The Wine List That Gave Up First
Oyster Point / Jefferson Avenue · Newport News · American / Casual Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 30, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Applebee's Grill + Bar’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list here isn't really a wine list — it's a footnote at the bottom of a laminated menu. You'll clock it in about four seconds, because there's almost nothing to read. This is the wine program as afterthought.
Six to ten bottles, all from California, all from the kind of producers you'd find in the checkout line at a grocery store. Sutter Home, Barefoot, Woodbridge — these aren't bad people, but they're not exactly making the case for wine culture. There's no regional exploration, no depth, no moment where you think 'oh, interesting.' The list exists to satisfy a checkbox, not a curiosity.
Four pours by the glass at $6–$10, which is at least honest about what this is. You're not discovering anything new here — you're just deciding whether you want the White Zin or the Chardonnay. Rotation is not a concept that applies.
Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon — $8
At the lower end of the price range and the most food-friendly bottle on the list — it'll hold up against a burger or ribs better than anything else here.
Barefoot Chardonnay
Nobody comes to Applebee's for a Chardonnay moment, but at ~$7 a glass it's cold, inoffensive, and works fine alongside lighter apps if you're not trying to think too hard about what you're drinking.
Sutter Home White Zinfandel
It's 2024. You deserve better than a White Zin from Sutter Home, even at chain restaurant prices. Order the cocktail instead.
Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon + Double Crunch Bone-In Wings
The Cab's fruit-forward softness smooths out the heat and salt from the wings without asking too much of either. It's the most functional pairing on a list that isn't built for pairings.
The Bottom Line
This wine list exists so Applebee's can say it has one. Order the two-for-one cocktails and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that has any.
· Newport News · American Bistro
This isn't a wine list in the traditional sense — it's a producer showcase, and Second Street leans into it with a multi-course dinner format. If you're into Napa and trust the Spoto brand, it's a worthwhile evening; if you wanted options, you're out of luck.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Newport News · Italian
Carrabba's wine list does exactly what a chain wine list does: it keeps people comfortable and keeps margins high. If you're here for a business dinner or a family birthday, order the TerraMare house pour and move on — but don't come here expecting wine to be part of the experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · American
Cheddar's is a casual comfort-food chain, and the wine list reflects exactly that level of ambition — none. Order a beer or a cocktail and save the wine conversation for somewhere that wants to have it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Steakhouse / Cocktail Bar
Steak & Tonic is a genuinely surprising find for Newport News — the wine ambitions outpace most steakhouses in its weight class, even if the execution can wobble and the pricing likely skews steep. It earns the Wild Card badge because it's the kind of place you walk into expecting a cocktail and walk out talking about the wine list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Wine Bar
Vino Noir Social isn't trying to be a Burgundy deep-dive — it's trying to be a good time in Newport News, and at these prices with a fully by-the-glass list, it mostly delivers. Send a friend who's still exploring wine and wants a low-stakes, affordable night out.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newport News · Japanese / Sushi
Hayashi's wine list is exactly what it needs to be for a neighborhood sushi spot — fair prices, nothing weird, nothing special. Grab the Kung Fu Girl Riesling and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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