Safe Italian Bets, No Surprises Either Way
· McKinney · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Brio Italian Grille McKinney’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The list at Brio McKinney reads like it was built by committee — every wine a recognizable name, every choice defensible to a skeptical table of six. There's nothing here that will make a wine person lean forward, but nothing that will actively offend them either. It's a restaurant wine list doing exactly what a restaurant wine list usually does: covering bases.
Twenty-seven labels organized into Vino Rosso, Vino Bianco, and Bubbly — tidy, predictable, and heavy on California. The Italian representation is real but thin: Cecchi Chianti DOCG, Il Poggione Rosso di Toscana, Planeta Nero d'Avola, and a Bertani Valpantena Amarone are the highlights, giving the list at least a geographic reason to exist at an Italian restaurant. The rest leans hard on crowd-pleasing California stalwarts — Caymus, Rombauer, Decoy, Rodney Strong — names your uncle knows and trusts. Whites bring a couple of decent Friuli Pinot Grigios from Gambino and Terlato, which is a pleasant nod to where Pinot Grigio actually comes from, but Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc on an Italian list still feels like a shrug.
No by-the-glass breakdown is confirmed from the data we have, so we can't tell you what's pouring and at what price — which is itself a minor red flag when you're trying to plan a midweek dinner around a single glass. At a chain with 27 labels, expect a standard selection of the biggest names to be available by the glass, but verify at the table.
Il Poggione Rosso di Toscana Red Blend — null
Il Poggione is a serious Montalcino producer, and their Rosso di Toscana is typically an accessible, food-friendly red that punches above its price point. On an Italian menu, this is the bottle that actually fits the food and the address — if the price is fair, it's your move.
Gambino Pinot Grigio Friuli Colli Orientali DOC
Most people at an Italian chain will reflexively order whatever they already know, but this Friuli Colli Orientali Pinot Grigio from Gambino is the real thing — mineral-driven and structured, nothing like the watery mass-market PG that dominates Italian-American restaurant lists. Most tables will walk right past it.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine at a fair price — in a bottle shop. In a restaurant, the markup turns a $45 retail bottle into something considerably more painful, and it has nothing to do with Italian food anyway. You're paying for brand recognition, not value.
Cecchi Chianti DOCG + Pasta with meat sauce or a classic Italian red sauce dish
Chianti and tomato-based pasta is a cliché because it works — the acidity cuts through the richness of the sauce, and Cecchi is a reliable, well-made producer. At an Italian-American chain, this is the pairing that will actually make your meal taste better.
The Bottom Line
Brio McKinney's wine list won't win any awards and the markup will sting if you reach for the California heavyweights, but there are a few genuinely Italian picks buried in there worth finding. Come for the food, order thoughtfully, and stick to the Old World side of the list.
· McKinney · New American
Gather isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's okay — but the $63 Syrah by the glass and the static, California-heavy list suggest the program hasn't been pushed in a while. Stick to the mid-tier pours, order the Chianti, and enjoy it for what it is: a casual neighborhood spot where the wine won't derail the evening.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Pizza & Pub
Cadillac Pizza Pub won't change how you think about wine, but it won't ruin your night either. Grab the Chianti with your pizza, skip the KJ Chardonnay, and enjoy the fact that you can get a decent glass for $8.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · American Asian Fusion
Kona Grill McKinney is not a wine destination, and it knows it — this list exists to sell bottles, not to educate or excite. The by-the-glass depth is legitimately useful, but if you're somebody who cares about what's in your glass, manage expectations before you sit down.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Craig Ranch / SH 121 · McKinney · American / Brewhouse
BJ's McKinney is a beer destination with a wine list that exists mostly as a formality — the Wednesday half-price deal is the only reason to engage with it seriously. Come for the craft beer and the Pazookie; the wine is just along for the ride.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
SH 75 Corridor · McKinney · Asian Bistro
P.F. Chang's wine list won't win any awards, but it's doing exactly what it needs to do for a busy suburban dinner crowd. Don't come here for a wine experience — but don't write it off either, especially if you know what to order.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SH 121 Corridor · McKinney · Steakhouse / American
Saltgrass McKinney is a reliable spot for a Texas-style steak, but the wine list is clearly not why anyone is driving out here. Unless you're sticking to the J. Lohr Pinot or talking someone into splitting the Hampton Water, you're better off ordering a cocktail and calling it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Italian
Palermo isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood Italian with a list that respects the cuisine and won't punish your wallet. Send a friend here if they want a good bottle with dinner — just steer them toward the Italian side of the list.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Randolph · St. Paul · Italian
Luci Ancora isn't here to dazzle wine geeks, but it earns its keep as a thoughtful neighborhood Italian with a list that respects the kitchen. If you're after a quiet dinner and a well-chosen Italian bottle, you're in the right place.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Galleria · Irving · Italian
North Italia isn't a destination wine list, but it's a genuinely respectable one — fair prices, regional Italian whites worth ordering, and enough variety to reward curious drinkers. Send your friends here knowing they won't be stuck choosing between Pinot Grigio and nothing.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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