Italian Muscle Cars in a Posh Houston Room
River Oaks · Houston · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed La Griglia’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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.
Houston · Houston · Steakhouse
Doris Metropolitan's wine list is quietly one of the more interesting steakhouse lists in Houston — fair pricing, a globe-trotting selection with actual personality, and a dessert wine program that embarrasses most dedicated wine bars. We'd send a friend here with confidence.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Houston · Restaurant
Bar Bludorn is exactly the kind of wine program Houston needs more of — thoughtful, fairly priced, and deep enough by the glass that you can actually explore without buying a bottle. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a genuinely good one, and we'd send a friend here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Houston · Steakhouse
Perry's is a reliable steakhouse wine list — nothing that'll make you rethink your palate, but enough to drink well with red meat if you know where to look. The fortified and dessert wine section is genuinely worth your attention; the rest is competent but forgettable.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose · Houston · French
The Marigold Club is Houston's most interesting new wine room for anyone who thinks Champagne is a food group and France is the only country that matters — in the best possible way. Go on a Sunday, order the Delamotte, eat the Duck Wellington, and tip generously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Houston · Houston · American, Italian
Milton's is the kind of neighborhood trattoria that surprises you — the room says casual pasta night, the wine list quietly whispers Biondi-Santi. If you care about Italian wine and you're in Houston, it's worth a reservation just to explore the bottle list.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose · Houston · Italian
Marmo is hiding a legitimately serious Italian wine program behind a piano bar and a plate of hand-rolled pasta — and that's exactly what makes it worth seeking out. Send a friend here if they think Houston Italian restaurants don't take wine seriously; this list will change their mind.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Franklin · Italian
This is a chain wine list doing exactly what chain wine lists do — keeping it safe, keeping it recognizable, and marking it up just enough to pad margins. Drink here because you're having dinner, not because you're having wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fort Wayne · Italian
Biaggi's Fort Wayne is a safe harbor for anyone who wants a glass of California Cab with their chicken parmesan and doesn't want any surprises. If you dig past the obvious picks, there's a short but legitimate Italian selection worth your attention — but the list as a whole isn't why you're coming here.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Daytona Beach · Italian
The Garlic is punching above its weight class for a Daytona Beach Italian spot — 105 labels and 33 by-the-glass options is real effort, and the pricing is mostly honest. It's not a wine destination, but it's absolutely the right place to drink well if you're already there for pasta.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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