Breadsticks Win. The Wine Does Not.
West Topeka · Topeka · Italian-American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 2, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Olive Garden Italian Restaurant – Wanamaker South’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 tucked into the back of the menu, which pretty much tells you everything. It's laminated, corporate, and has not changed meaningfully since the Obama administration. This is a list built for people who want wine with dinner, not people who want to think about wine.
Italy and California split the roster, which sounds promising until you realize 'Italy' means Ruffino Chianti and Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio — the two most airport-lounge wines in existence. The Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva is the lone bottle that shows any real ambition, sitting above the rest of the list in both quality and price. There's no depth, no regional exploration, and no independent producers to get excited about. If you wandered into a grocery store wine aisle and picked the most recognizable labels, you'd end up with something close to this.
Ten to fifteen pours, which sounds generous until you realize most of them are the same four or five brands presented in different configurations. The price ceiling of $14 a glass keeps things accessible, but accessible and interesting are not the same thing. Don't expect any rotation — what's on the list today was on the list last year.
Ruffino Chianti — $9
It's not exciting, but Ruffino Chianti is reliably drinkable and priced low enough that you won't feel burned. With a red sauce pasta in front of you, it does exactly what it's supposed to do.
Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva
Nobody at Olive Garden is ordering the Riserva, which is a shame. This is a real wine from a real place — Sangiovese with actual structure and some age behind it. It sticks out on this list like a good player stuck on a bad team.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita built its American reputation entirely on marketing. It's fine, but you're paying a premium for a label, not a glass of wine. Ecco Domani gives you the same Pinot Grigio experience for less.
Il Grigio Chianti Classico Riserva + Eggplant Parmigiana
The acidity and earthy backbone of the Sangiovese cuts through the richness of the cheese and tomato sauce without overwhelming the dish. It's the one combination on this menu that feels intentional rather than accidental.
The Bottom Line
Olive Garden is not a wine destination and was never trying to be one — the list exists to move bottles, not to inspire anyone. Order the Il Grigio if you want something worth drinking, otherwise stick to the Chianti and save your wine energy for somewhere else.
· Topeka · French
Chez Yasu clearly puts its energy into the kitchen, not the cellar — but two grocery-store wines at a notable markup is not a wine program, it's an oversight. Order water, order a cocktail, or call ahead and ask about corkage.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Topeka · American Bar & Grill
Blue Moose isn't here for wine, and wine isn't here for Blue Moose. Order a local draft and call it a day — but if you absolutely need a glass, reach for the La Vieille Ferme Rosé and manage your expectations accordingly.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Topeka / Wanamaker Corridor · Topeka · Tex-Mex
Jose Pepper's is a great spot for a frozen margarita and a chimichanga — the wine list just isn't why you're here, and it knows it. Order the cocktails and don't look back.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Topeka · Topeka · Italian
The wine list at Olive Garden East Topeka is a corporate document, not a wine program — marked up steeply on bottles that deserve no such confidence. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of the house Chianti if you must, and save your wine curiosity for literally anywhere else in Topeka.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West/Central Topeka · Topeka · Italian
The wine list exists because every Italian restaurant has to have one — not because anyone here is passionate about it. Drink the Cavit, enjoy the unlimited breadsticks, and save the serious wine drinking for somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Topeka · Topeka · Seafood
Red Lobster's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain that treats wine as an afterthought — familiar names, steep markups, zero curation. Order the Riesling, enjoy the Cheddar Bay Biscuits, and don't come here looking for a wine moment.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Venice · Los Angeles · Italian-American
Ospi keeps it tight and keeps it fair — 13 wines, honest markups, and enough Italian backbone to match the menu without turning into a wine bar that forgot to serve food. If you're after depth or discovery, you'll outgrow this list quickly, but for a relaxed Venice dinner where you just want something good in your glass without overthinking it, the Cascina Barbera or the Montepeloso will do exactly what you need.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Branson · Italian-American
Pasghetti's isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that abundantly clear. If you're here for the pasta and the family-friendly Branson vibe, grab a Lambrusco and call it a night — but don't expect the wine program to be part of the reason you come back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Italian-American
The Rosa isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to serve its room well, and largely succeeds. Twenty-five by-the-glass options with Italian producers mixed alongside California staples makes this one of the more thoughtful pours in Portsmouth. If you're after wine-bar ambition, look elsewhere; if you want a reliable glass with your gnocchi without any drama, The Rosa delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
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.
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