The Blooming Onion Deserves Better Wine
Melbourne · Melbourne · Casual steakhouse / Australian-inspired American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse’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 laminated, sandwiched between the Bloomin' Onion appetizer and the kids' menu, and that tells you pretty much everything. It's short, safe, and clearly designed to move bottles rather than excite anyone. Nobody here is pretending otherwise.
Thirty-something labels covering Australia, California, and Washington State — the holy trinity of chain steakhouse wine programs. The Australian angle makes sense given the branding, but it stops at Jacob's Creek and Penfolds Koonunga Hill, two labels you can grab at any grocery store for under $12. Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet from Washington is the one bright spot — a reliably solid producer that punches above its price point. There are no real surprises here, no small producers, no interesting regional detours, just the expected roster doing its expected job.
Ten to fourteen options by the glass ranging from $7 to $13, which is accessible without being impressive. Yellow Tail Chardonnay showing up on a by-the-glass list in 2024 is a statement — just not the kind you want to make. Rotation appears nonexistent; this list looks like it hasn't changed since the Obama administration.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon — $28
Washington State's most dependable everyday Cab at a price that doesn't insult you. It's the one bottle on this list that actually belongs in a steakhouse conversation.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet
Most people walk right past this for something more familiar, but Koonunga Hill is a genuine Penfolds product with real winemaking behind it. It's not glamorous, but it's honest, food-friendly, and holds its own next to a ribeye.
Yellow Tail Chardonnay
At $9 a glass you're paying restaurant markup on a $7 retail bottle that most people wouldn't bring to a potluck. There are better options on this list for the same money.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet + Victoria's Filet Mignon
The Shiraz-Cab blend has enough dark fruit and gentle tannin structure to stand up to a filet without steamrolling it. It's not a fancy pairing, but it's a functional one — which is exactly what this room calls for.
❌ The Bottom Line
Outback's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a national chain that treats wine as a revenue line item rather than a program worth caring about. Come for the steak, order the Chateau Ste. Michelle if you need a bottle, and save the real wine exploration for a different night.
North Melbourne · Melbourne · Japanese / Sushi
Makoto isn't trying to be a wine bar and it knows it — the list is short, the labels are familiar, and the prices are genuinely kind. Send your friends here for sushi and tell them to order the Malbec by the bottle; they'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Melbourne · Melbourne · Elevated Regional American
The Landing Rooftop is a reliable spot for a glass with a genuinely spectacular view — hit it on a Wednesday when the wines go half price and the Cambria Chardonnay becomes the best deal on the Space Coast. Don't come here to geek out on wine; do come here to drink something decent while watching a rocket launch.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Floribbean / Key West-inspired American
Hemingway's Tavern isn't a wine destination, but it earns its keep with a list that's wider than the vibe suggests and a Wednesday half-price bottle deal that makes even the steeper markups disappear. Come for the tacos, stay for the Albariño, and thank the calendar for getting you there on Wednesday.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Greek / Mediterranean
It's a counter-service Greek grill in a strip mall that serves Xinomavro and Assyrtiko at fair prices — that's either a minor miracle or a Wild Card, and we're calling it the latter. Don't sleep on the wine list just because you're eating off a paper tray.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Melbourne · Melbourne · Steakhouse
Texas Roadhouse is not a wine destination and makes zero pretense of being one — we respect the honesty, even if we can't respect the list. Order the rolls, order the ribs, order a beer, and let the wine page collect dust.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Melbourne · Melbourne · Steakhouse
LongHorn Melbourne's wine program is a checkbox, not a passion project — the list exists because a steakhouse has to have wine, not because anyone here cares about what's in your glass. Order the steak, grab the Riesling if you must, and save the bottle for a place that's actually trying.
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.