Breadsticks Great, Wine List Forgot to Try
Fort Collins · 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 →
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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.
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
Downtown Fort Collins · Fort Collins · French-influenced bistro; seafood-focused
Bistro Nautile is a genuinely appealing restaurant let down by a wine list that plays it safe with familiar labels and then charges aggressively for the privilege. Drink by the glass, stick to the interesting outliers, and don't let the French bistro atmosphere talk you into a $68 bottle of Daou.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Southwestern
Coyote's isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the pricing is fair, the Wednesday deal is genuinely excellent, and there's nothing actively wrong here. Show up on a Wednesday, order a bottle of Pinot Grigio for $19.50, and focus on the burrito.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Fort Collins · Fort Collins · Casual Seafood Chain
Red Lobster isn't trying to be a wine destination and the list makes that abundantly clear — grab the Riesling, enjoy the biscuits, and don't come here expecting anything beyond the expected. If wine matters to your dinner, eat somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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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