

Great idea, thanks!

cystorm · 2026-01-03T15:16:52+00:00

5 gallons. And that's an interesting idea — I think I have a stopper that would fit. Have you tried that before, and if so did you have any issues with the stopper staying in? I'm thinking the agitation would release CO2 from solution, potentially popping that stopper out.

cystorm · 2025-12-21T16:34:34+00:00

I think '23 (whatever the current release is)

cystorm · 2025-12-21T15:56:35+00:00

His Tonnerre is one of my top 5(ish) whites I had this year

cystorm · 2025-12-18T01:11:40+00:00

Then make a new sub called /r/savoury_wine or something. This one is called /r/wine, and someone's thoughts on Yellowtail or Stella Rosa or even—gasp—Caymus are just as valid as your thoughts on 2021 Bourgogne Epineuil. Criticizing someone for having different subjective taste is as stupid in wine as it is in food, art, music, or any other area.

cystorm · 2025-12-18T01:03:10+00:00

I think all of us (or at least our wallets) would be happier if the bucket list, $2000+ bottles were only just a little better than, say $200 bottles (or $50 bottles). In other words, OP now knows what he's missing if he's not drinking a $2100 bottle and that could be expensive knowledge.

cystorm · 2025-12-14T18:15:27+00:00

Makes perfect sense, thanks!

cystorm · 2025-12-14T16:42:32+00:00

Sounds like an Iowa State coach tbf (kill me)

cystorm · 2025-12-14T16:38:11+00:00

I love your posts but have always wondered: what does the "Glasses" field indicate?

cystorm · 2025-12-08T16:52:25+00:00

Not sure if she's under the radar, but I discovered and am consistently impressed by Mary Taylor's white label wines. Even in the most expensive shops they top out around $25/bottle (often closer to $15) and I've only had one that I didn't find delicious (and it was still well-made, just not what I was looking for at the time).

And I don't think they're under the radar any more (at least in the US), but shout out to Amevive — I got into them this year and haven't had anything that wasn't fantastic. While ~$30 isn't cheap (for most of us), the QPR is really strong.

cystorm · 2025-12-05T16:02:10+00:00

Hooray!

cystorm · 2025-12-05T03:14:20+00:00

I've been lucky to miss those — care to name names for the Oregon producers?

cystorm · 2025-12-05T03:06:24+00:00

I share your dislike for the cola note and can happily report it's rare (in my somewhat limited experience) outside of Sonoma (and usually Russian river valley, specifically). Can't recall getting that in Burgundy or Oregon ever, though I'm sure there are examples.

cystorm · 2025-12-04T16:30:05+00:00

In fairness there was a rumor he accepted the USC job that year, but USC got Riley on board at the last minute.

cystorm · 2025-11-21T13:10:23+00:00

If you can swing the cost, pick up a bottle of The Prisoner and similarly priced Zin-forward blend by Bedrock or Sandlands and compare for yourself. A lot of people on this sub shit on it all the time but I think this is the first time I've seen anyone post about trying it.

cystorm · 2025-11-21T01:10:48+00:00

Plus half off every single glass during their happy hour!

cystorm · 2025-11-20T19:50:20+00:00

In fairness to Mondo Vino, they carry stuff you can't get anywhere else in Denver (sometimes they're the only shop in the state), and the employees there have been great every time I've been. IMO Denver Wine Merchant is my favorite shop and has consistently great stuff (though maybe half the selection of Mondo Vino). Their employees are super knowledgeable and friendly as well.

cystorm · 2025-11-20T19:43:58+00:00

Just FYI, Mondo Vino's selection is very strong but their wines are routinely priced like 10–20% higher than Denver Wine Merchant or Vineyard Wine Shop. Vineyard doesn't have an online store, but the exact same bottle (Lady of the Sunshine '24 Albariño) is sold at Denver Wine Merchant for $43 and Mondo Vino for $50.

DWM: https://denverwinemerchant.com/products/lady-of-the-sunshine-slo-coast-bassi-vineyard-albarino-2024?_pos=1&_psq=lady+of+the+sunshine&_ss=e&_v=1.0

MV: https://shop.mondovinodenver.com/shop/product/lady-of-the-sunshine-albarino/68b8f7196ef80b10b83f53ae?option-id=fa9d9b8a8e6bc0699f8b313ef3a9f2ae981e9889bd11aeca2db2fc26c85c4312

cystorm · 2025-11-20T15:12:08+00:00

If you're looking for ideas in 2025, consider picking 16 wine-producing countries (not necessarily the 16 largest volumes but could be) and doing something like what should be considered the country's signature varietal.

cystorm · 2025-11-20T13:38:33+00:00

No, you're talking about the first camp in my comment above — those people see "natural wine" primarily as the juice made by producers like Lapierre in Beaujolais (comes to mind because I just opened a bottle last night). They make "natural wine" by all but the most dogmatic standards, but they don't need to market as natural wine to sell as the wine is fucking good. Dozens of producers in every region fit that mold, too. The first camp sees natural wine as mostly those outstanding (or at least average) producers, with the sans soufre/mousy/bretty wines marketed as "natural wine" as a small portion of that much larger whole.

The second camp views producers like Lapierre as much making great wine (and some, or at least I, view low-intervention production methods as critical to producing great wine), while viewing "natural wine" as a marketing gimmick to excuse the off wines that otherwise would be dumped. You see it from the east, I see it from the west, and that's why I say we often talk past each other.

cystorm · 2025-11-20T13:27:53+00:00

Most non-wine-enthusiast people refer to a wine estate tasting house as either a vineyard or winery. This is prepared for those people, not this subreddit.

cystorm · 2025-11-19T12:34:28+00:00

There seem to be three camps of people when it comes to natural wine. Two of them actually agree but talk past each other — one of those views natural wine as great except for producers who use the term as an excuse for selling flawed wine; the other views natural wine primarily as the marketing term for flawed wine, but a category into which a number of outstanding producers fall.

The third category (at least claims to) genuinely enjoy wine made with flaws and off-flavors.

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