Two Wines. Infinite Breadsticks. Sad Math.
· Laredo · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Olive Garden Laredo’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Two wines. That's it. A Sangiovese and a Pinot Grigio, and we use those terms loosely given the context. If you came here hoping for a wine list, you're going to need to lower the bar — significantly.
The 'list' is less a list and more a coin flip: red or white? There's no producer information, no vintage, no region beyond the vague suggestion that it's Italian-adjacent. Olive Garden as a chain leans on private-label and high-volume brands that exist nowhere else in the wine world. Two labels for an Italian restaurant is not curation — it's an afterthought.
We don't have confirmed glass pricing or pour options for this location, so we can't tell you what the damage is. What we can tell you is that whatever they charge, you're likely getting bulk wine in a standard restaurant glass, and the math probably won't feel fair.
The Bottom Line
If wine matters to you at dinner, Laredo has better options than this. Olive Garden's wine program is a corporate formality — two labels do not a wine list make. Order the cocktail, enjoy the breadsticks, and save the bottle for somewhere that earned it.
· Laredo · Modern Mexican
Casa Azul's wine list has no business being this interesting for a modern Mexican spot in Laredo, and that's exactly why it earns a Wild Card. The list is small and the by-the-glass program is thin, but the bones are good — Patient Cottat Sancerre and Drouhin Pinot Noir don't end up on a 22-bottle list by accident. If you're eating here, skip the safe plays and lean into the whites.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Laredo · Contemporary bistro
Lolita's Bistro is doing more with a 19-bottle list than most Laredo restaurants would bother attempting — the Domaine Delaporte Sancerre, the Barbaresco, and the Bolgheri Rosso tell you someone cares. Markups run steep across the board, especially at the top of the list, so bring a budget or lean toward the Albariño and Pinot Noir by the glass. Worth stopping in, worth ordering wine — just go in with eyes open on price.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Laredo · New American / Latin Fusion
El Capataz Del Mar isn't a wine destination — it's a restaurant that happens to have seven bottles on a menu. The pricing is honest and the Garnacha options from AH-SO offer a slight spark of personality, but this list needs serious attention before it earns a real recommendation. Order a cocktail, or grab the white Garnacha if you want to say you tried.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Laredo · Steakhouse
El Asador is clearly a destination for the food — the wood-fired steaks, the Tuétano al Piquín, the oysters — and the margaritas are probably doing heavy lifting at the bar. But the wine list is a placeholder, not a program. Five unlabeled, undated-for-rotation bottles at a polished steakhouse in 2024 is a miss. Come for the beef, order a cocktail, and hope someone eventually hands this list to someone who cares.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Posada Hotel · Laredo · Steakhouse
The Tack Room isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it succeeds at being exactly what it is — a dependable hotel steakhouse list with some solid bottles hiding among the Cab parade. Order the Spanish or Argentine options, avoid the trophy-bottle markups, and you'll eat and drink just fine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Laredo · Spanish Tapas & Wine Bar
Taberna Laredo is the kind of place that wine-obsessed travelers bookmark and casual diners stumble into and never forget. If you're in Madrid and serious about drinking well at dinner, this belongs on your shortlist.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Ogden · Italian
La Ferrovia is the kind of neighborhood Italian that Ogden is lucky to have — solid food, easygoing atmosphere, and a wine program that seems content to stay in its lane. We'd love to get eyes on an actual list before making a stronger call, so check their website or call ahead if wine is a priority for your visit. Good enough for a weeknight dinner with a carafe of something red; not the destination if wine is the main event.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Las Colinas · Irving · Italian
Italian Cafe is a reliable neighborhood option for a low-key dinner with wine that won't embarrass itself alongside the food. The wine program isn't the reason to come here — the lakeside atmosphere and comfort Italian cooking are — but it should hold its own for a casual weeknight out. If you're a serious wine drinker, temper expectations; if you just want something decent in the glass with your lobster ravioli, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Salem · Italian
Bari is doing something genuinely interesting for Salem: curating a serious Oregon Pinot list with real producers and real vintages, anchored to an Italian kitchen. The list skews narrow — it's Pinot country or bust — but within that lane, the depth and producer selection punch well above what you'd expect from a mid-sized city restaurant. If Oregon wine is your thing, this is worth a visit.
Plays It Safe
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.