Grocery Aisle Wines With a Kangaroo Tax
East Boulevard · Montgomery · Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Outback Steakhouse Montgomery’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 Montgomery reads like a grocery store endcap — every label here is one you've seen at Kroger, usually for about half the price. Nothing on this list is going to surprise you, challenge you, or make you feel like anyone put real thought into it. It's a wine program that exists because a steakhouse has to have one.
Twenty-five to forty labels, nearly all of them California and Pacific Northwest workhorses you already know by heart: Joel Gott, Josh Cellars, Mark West, Kendall-Jackson, Apothic. There's a nod to the restaurant's Australian theme exactly nowhere on this list — the closest you get to 'down under' is the decor. Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling is probably the most interesting thing here, which says a lot. The list is entirely built for the path of least resistance, and it takes that path with enthusiasm.
Ten to fifteen pours available, priced $6–$11 a glass, which sounds reasonable until you remember these are bottles that retail for $10–$15. The pour selection mirrors the bottle list — Beringer White Zinfandel and Apothic Red are doing a lot of heavy lifting. Rotation isn't something we'd expect here; this list has the energy of something that hasn't changed since the Obama administration.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $22
At the low end of their bottle pricing and one of the few wines on this list with any actual character — a touch of sweetness and crisp acidity that holds up against Outback's saltier, heavier dishes better than any of the cabs here.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Everyone at this table is ordering a Cab, and that's exactly why you should order this. It's genuinely good wine from a producer that earns its keep, and it's being completely ignored in favor of the Josh Cellars crowd.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
A $13 retail bottle dressed up and sold here at steakhouse markup. It's not a bad wine — it's just not worth what they're charging when you can grab it at any gas station on the drive home.
Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon + Victoria's Filet Mignon
Joel Gott Cab is ripe, soft, and fruit-forward enough to play nice with a tender filet without overpowering it — and it's about as good as this list gets when you're eating red meat.
The Bottom Line
Outback Montgomery's wine program is a formality, not a feature — it checks the box without breaking a sweat or a single new grape variety. If wine matters to you tonight, order the Riesling, keep expectations grounded, and save the serious bottle for a restaurant that actually cares.
EastChase · Montgomery · Seafood Bar
Bonefish Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the three-label bar menu makes that abundantly clear. Order a cocktail, enjoy the fish, and save your wine curiosity for a restaurant that shares it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Montgomery · Steakhouse
This is a wine list by legal obligation, not by passion. Order a cocktail, a beer, or just accept that Outback Taylor Road is not your wine night destination.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cloverdale · Montgomery · French Wine Bar
Frenchie's is doing something genuinely rare for Montgomery — committing to a French wine bar identity in a city that mostly plays it safe — and that alone earns them the Wild Card. Come for the duck confit and the atmosphere; just go in ready to explore rather than expecting a deep, curated cellar.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Montgomery · New American
La Jolla isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's putting in more effort than most restaurants in Montgomery. Fair prices, a surprising Loire pick hiding in plain sight, and enough glass options to keep the table happy all night.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Alley Entertainment District · Montgomery · Upscale American, Contemporary Southern
Central is the kind of place where the wine list supports the meal without stealing the spotlight — which is exactly what a restaurant like this needs. Send your friends here for dinner; just steer them toward the Rhône white or the Pinot Gris and away from the Rombauer markup.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hampstead · Montgomery · Casual American bar food and café fare
The Tipping Point is a solid neighborhood spot that happens to have wine, not a wine destination that also serves food — and that's okay. If you're here for the patio, the burgers, or a casual weeknight out, grab the rosé or the Malbec and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Beverly Hills · Los Angeles · Steakhouse
What we can document at Mastro's Beverly Hills is a narrow, Napa-centric selection that plays zero risk and offers zero surprise — which is a defensible choice for a power-steakhouse crowd, but not one we can enthusiastically endorse to wine lovers. The seven wines on record are all from a single event page, so the full list is almost certainly broader; but until we have more to work with, our honest advice is to know what you want before you sit down, because the list isn't going to inspire you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Yountville · Steakhouse
Press is a special-occasion restaurant with a wine program built to match — deep Napa regional focus, a sommelier on staff, and pairing options that range from serious to stratospheric. The pricing is steep by design, and you should go in knowing the wine spend can easily outpace the food bill. If you're willing to lean into it, this is exactly the kind of Napa experience the valley was built around.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Vail · Steakhouse
Russell's isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't need to be — but the list is better than the room probably demands. Fair pricing, a genuine global reach, and twenty pours by the glass make this a steakhouse wine program worth engaging with. Order the Fincas de Ganuza, skip the Laurent Perrier, and leave the mountain resort markup where it belongs: on the cocktail list.
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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