Nine Bottles and Zero Ambition
· McKinney · Mexican · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Mi Cocina McKinney’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Nine bottles. That's the whole list. At a sit-down Mexican restaurant where you'd love to wash down tacos with something interesting, nine crowd-pleasing labels is a swing and a miss. The wine program here reads less like a curated selection and more like someone ordered whatever was on sale at the restaurant depot.
Every single bottle on this list is a recognizable grocery store brand — Whitehaven, Santa Margherita, La Marca, Sonoma-Cutrer. These aren't bad wines in isolation, but together they form the most predictable lineup imaginable: a Sauv Blanc, a Pinot Grigio, two Chardonnays, a Pinot Noir, two Cabs, a Rosé, and a Prosecco. No regional curiosity, no nod to Mexican wine culture, no orange wine, no anything that would make you think someone with a wine brain assembled this. There are zero wines from Mexico, Spain, or anywhere that might actually complement the cuisine. The list hasn't changed in spirit since 2015.
No by-the-glass program details are available on the menu, which is itself telling. If there's a rotating glass pour situation happening here, they're keeping it a secret. Our best guess is a handful of these nine bottles are available by the glass at the usual inflated pour pricing.
The Bottom Line
Mi Cocina McKinney put exactly zero thought into their wine program, and it shows in every predictable bottle on that nine-label list. Order a margarita and don't look back.
· McKinney · Southern American
Ida Claire isn't a wine destination, but it's a solid place to drink wine — especially if you time it for happy hour. Show up between 3 and 6, order the shrimp and grits, and let someone else worry about the cellar.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· McKinney · Italian
Taverna Rossa's wine list gets the job done for a casual dinner out, but the markups on familiar bottles make it hard to recommend going beyond a glass or two. Stick with the Barbera or the Guigal and save the splurge for the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Italian
Bravo! is a competent chain wine program — wide by-the-glass selection, a few Italian producers worth noting, and prices that are steep but not insulting. You're not coming here for the wine list, but you won't regret ordering either.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Seafood & Steakhouse
Truluck's isn't a destination wine list, but the nightly happy hour deals and an actual sommelier on staff mean you can drink well here without too much pain — just lean on the bar specials and let the secret wine surprise you. Send a friend who cares more about stone crab than obscure growers, and they'll leave happy.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
· McKinney · Italian
Brio McKinney's wine list won't win any awards and the markup will sting if you reach for the California heavyweights, but there are a few genuinely Italian picks buried in there worth finding. Come for the food, order thoughtfully, and stick to the Old World side of the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · New American
Gather isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's okay — but the $63 Syrah by the glass and the static, California-heavy list suggest the program hasn't been pushed in a while. Stick to the mid-tier pours, order the Chianti, and enjoy it for what it is: a casual neighborhood spot where the wine won't derail the evening.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Tucson · Mexican
Seis Kitchen is almost certainly doing great things with food, but the wine program is essentially nonexistent — three unnamed pours at bare-minimum prices with zero information to guide a choice. Come for the tacos, order a beer or a margarita, and don't look at the wine list.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irvine Spectrum · Irvine · Mexican
Javier's Irvine is a genuinely good night out — the food is the draw, the room delivers, and the wine list will get you through dinner without embarrassing anyone. But if you're coming specifically to drink well, temper expectations: this is California-safe territory with pricing that reflects the zip code more than the cellar. Order the carne asada, ask what's open by the glass, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sedona · Mexican
89Agave is almost certainly a fun spot to eat — it's a cantina in Sedona, and the margaritas are probably doing the heavy lifting here anyway. The wine list, though, is purely functional and priced without much generosity, particularly at the higher end. If wine matters to your evening, order something simple by the glass and move on; this program isn't the reason to visit.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.