Fresh Oysters, Stale Wine Thinking
Southwest Amarillo · Amarillo · Seafood
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Drunken Oyster’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The Drunken Oyster leans hard into its coastal seafood identity — fresh oysters, lively bar energy, casual fun. The wine list, though, reads like it was assembled by someone who got nervous and just grabbed California labels they'd heard of. It's safe to the point of being forgettable.
The list sticks almost entirely to California with a nod toward the Pacific Northwest — think La Crema, Cakebread, Sterling, Goosecross, and Fetzer. It's a lineup that checks recognizable boxes without taking a single interesting swing. For a seafood restaurant where crisp whites and rosé should be doing heavy lifting, there's a real missed opportunity to bring in some Muscadet, Albariño, or even a decent Chablis. What's here is drinkable, just uninspired.
The by-the-glass situation isn't fully documented, but the pricing data suggests most options are poured from the same California-heavy bottle list. There's no evidence of a rotating glass program or anything that would suggest someone's actively tending this list. You're likely looking at a small handful of predictable pours.
Fetzer Riesling — $9
At $9 a glass with only an 11% markup over retail, this is the closest thing to a fair deal on the list. It's not a complex Riesling, but at this price point alongside a plate of oysters, it earns its place.
La Crema Pinot Gris
Most people at a seafood spot reach for Chardonnay out of habit. The La Crema Pinot Gris at $15 with a modest 33% markup is the smarter call — better acidity, brighter fruit, and it actually works with shellfish.
Cakebread Chardonnay
At $13 a glass it sounds reasonable until you realize the bottle retails for $45 — that's a 246% markup. Cakebread is a fine wine, but you're paying a lot for the name recognition here.
Goosecross Chardonnay + Fresh Oysters on the Half Shell
Goosecross is a step above the bulk California Chards on this list, with enough restraint to not bulldoze briny oysters. At $18 with a 39% markup it's the most honest splurge on the menu.
The Bottom Line
Drunken Oyster is a great spot for oysters and a good time, but the wine list is coasting on name recognition and charging you for the privilege. Order the Fetzer Riesling or La Crema Pinot Gris, avoid the Cakebread trap, and save your serious wine energy for somewhere else.
Downtown Amarillo · Amarillo · Italian Steakhouse
Toscana is doing the most with wine in a city that doesn't ask much of its restaurants on that front. The markups sting and the list plays it relatively safe, but if you're eating in Downtown Amarillo and want a real wine experience, this is your spot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
South Georgia / Soncy · Amarillo · American
Send a friend here for wine? Only if they lost a bet. Order a margarita, enjoy the riblets, and save the wine night for somewhere that's actually trying.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
I-40 West · Amarillo · Southern / Country
Cracker Barrel is doing exactly what it set out to do — serve comfort food at highway speed — and wine is an afterthought by design. Come for the biscuits, skip the wine list entirely, and nobody gets hurt.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
I-40 East · Amarillo · Southern / Country
Would we send a friend here for wine? Only if that friend had wronged us. Order the sweet tea, enjoy the rocking chairs, and revisit the wine question at your next stop.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Amarillo · New American / Fine Dining
OHMS is doing real cooking, and the wine list hasn't kept up — steep markups on grocery-store names don't match the ambition on the plate. Go for the duck confit, order a cocktail, and save the wine night for somewhere that's actually trying.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Amarillo · Cajun & Creole, Seafood
The Drunken Oyster is a genuinely fun place to drink wine with oysters in a city that doesn't offer a ton of alternatives — just go in knowing the markup is working against you on the bubbles. Stick to the still wines, order something from California, and let the French Quarter vibes do the rest.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Carmel · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood
Catch is a dependable wine stop for a seafood dinner in Carmel — nothing here will disappoint you, but nothing will surprise you either. If you go in with calibrated expectations and order the Schramsberg with your crab, you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Hood River · Hood River · Seafood
Votum is operating a world-class wine program in a town most people only stop through on the way to a hike — the depth of this cellar belongs in a major city restaurant, and the sommelier presence means you're not navigating it alone. The markups on the prestige bottles will sting, but find your entry point and this list rewards serious attention.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bowen's Wharf · Newport · Seafood
The Lobster Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly competent list for what the restaurant is — a casual waterfront spot where the lobster is the star. Order the Sancerre, eat the oysters, watch the boats.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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