Breadsticks Great, Wine List Forgot to Try
Fort Collins · Casual Italian-American chain
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Olive Garden Italian Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list arrives laminated, sandwiched between the pasta promotions and dessert upsells — that tells you everything you need to know about how seriously this place takes wine. It's not offensive, it's just... there. A checkbox, not a program.
The list skews almost entirely Italian by label, which sounds promising until you realize it's Ecco Domani and Barone Fini doing the heavy lifting — grocery store staples marked up for the sit-down experience. There's nothing wrong with these wines exactly, but there's nothing interesting about them either. Regional depth is nonexistent: no Vermentino, no Aglianico, no Nero d'Avola — nothing that would require a staff member to actually explain something. The list is designed to be inoffensive and easy to upsell, not to teach you anything about Italian wine.
Eight to twelve options by the glass, priced between $7 and $12, which sounds reasonable until you remember these are bulk-production wines available at your local supermarket for $10 a bottle. Rotation is essentially nonexistent — this is a corporate menu, so what's on tonight is what was on six months ago. No seasonal pours, no guest features, no reason to deviate from whatever's cheapest.
Ruffino Moscato d'Asti — $9
If you're going to drink here, lean into the occasion. Moscato d'Asti is low-alcohol, lightly sweet, and genuinely fun with a table full of breadsticks and family chaos. It's not a serious wine, but it's the most honest thing on the list.
Barone Fini Pinot Grigio
Of the Pinot Grigios on this list, Barone Fini is the one that at least has some personality — a little more minerality and structure than the Ecco Domani. Most people won't know the difference, but you will.
Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio
This bottle retails for around $10 at any grocery store in America. Whatever they're charging you here, the math doesn't work in your favor. Skip it.
Ruffino Moscato d'Asti + Never-Ending Pasta Bowl
The slight sweetness cuts through a heavy cream or tomato sauce and keeps things light when you're on your third bowl of pasta. It's not a pairing you'd brag about, but it works for the situation.
The Bottom Line
Olive Garden's wine list is a corporate afterthought — overpriced supermarket bottles with no rotation, no discovery, and no one behind the bar who's going to help you find something interesting. Order the Moscato, enjoy the breadsticks, and save your serious wine questions for literally anywhere else.
· Fort Collins · Wine Bar & Small Plates
Taste & Savor punches well above its strip mall zip code — a legit wine bar with knowledgeable staff and a deal-friendly Monday program worth building a night around. We'd send a wine-curious friend here without hesitation, and probably join them.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
· Fort Collins · Urban Winery & Wine Bar
OBC Wine Project is a confident one-producer show — no imported filler, no inflated markups, just Colorado wine priced fairly and poured without pretense. If you're in Fort Collins and want to understand what the state can do with a glass of wine, this is your stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Fort Collins · Italian Bistro & Wine Bar
Domenic's punches above its weight for a Fort Collins bistro — the Italian backbone is credible, the Pacific Northwest picks are genuinely good, and 25 by-the-glass options means you can explore without committing to a bottle. The top end leans on crowd pleasers, but there's enough here to keep a curious drinker happy across multiple visits.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town · Fort Collins · Vegetarian / Plant-Based American
Tasty Harmony is not a wine bar, and it doesn't try to be — but it charges fair prices, pours across the whole list by the glass, and assembles a short list that actually makes sense with plant-based food. If you're eating here, drink the wine; you won't regret it.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town · Fort Collins · Tex-Mex / Mexican
Rio Grande isn't a wine destination, and it knows it — but Wine Down Wednesdays with 50% off bottles is a legitimately good deal that earns it a second look. Bring your margarita crew, order the Malbec with your burrito, and call it a win.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Steakhouse
The Still is a genuinely fun spot for whiskey and red meat, but the wine list is a clear afterthought — overpriced grocery store bottles with no story to tell. Order a pour from their whiskey program and save the wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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