Breadsticks Win. The Wine List Doesn't.
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · Italian
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Olive Garden’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 wine list here reads like the shelf at a gas station that's trying to seem upscale. Nineteen options, mostly supermarket staples, with a to-go menu that suggests the wine program was built around convenience, not craft. There's nothing offensive about it — it's just completely uninspired.
The list leans hard on brands that basically sell themselves: Meiomi Pinot Noir, Sutter Home White Zinfandel, Beringer Merlot, Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet. There's a token nod to Italy with a Rocca delle Macie Chianti Classico, which is genuinely the most interesting thing on here, and Chateau Ste. Michelle shows up twice for the Pacific Northwest crowd. New Zealand gets a seat with Starborough Sauvignon Blanc. But mostly this is a list of wines you've seen on every chain restaurant menu since 2009 — it hasn't evolved, it doesn't need to, and that's exactly the problem.
By-the-glass pricing wasn't verified during our research, which is itself a small red flag — a restaurant proud of its glass pours makes them easy to find. What we do know is the to-go menu tops out at $33 and starts at $5.79, suggesting the glass pours are priced for volume, not quality. Don't expect anything poured here to surprise you.
Chianti Classico Rocca delle Macie — $33.00
It's the only wine on this list with any actual regional identity. Rocca delle Macie is a solid, dependable Chianti producer, and if you're eating pasta in a place called Olive Garden, at least this one has Italian DNA.
Riesling Chateau Ste. Michelle
Nobody orders Riesling at Olive Garden. That's their loss. Ste. Michelle's Riesling is a genuinely good Washington State bottle that punches above its price point — bright acidity, a little sweetness, and it actually holds up to the heavier cream sauces on this menu.
White Zinfandel Sutter Home
There is no universe in which Sutter Home White Zinfandel deserves a spot on a restaurant menu in 2024. This exists to sell itself, not to enhance your dinner.
Riesling Chateau Ste. Michelle + Zuppa Toscana
The Riesling's acidity cuts through the sausage fat and cream in the Zuppa Toscana better than any Chardonnay on this list will. It's an unlikely match that actually makes sense.
The Bottom Line
Olive Garden Denton's wine list is what happens when a corporate committee designs a menu for the broadest possible audience and then never revisits it. Come for the breadsticks and the Zuppa Toscana — but if you care about what's in your glass, you already know this isn't your spot.
Downtown Denton · Denton · Seafood, American Cajun
Hoochies is an oyster bar first and a wine destination never, but the list is functional enough that you won't feel stranded. Order the catfish, grab a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, and save the wine deep-dive for another night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · American
Cheddar's wine program exists to check a box, not to serve you well. Order a cocktail or a beer — they've actually put thought into those — and save the wine for a restaurant that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · American
BJ's Denton is a beer hall that happens to stock wine, and the list makes that priority crystal clear. If you must drink wine here, come on a Tuesday — Half Off Wine Tuesday is the one thing this program does that actually earns a tip of the glass.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Golden Triangle Area · Denton · Texas steakhouse / American
Saltgrass Denton is a solid place to eat a steak; it is not a place to drink wine. Order a Shiner, grab the J. Lohr if you need something in a glass, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that shares it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
South Denton · Denton · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse Denton is not a wine destination — it's a rolls-and-steak destination, and that's completely fine. Order the cocktail, drink the beer, and save your wine enthusiasm for somewhere that returns the favor.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Denton · Denton · American / Tex-Mex
This wine program exists to check a box, not to enhance your meal — if you're at Chili's Denton for the wine, something has gone wrong. Stick to the margaritas, which is almost certainly what the restaurant intended all along.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Anaheim · Italian
Vincenzo's Terrazza doesn't push any boundaries, but the Frescobaldi trio and that Brunello give the list more backbone than you'd expect from a casual Italian in Anaheim. Come for the food, drink the Nipozzano, leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sacramento · Italian
Aiona's wine list is doing more than most Italian restaurants would dare — global picks, fair glass prices, and a genuine point of view that rewards curious drinkers. Send a friend here and tell them to ignore the obvious choices.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Diego · Italian
Allegro's wine list isn't trying to impress anyone, and that's not a knock — it's a focused, fairly priced selection that does exactly what a brunch Italian spot needs it to do. Send a friend here for bubbles and a mid-afternoon white; just don't expect to geek out over the reds.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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