Italian Muscle Cars in a Posh Houston Room
River Oaks · Houston · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at La Griglia arrives with some weight to it — 250-plus bottles skewing hard toward Italy, which is exactly what you want when you're sitting under colorful murals in one of Houston's splashiest Italian dining rooms. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence in 2024, and you can see why the moment you hit the Piedmont section. This is not a list that's phoning it in.
Piedmont and Tuscany run the show here, and they run it well — Barolo, Barbaresco, Brunello di Montalcino, and a Super Tuscan lineup that includes Sassicaia and Tignanello, which are the names people actually want to see. Producers like Gaja and Antinori anchor the Italian side with serious credibility. California gets its corner too, led by the crowd-favorite duo of Caymus and Silver Oak Cabernet — predictable choices, sure, but they sell for a reason and they're here if you need them. The list doesn't stray far from its Italian-Californian lane, so if you're hunting for Burgundy or Rioja, you may feel a little stranded.
With 20-35 by-the-glass options, La Griglia isn't stingy about letting you explore without committing to a bottle. The glass program likely pulls from both the Italian and California strengths of the broader list, giving you a real shot at finding something worthwhile for a solo pour. We'd love to see more rotation and seasonal programming here — the program feels solid but a bit static.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $45
Entry point into serious Tuscan Sangiovese without the Brunello price tag — this is the bottle that lets you eat well and drink well on the same ticket.
Barbaresco
Everyone reaches for the Barolo, but Barbaresco often delivers the same Nebbiolo complexity with a little more finesse and, frequently, a friendlier price point — don't sleep on it.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine, but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles on any restaurant list in America. You're paying a premium for a label everyone already knows — the Italian side of this list has far more interesting options at a better relative value.
Sassicaia + Wild Boar Chop
A bold Super Tuscan built on Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc needs something equally assertive — the gamey, rich wild boar chop is exactly that match, and this is the kind of pairing that makes you remember a dinner.
✔️ The Bottom Line
La Griglia is a genuinely reliable wine destination for Italian-focused bottles in Houston, with real sommelier support and a list that earns its Wine Spectator credential. The markups keep it from being a true Rager, but if you navigate toward the Italian side and away from the celebrity California labels, you can drink very well here.
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