The picturesque mountain town of Steamboat Springs, CO, is jamming during ski season, and tourists and locals alike flock to Hannah Hopkins’ three popular downtown restaurants. Yampa Valley Kitchen, Bésame and Mambo’s Italiano all focus on chef-driven, scratch-made and creative cuisine, and boast innovative beverage programs.
We asked Hopkins for her favorite wines to offer by-the-glass at each restaurant, and what she likes to pair them with. Here are her picks.
Mambo Italiano
At Mambo Italiano, it’s the 2022 Lugana Zenato “San Benedetto” (priced at $14 a glass/$56 a bottle). This dry white wine has notes of dried apple, pineapple and vanilla, with a long brilliant finish; a perfect “patio pounder” on a hot summer night at Mambo’s in the high country. The wine pairs beautifully with prosciutto and melon, mussels and/or our shrimp and linguine
Bésame
For the Latin-Asian fusion restaurant Bésame, it’s the 2020 Tempranillo Viña Sastre Tinto ($16 a glass/$64 a bottle) from Ribera Del Duero, Spain. This tempranillo has notes of dark fruit, spices, black pepper and vanilla with a long spicy finish paired beautifully with tapas. This is the staff favorite for the last five years.
Yampa Valley Kitchen
And at Yampa Valley Kitchen, housed in a renovated 1900s farmhouse and serving elevated classic comfort food, it’s the 2022 Lunaria “Ramora” biodynamic pinot grigio from Abruzzo, Italy ($12 a glass/$48 a bottle). We are excited to be offering this organic and biodynamic wine by the glass at Yampa Valley Kitchen.
It pairs so well with our entire concept. It’s not only beautiful to look at because of coppery color, but it’s so delicious with aromas of melon, Asian pear, stone fruit with a good amount of minerality and a refreshing finish. This pairs well with lighter food, salads and seafood.
