Surprisingly Decent Pours at the Bowling Alley
· Bowling Green · American / Sports Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Drake's Bowling Green’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
Walking into a Drake's, you're not expecting to see Cloudy Bay and Sonoma-Cutrer on the wine list — and yet, here we are. The list skews heavily recognizable, which is both its strength and its ceiling. This is a place where your mom would feel comfortable ordering wine, and that's not nothing.
Twenty-three labels with a heavy California lean — Cabs, Chards, and Pinot Noirs dominate, with a few token international picks like Norton Malbec and Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc to keep things interesting. There's no Old World presence to speak of, and anyone looking for Burgundy, Barolo, or even a Rioja is out of luck. The Prisoner and Conn Creek slot in at the top end, and while neither is a deep cut, they're reliable crowd favorites. The real gap here is adventurousness — this is a list assembled for easy upselling, not exploration.
Twenty-two of twenty-three bottles are available by the glass, which is a genuinely impressive pour program for a sports bar concept. Glass prices run $12 to $30, which means most options hover around retail markup territory — acceptable but not generous. There's no by-the-glass rotation or any indication the program gets refreshed seasonally.
Norton Malbec — $48
Cheapest bottle on the list and Norton is a solid Argentine producer — not thrilling, but honest wine at the lowest ask. In a lineup that gets pricey fast, this is your budget-conscious move.
Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc
Most people at a place like this reach for Cloudy Bay on autopilot, but Wairau River is a Marlborough producer with real credibility and saves you $14 a bottle. Crisp, focused, and nobody at the table will complain.
The Drake Prosecco
A house-branded Prosecco at $75 a bottle is asking a lot. You're paying for the name on the label more than what's in the glass — Prosecco at that price point is a hard sell anywhere, let alone a bowling alley bar.
Decoy Sauvignon Blanc + Chicken Tenders
Drake's is a sports bar and chicken tenders are the move. Decoy's Sauvignon Blanc is bright and citrusy enough to cut through the grease and keep things refreshing — and at $48 a bottle it won't break the bank while you're watching the game.
The Bottom Line
Drake's Bowling Green isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more than most sports bars bother to do — familiar producers, a nearly all-by-the-glass program, and a few bottles worth ordering. Just watch the markups on anything above $60 a bottle.
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scottsville Road · Bowling Green · Steakhouse
Logan's Roadhouse isn't here to impress you with wine, and it doesn't. Order a beer, grab a bourbon, or smuggle in something worth drinking — the wine list is an afterthought and it knows it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Morgantown Road · Bowling Green · Mexican
Los Primos is a solid neighborhood Mexican spot, but the wine program is purely incidental — three glasses, no bottles, no story. Stick to the margaritas, which is almost certainly what the kitchen and bar were built around anyway.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scottsville Road · Bowling Green · Japanese
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Cheddar's wine list is the definition of a chain going through the motions — grocery store labels, steep markups, and zero personality. Order a cocktail or a beer, enjoy your chicken tenders, and save the wine for somewhere that actually cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Rio Washingtonian · Bethesda · American / Sports Bar
Yard House Gaithersburg is a craft beer destination that happens to sell wine — and the wine list knows it. Come for the taps, stay for the pretzels, and don't expect the Pinot Noir to surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Sierra / Tyler Mall · Riverside · American / Sports Bar
Yard House is a beer destination that happens to pour wine, and the wine list knows its place. Unless you're genuinely stuck here and need something in a glass, skip the wine, order a craft draft, and let the beer list do what it was built to do.
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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