Pasta's Great. Wine List Called In Sick.
Wolf Ranch / I-35 Corridor · Georgetown · Italian Chain · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Olive Garden Italian Restaurant – Georgetown’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Olive Garden Georgetown is exactly what you expect: a laminated corporate insert tucked next to the breadstick basket. There's nothing here that surprises, challenges, or excites — it's a wine program designed by committee to offend no one and inspire no one.
Twelve to sixteen labels, split between Italian names you recognize from the grocery store aisle and California mass-market staples. Ruffino Chianti and Cavit Pinot Grigio are the closest things to legitimate Italian producers on this list — and both are solidly bottom-shelf at retail. The California contingent (Josh Cellars Cab, Barefoot Moscato, Robert Mondavi Private Selection) reads like a Total Wine endcap. There are no regions of interest, no small producers, no discovery — just safe, familiar labels that will never make you feel anything.
Eight pours by the glass, ranging from $7 to $11, which sounds approachable until you check the markup math. Most of these bottles retail for under $12, meaning you're paying 150–190% over retail on the bottle — that's not a restaurant premium, that's a penalty for convenience. The by-the-glass rotation doesn't rotate; this list is set-and-forget at the corporate level.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon — $9.50/glass, $29.00/bottle
Marked up the least aggressively of anything on this list at roughly 107% over retail — still not a deal, but it's the least bad option if you're committed to a bottle of red and want something with actual structure.
Ruffino Chianti
It's not exciting, but it's honest. Ruffino is a real Chianti producer with actual Sangiovese character, and it holds up better against a plate of pasta than anything else on this list. Most tables reach for the House Red without realizing this is a step up.
Moscato Primo Amore
At a 189% markup over a $9 retail bottle, this is the worst value on the list. Sweet, one-dimensional, and priced like it's doing you a favor. Order the Bellini instead.
Ruffino Chianti + Tour of Italy
The Chianti's acidity cuts through the lasagna's richness and doesn't fight the chicken parm — it's the only wine on this list with enough backbone to handle a plate this heavy.
The Bottom Line
We're not here to kick Olive Garden — the pasta is the point, and everyone knows it. But the wine program is pure corporate filler: overpriced grocery-store labels, no rotation, no effort. Order the frozen sangria and move on.
· Georgetown · European-style steakhouse
Sovian is doing something genuinely unexpected for suburban Texas: building a serious sparkling wine program in a steakhouse format, with real producers and real depth. Markup keeps it from being a Rager, but the sheer specificity and ambition of the list earns it a Wild Card without hesitation.
Surprising Depth
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Georgetown · Georgetown · Hotel Rooftop / New American
The Rooftop at the Graham is a vibe destination, not a wine destination — the list is short on depth, long on brand recognition, and priced like the altitude adds flavor. Order a cocktail, enjoy the view, and save your wine budget for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Georgetown · Georgetown · Steakhouse / New American
Wildfire isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it respects wine enough to build a real list at fair prices — and that's more than most Texas steakhouses bother to do. If you're in Georgetown and want something more interesting than the usual suspect bottles, this is your spot.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Georgetown · Wine bar
Wine Sensation is a legit find for Georgetown — a small list that's been curated with actual curiosity, priced fairly, and built around the by-the-glass experience. If you're passing through Central Texas and need a wine stop, this is your place.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Georgetown · Wine bar / tasting room
Barons Creek Georgetown is a one-producer show, but it's a confident, well-priced one that makes a genuine case for Texas red variety range. If you're curious about what Hill Country viticulture is actually doing, this is a solid place to find out.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Georgetown · Georgetown · Seafood / Coastal New American
Georgie's isn't trying to be a destination wine list, but it's doing the right things for its size and concept — fair prices, smart whites, and a Texas producer that earns its spot. For Georgetown, this is genuinely above average, and we'd send a friend here without hesitation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Belden Village · Canton · Italian Chain
Carrabba's Canton isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — four reds and a seasonal dinner don't make a wine program. Order the cocktail, or BYOB if they allow it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Chula Vista · Italian Chain
Romano's Macaroni Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes no attempt to pretend otherwise. Order a $4 house red, enjoy the pasta, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Route 9 South · Poughkeepsie · Italian Chain
Olive Garden's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain that considers breadsticks the main event — functional, safe, and completely unambitious. Come for the pasta, drink the Chianti Classico, and don't expect anything more.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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