The Wine List Corporate Sent Down From HQ
Whittlesey / Bradley Park · Columbus · Italian Chain · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Carrabba's Italian Grill – Columbus’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Carrabba's Columbus reads exactly like what it is: a laminated insert that arrived from a corporate office in Tampa. You already know every name on it before you open the menu. That's not a compliment.
Twenty-five to forty wines spread across Italy and California, with a heavy tilt toward brand-name crowd-pleasers that you can grab at any Kroger on the way home. Ruffino Chianti is the lone nod toward something with actual regional character, and even that's a supermarket staple. There's no depth, no discovery, no independent producer worth circling. The list exists to check a box, not to complement the food.
Roughly ten to fifteen options by the glass, and they cover all the bases in the most predictable way possible — Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio, Meiomi Pinot Noir, KJ Chardonnay, Josh Cab. Rotation appears to be nonexistent; these are the same pours the location opened with and will likely close with. If you're hoping for anything rotating or seasonal, keep hoping.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon — $11/glass
At a 276% markup it's still not a deal, but it's the least egregious pour on the list — Josh is at least a drinkable, consistent Cab that holds up against a bowl of pasta. Relatively speaking, it's the least bad option in a bad situation.
Ruffino Chianti
It's not exciting, but Chianti with Italian food is at least contextually correct — and at this list, context counts for a lot. More people order the Meiomi. They shouldn't.
Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio
You are paying $9 for a glass of wine that retails for $9.99 a bottle. That's a 338% markup on one of the most forgettable Pinot Grigios in American grocery stores. Order water. Order a Peroni. Do anything else.
Ruffino Chianti + Chicken Marsala
Chianti's bright acidity and earthy edge have enough structure to cut through the Marsala sauce without fighting it. It's not a revelatory pairing, but it's the most coherent wine-and-dish combination this list allows.
The Bottom Line
This is a wine list that was designed by committee to offend no one and excite no one, priced to extract maximum margin from people who aren't paying close attention. Enjoy the Chicken Bryan, drink water, and save the wine for somewhere that actually tried.
Uptown · Columbus · Fusion / New American
Vertigo shouldn't have a wine list this interesting — and that's the whole point. If you're anywhere near Columbus, Georgia and care even a little about what's in your glass, this place is worth the detour.
Surprising Depth
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbus · Seafood chain
This is a wine program in name only — three crowd-pleaser labels at chain markups with no soul behind the selection. Order a cocktail or a beer and spend your money somewhere it's appreciated.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbus · Rooftop American
Eighteen85 is a place to drink wine, not to drink well. Come for the view, order something cold, and set your expectations accordingly — the list won't surprise you, but at least it won't bankrupt you either.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbus · New American
For Columbus, Georgia, The Animal Farm's wine list is a genuine Wild Card — small but considered, fairly priced, and stocked with producers most local restaurants haven't heard of. We'd absolutely send a friend here with instructions to start with the Riesling and work their way through the whites.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Columbus · American / Bistro
The Loft is a great time if you're there for the music, the scene, or a solid burger — but the wine list is along for the ride, not leading the charge. Come thirsty for the atmosphere; manage your expectations on the glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown Columbus · Columbus · Seafood
Red Lobster 13th St. is not a wine destination — it's a seafood chain where wine exists because a menu has to have one. Order the Riesling with your lobster tail, enjoy the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and make your peace with it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Belden Village · Canton · Italian Chain
Carrabba's Canton isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — four reds and a seasonal dinner don't make a wine program. Order the cocktail, or BYOB if they allow it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · Italian Chain
Romano's Macaroni Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes no attempt to pretend otherwise. Order a $4 house red, enjoy the pasta, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Route 9 South · Poughkeepsie · Italian Chain
Olive Garden's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain that considers breadsticks the main event — functional, safe, and completely unambitious. Come for the pasta, drink the Chianti Classico, and don't expect anything more.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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