Oshkosh's living room, with decent wine
Downtown Oshkosh · Oshkosh · Wine bar with contemporary American and globally inspired small plates · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Gardina's Wine Bar & Café’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Gardina's, the vibe does a lot of the heavy lifting — cozy, dimly lit, the kind of place that makes you want to order a second glass before you've finished the first. The wine list reads like a greatest-hits album of recognizable labels, which will comfort most guests and quietly disappoint anyone hunting for something off the beaten path. It's a wine bar in the truest Midwest sense: approachable, comfortable, and not trying to intimidate anyone.
The list leans hard on California and pulls in a few Italian and New Zealand regulars to round things out — think Meiomi, Josh Cellars, Apothic, Kim Crawford, La Marca. These are crowd-pleasing names that practically sell themselves, and there's nothing wrong with that for a downtown Oshkosh wine bar. The gap, though, is real: there's no Old World depth to speak of, no natural wine curiosity, no small-producer story to discover. If you're looking for a Burgundy or even a decent Ribera del Duero, you're going to be scrolling back up and settling.
The by-the-glass program is the heart of the operation, running somewhere between 15 and 25 options depending on the night — that's genuinely strong for a market like Oshkosh. Prices sit in the $7–$12 range, which keeps things accessible and encourages exploration even if the exploration doesn't take you very far geographically. Rotation feels more seasonal than adventurous, but the volume of options means most guests will find something that works.
Meiomi Pinot Noir — $32
Not cheap by any measure, but if you're going bottle-route in this room, Meiomi is the most food-friendly option on the list and holds up well against the flatbreads and small plates. It's a safe call in a lineup where the alternatives are largely bolder reds with less versatility.
La Marca Prosecco
Most people overlook the bubbly at a place like this and go straight for red, but La Marca by the glass is a smart move at Gardina's. It's lively, crowd-pleasing, and works as an aperitif or alongside lighter small plates in a way the Cabernets simply don't. Worth ordering before the room gets loud.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
At $34 a bottle — nearly double the $18 retail price — you're paying a steep premium for a wine you could grab at any grocery store on the way home. The markup here is the highest relative offender on the list, and Kim Crawford is ubiquitous enough that there's no novelty factor to justify it.
La Marca Prosecco + Artisan Flatbread
The Prosecco's bright acidity and light effervescence cut right through the richness of a loaded flatbread without competing with it — it's a cleaner, more refreshing combination than reaching for a heavier red. Order the glass, not the bottle, and pace yourself.
Tuesday — Historical reports indicate weeknight house wine specials on Tuesdays, though current structure is not fully verified — confirm with the restaurant before making it a destination night.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Gardina's is the kind of reliable neighborhood wine bar that earns its place in a city that doesn't have many alternatives — the vibe is right, the glass count is solid, and Tuesday specials make it easier to forgive the markup. Just don't come here looking for discovery; come here looking for a good evening.
Highway 41 / South Side corridor · Oshkosh · Steakhouse
Delta Steakhouse is here for the steak, full stop — the wine list is functional set dressing, not a destination in itself. Come for the prime rib, order a beer if you're watching your wallet, and save the serious bottle for somewhere that earned it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East / Northeast Oshkosh · Oshkosh · American Casual Dining
Applebee's isn't trying to be a wine destination and it shows in every corner of this list — but if you're here for the Boneless Wings and want something cold in a glass, Kim Crawford gets the job done and the prices won't hurt you. Don't come here for wine; order a beer.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Side Oshkosh · Oshkosh · Seafood
Red Lobster's wine program exists to check a box, not to enhance your dinner — the markups are steep, the list is frozen in 2009, and the staff is not here to help you navigate it. Stick to the cocktails or bring a bottle if they allow corkage; either way, the wine is not the reason you're here.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central / Oshkosh Avenue corridor · Oshkosh · Takeout Wings / Sports Bar Lite
Order a beer. If someone at the table insists on wine, point them toward the cava and change the subject. Buffalo Wild Wings GO in Oshkosh is not a wine destination, and pretending otherwise does nobody any favors.
Grocery Store
Steep
Red Flag
MIA
Set & Forget
Hot Mess
West Side Oshkosh · Oshkosh · American / Burgers
Red Robin's wine program exists because a full bar technically requires wine, not because anyone here cares about it. Order the Riesling, eat your burger, and save the real wine conversation for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Side Oshkosh · Oshkosh · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is here for the steak, the rolls, and the line dancing — and that's fine. The wine list is a corporate placeholder that nobody on staff can speak to and nobody in the kitchen designed the menu around. Drink the beer, enjoy the sirloin, and save the wine night for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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