Palm Springs has never been short on style—but it has been waiting for a wine destination that truly understands the moment. Enter Canopy Wine Lounge Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley’s first upscale wine lounge, now officially introducing Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer and her new fall menu. This is not just another pretty room with bottles on the wall. It’s a place where nearly 150 exceptional wines from around the world meet elevated California cuisine designed to actually pair with what’s in your glass.
For diners coming from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or West Hollywood—cities where expectations run high—Canopy Wine Lounge Palm Springs delivers a refined yet fun-loving experience that feels thoughtful, modern, and refreshingly unforced.
Why Canopy Wine Lounge Palm Springs Is Different
Let’s be honest: many wine bars promise sophistication and deliver cheese plates on autopilot. Canopy doesn’t play that game.
As the first upscale wine lounge in the Coachella Valley, Canopy was built to be both a destination and a neighborhood hub—polished, but welcoming. The wine list spans nearly 150 bottles, including standouts like Lithology (St. Helena), Waypoint (Napa), Otronia (Patagonia), and Alkina (Barossa Valley). This is a serious global lineup, curated for people who love discovery as much as familiarity.
The space itself—designed by California Modern and Midcentury Modern icon Christopher Kennedy—frames sweeping views of the San Jacinto Mountains. It’s the kind of setting that makes you slow down, order another glass, and forget what time it is (relatable).
Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer’s Unconventional Path
Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer did not follow a straight line into the kitchen—and that’s exactly why her food works.
Born and raised in Boston, Puttkamer’s early love of food was shaped by traveling across Europe with her grandmother, absorbing flavors from Ireland to Italy. She later earned a degree from New York University, then entered the finance world at Goldman Sachs—hardly a typical culinary origin story.
After biking across the country and eventually landing in Los Angeles, she worked in talent agencies before making a bold pivot at 38: culinary school. That decision led her to The Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, an externship at Michelin-starred State Bird Provisions, and work at Darioush Winery under Michelin-starred chefs Chris Lemerand and Sean Massey.
That layered background shows up on the plate: confident, precise, and deeply intuitive.
A Menu Built for Wine Lovers (Not Just Food Photos)
Chef Puttkamer’s menu at Canopy Wine Lounge Palm Springs is a vibrant, flavor-forward celebration of California’s agricultural bounty—crafted with wine in mind, not as an afterthought.
Local and seasonal ingredients lead the way, with thoughtful touches like Tsar Nicoulai Caviar sourced from Northern California. Standout dishes include her Fried Green Tomatoes with locally grown produce, Tartines built on sourdough starter she’s nurtured for over five years, and Handmade Potato Cakes layered with Old Bay remoulade, Dungeness crab, and pickled leeks.
This is food that plays well with wine—bright, textured, and fun-loving—without overpowering the glass. It’s the kind of menu that invites sharing, tasting, and ordering “just one more thing” (also relatable).
Wine, Diplomacy, and Desert Wren
Canopy Wine Lounge was conceived in collaboration with Noah Mamet, former U.S. Ambassador to Argentina and founder of NMA Partners. His personal Mendoza label, Gran Diplomat, anchors a broader global wine vision that includes winemakers like Michel Rolland, Philippe Melka, Alberto Antonini, and Juan Pablo Murgia.
Adding to the intrigue is Desert Wren, the first and only wine made in Palm Springs, crafted by sommelier and winemaker Josh Kelly and aged in terracotta amphora on site. It’s a true sense-of-place bottle—and a conversation starter by design.
For context, the Wine Institute notes that experiential wine programs are increasingly shaping how consumers engage with wine—something Canopy embraces fully: https://wineinstitute.org.
Mini FAQ: Canopy Wine Lounge Palm Springs
Q: What is Canopy Wine Lounge Palm Springs?
A: The Coachella Valley’s first upscale wine lounge, featuring nearly 150 global wines and elevated California cuisine.
Q: Who is the Executive Chef at Canopy Wine Lounge?
A: Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer, a CIA-trained chef with Michelin-level experience.
Q: Can you buy wine to take home?
A: Yes. All wines are available for on-site enjoyment or retail purchase.
With Executive Chef Kristin Puttkamer at the helm, Canopy Wine Lounge Palm Springs sets a new benchmark for wine-driven dining in the desert. It’s elegant without being stiff, serious about wine without losing its sense of fun, and designed for people who actually love to taste, linger, and connect. Whether you’re visiting from Los Angeles or calling Palm Springs home, this is a table worth claiming.
Canopy Wine Lounge is open every Thursday through Monday from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm and closed every Tuesday and Wednesday. Happy Houris offered every Thursday through Monday from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Guests can enjoy almost 150 wines at Canopy Wine Lounge as well as purchase any bottle for retail. For more information about Canopy Wine Lounge or to make reservations, please call 760.656.0054 or visit www.CanopyWineLounge.com or OpenTable.com.
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The food looks amazing! The wine list is intriguing. We’ll see
Wow. Palms Springs food scene is heating up!!