Bloomin' Onion, Wilting Wine List
Mesa East · Mesa · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 22, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse - Mesa East’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You open the laminated wine insert tucked into the back of the menu and it's exactly what you feared — a greatest hits album of grocery store brands dressed up with a steakhouse price tag. Nothing here is offensive, but nothing here is interesting either. This is a wine list designed to not lose a sale, not to win over a drinker.
The list runs 30-odd bottles deep and leans almost entirely on California and Australia — two regions capable of producing exciting wine, neither of which is represented that way here. You've got Josh Cellars, Meiomi, Kendall-Jackson, and Chateau Ste. Michelle doing the heavy lifting, which means the list reads like a Costco end-cap with a 200% markup applied. Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz is the one label with any actual pedigree behind it, even if it's firmly an entry-level pour. Beyond that, there are no meaningful producers, no regional surprises, and zero evidence that anyone with wine knowledge curated this thing.
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass, which sounds generous until you realize most of them are the same five brands in different varietals. Prices run $7–$14 a glass, which feels fine until you remember these bottles retail for $10–$15. The glass program isn't a feature — it's a margin strategy.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz — $9
It's the one wine on this list with an actual winemaking legacy behind it. Penfolds knows Shiraz, and even at the entry level, Koonunga Hill delivers dark fruit and structure that holds up against a ribeye better than anything else here.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people scroll past Washington State at a chain steakhouse, but Ste. Michelle's Cab punches above its price class — structured tannins, dark cherry, and enough backbone to actually cut through a fatty cut of beef. It's the sleeper on a list full of California crowd-pleasers.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
KJ Chard is a $14 retail bottle that appears on nearly every casual chain list in America at a steep markup. It's reliable in the most boring sense of the word — oaky, a little sweet, completely forgettable. You can do better, even on this list.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz + Bone-In Natural Cut Ribeye
An Australian Shiraz with a bone-in ribeye is about as straightforward as wine pairing gets — the peppery, fruit-forward character of Koonunga Hill stands up to the char and fat of the steak without overthinking it. If you're eating a ribeye at Outback, this is the move.
The Bottom Line
The wine list at Outback Mesa East exists to check a box, not to excite anyone — go ahead and order the Penfolds if you need a glass with your steak, but don't expect the wine to be a reason you came. If wine matters to you tonight, pick a different restaurant.
· Mesa · Beer & Wine Bar
Divided Vine earns its Wild Card badge by doing something most casual Mesa bars don't bother with: building a wine program around Arizona producers alongside solid global options, inside a space that actually makes you want to linger. We'd send a friend here, especially one who thinks Arizona wine means nothing — Divided Vine might change their mind.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Agritopia · Mesa · Pizza / Wine-Friendly
Garage-East is a genuine Wild Card: a relaxed farm-adjacent pizza spot in Gilbert that bets its wine program on Arizona producers rather than playing it safe with the usual suspects. We don't have full list details to make specific bottle calls, but the regional commitment and easygoing setting make it worth showing up curious, asking questions, and ordering a pour alongside the charcuterie board. If you want a deep cellar and Zalto stems, go somewhere else — but if you want to drink local wine in a backyard with good food and better company, this one delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · Modern American / Winery Restaurant
Cooper's Hawk Gilbert is a brand experience first and a wine destination second — possibly third. The $8 flat-glass pricing keeps the night affordable, but six house-only labels with no rotation, no independent producers, and no depth to explore earns a Lazy List badge. Order the Tempranillo or the Super Tuscan, enjoy your dinner, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Cork & Craft is exactly what it looks like: a comfortable, unthreatening wine bar for people who want good-enough wine without homework. Not the spot for discovery, but a solid neighborhood pour in a town that doesn't have many.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · French Steakhouse / Bistro
A French bistro in the East Valley that runs an all-sparkling wine list anchored by Grower Champagne and topped with Egly-Ouriet and Selosse is not something you expect to exist, and yet here we are. If you're a Champagne nerd, this list is worth the trip; if you wanted a Cab with your steak, you're going to have a rough night.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · American Grill / Wine Bar
Il Vinaio is a reliable neighborhood wine bar punching slightly above its weight with a few smart, unexpected picks tucked into an otherwise crowd-pleasing list. If you're in Mesa and want a real glass of wine with dinner, this is where we'd send you.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hoschton · Steakhouse
Jacks is a genuinely fun neighborhood hang with solid food, but the wine program doesn't match the ambition of the kitchen. If wine is your thing, call ahead or bring your own if corkage is an option — otherwise, lean into the cocktails and enjoy the patio. We'd love to revisit this rating if they ever put some real thought into the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Point · Atlanta · Steakhouse
Malone's earns its loyal following on the strength of its pork chops and tenderloin, not its wine list. If wine matters to your meal, you may want to call ahead and ask what's available — or just lean into a cocktail and let the steak do the heavy lifting. This one's a food-first destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Acworth · Steakhouse
AG Steakhouse earns its reputation as a go-to for celebrations and big nights out on Lake Acworth — but the wine program appears to be in service of the experience rather than a destination in itself. If you're splurging on the filet or the Oscar-style halibut, budget accordingly for the bottle too, and don't expect the list to surprise you. A solid place to drink wine; not a reason to come specifically for wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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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