The Bloomin' Onion Deserves Better Wine
South Medford · Medford · Steakhouse (American, Australian-themed chain) · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse – Medford’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 Outback Medford is exactly what you'd expect from a chain that made its name on blooming onions and steak sauce: familiar, safe, and clearly assembled by a corporate committee in Tampa. There's no local Oregon wine in sight — which, given that Southern Oregon wine country is practically in the backyard, is a genuine missed opportunity. You're essentially staring at a gas station grab list with restaurant markups.
The list leans entirely on California and domestic U.S. stalwarts — Beringer, Josh Cellars, Ménage à Trois — brands you recognize from the grocery store aisle, not the wine shop. There's no regional representation, no nod to the Rogue Valley or Applegate Valley producers making genuinely good Syrah and Tempranillo just miles away. Depth is nonexistent: this is a checklist of varietals, not a curated selection. If you came hoping to find something that reflects where you are, you'll leave disappointed.
Ten pours by the glass sounds reasonable until you realize they're all from the same shallow pool of national brands with nothing rotating or remotely adventurous. The Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling is probably the most respectable option in the lineup, but that's a low bar. Don't expect your server to have opinions — or information — about any of it.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $9
Ste. Michelle reliably over-delivers for the price, and a touch of residual sugar actually works against the salt and fat of the Bloomin' Onion better than anything else on this list.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Nobody orders Riesling at a steakhouse, which is exactly why you should — it's the only wine here with enough acidity and personality to cut through the richness on the plate.
Josh Cellars Chardonnay
Josh Cellars retails for around $12 a bottle. Whatever they're charging you per glass here, the math doesn't work in your favor — and the wine itself is aggressively unremarkable.
Beringer Founders' Estate Cabernet Sauvignon + Outback Special Sirloin
It's not a profound pairing, but Beringer Founders' Cab has enough dark fruit and soft tannin to hold its own against a sirloin without requiring any thought from anyone involved — which feels appropriate for the setting.
The Bottom Line
Outback Medford's wine list is a corporate afterthought in a state that produces genuinely exciting wine — some of it within driving distance of this very parking lot. Order a beer or a cocktail, enjoy the steak, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
· Medford · American / Fine Dining
Jacksonville Inn earns its Wild Card badge the honest way: it's a genuinely polished wine program tucked inside a historic Southern Oregon inn that most people drive past on the way to Ashland. The Rogue Valley focus alone makes it worth a stop — this AVA produces Syrah and Tempranillo that can hold their own, and a sommelier on site means you're not navigating alone. We'd send a wine-curious friend here without hesitation, with the caveat that you should call ahead, ask what's pouring by the glass, and let the staff guide you.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
· Medford · Italian / American
Bella Union doesn't reinvent the wine list, but it does right by Southern Oregon — fair prices, genuine local representation, and enough range to make dinner interesting. Send your friends here knowing they won't get burned.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Medford · Medford · New American / Hotel Restaurant
Larks isn't going to impress anyone looking for a deep cellar or a clever natural wine program — but as a hotel restaurant wine list, it earns genuine respect for its regional focus and fair pricing. Send your friend here if they want a taste of Southern Oregon wine country without driving into the hills.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Medford · New American / Fine Dining
Gogi's is the best wine list in southern Oregon that most people outside of Medford have never heard of. If you're passing through on your way to Ashland or the valley wineries, stop here first — the list earns the detour.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Medford · Fine Dining / New American
Alchemy is doing something genuinely interesting in Southern Oregon — a sparkling-centric wine program with real depth and fair pricing that you wouldn't necessarily expect to find in Medford. If bubbles are your language, this list is worth the trip.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Medford · New American
Hearsay is quietly doing something right in a wine market that doesn't get enough credit — local producers, smart bubbly program, and a by-the-glass list that gives you real options without holding you hostage to a bottle. If you're passing through Medford and think this is a beer-and-cocktails situation, reconsider.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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