Carrabba's Italian Grill – McKinney

The wine list arrives looking like what it is — a corporate-curated document designed to offend no one and surprise no one. That's not a death sentence; it just tells you where you are. If you walked in expecting a deep Italian regional cellar, recalibrate.

The list runs 40-60 bottles and leans predictably on mainstream Italian and a smattering of California crowd-pleasers — the kind of selection built for a table of six with mixed opinions. What does stand out is a small but legit port and fortified wine section featuring Sandeman Founder's Reserve, Graham's 10-Year Tawny, and Warre's Otima 20-Year Tawny — that's a nicer dessert wine lineup than most suburban Italian chains bother with. The core table wine selection, however, doesn't dig deep into any particular Italian region; it's broad and safe rather than curious or adventurous. Gaps in natural wine, grower Champagne, or anything remotely obscure are wide and expected.

With 12-18 by-the-glass options, there's enough variety to navigate a multi-course dinner without repeating yourself, which is genuinely more than some mid-range chains offer. The rotation doesn't appear to change aggressively — this is a set-and-forget program with occasional national feature additions. For most guests ordering pasta and a chicken dish, the glass pour selection will get the job done.