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 →
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
Sandy Springs · Sandy Springs · Italian
Pricci's wine list is the restaurant equivalent of a reliable business traveler — organized, presentable, and rarely offensive, but not the person you call for an adventure. The markup leans steep across the board, and the lack of a visible specials program means you're paying full retail every night. That said, the by-the-glass depth is real, and there are smart Italian picks hiding in the list if you ignore the Napa trophy bottles.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Italian
A Bellagio is doing something right: a 65-bottle Italian-leaning list with 19 glass options, fair pricing, and enough regional Italian depth to make the wine order as interesting as the food order. Staff confidence and dish data are unknowns from where we sit, but the list itself is worth showing up for — especially if you let the Montecucco Sangiovese talk you into a second glass.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sandy Springs · Sandy Springs · Italian
Cibo e Beve has a functional, crowd-pleasing wine list that serves its room well — but the markup on some bottles is hard to ignore, and the depth of Italian regionality you'd hope for at an Italian restaurant just isn't there. Grab the Gavi or the Verdicchio by the glass and call it a solid night.
Plays It Safe
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
