Skip the wine, order a margarita
Oyster Point / Jefferson Avenue · Newport News · Tex-Mex and American Casual Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 30, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Chili's Grill & Bar – Newport News’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 this Chili's is exactly what you'd expect from a laminated menu insert tucked between the appetizer section and the dessert page — a handful of names you've seen in supermarket checkout lines. There's no curation happening here, no story being told, just a short roster of mass-market California wines doing their best to be invisible.
We're talking six to ten wines deep, all California, all household-name brands: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, Barefoot, Mark West, Sutter Home. The regional range is nonexistent — this is the Central Valley and nothing else. No Riesling for the fajita crowd, no anything that suggests someone with wine knowledge touched this list. It reads like a corporate template because it is one.
Four options by the glass, priced $7–$11 during regular service and $5 during happy hour. The selection rotates between Barefoot Moscato, Barefoot Chardonnay, Woodbridge Chardonnay, and a Cabernet or Pinot depending on the day. That's it — no surprises, no upside.
Mark West Pinot Noir — $9
It's the least offensive option on the list and at least attempts to be a real wine. Among the Barefoot battalion, it stands out by default.
Barefoot Moscato
If you're sharing loaded fries and just want something cold and slightly sweet, lean into it — this is exactly the wine this list was built for and there's zero shame in that.
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Chardonnay
Retails for about $4.50 a pour at home from a 1.5L jug. Charging $9–$11 a glass for this is a 667% markup on a wine that tastes like it came out of a cardboard box. Hard pass.
Barefoot Moscato + Baby Back Ribs
The ribs skew sweet and smoky, and the Moscato's residual sugar actually doesn't fight that — it leans into it. It's not sophisticated, but it works better than the Cab will.
The Bottom Line
There is no wine program here, just wine-shaped options on a chain restaurant menu with markups that would make your eyes water if you checked the retail shelf. Order the margarita — it's what Chili's actually does well.
· 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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