Cheddar Bay Biscuits Deserve Better Than This
Central Avenue / South Hot Springs · Hot Springs · Seafood Chain · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Red Lobster – Hot Springs’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list arrives looking exactly like you'd expect from a chain that's more focused on selling you a second basket of Cheddar Bay Biscuits than a second glass of Burgundy. It's a laminated insert of familiar brand names — nothing surprising, nothing offensive, nothing that suggests anyone here has thought hard about wine in the last decade.
Twenty-odd bottles, almost entirely California with a token nod to New Zealand and Italy. You've got Kendall-Jackson, Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Meiomi, Mark West, and Apothic doing the heavy lifting — brands you recognize from the grocery store endcap, not from a producer you'd seek out. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio fill the 'international' quota without really stretching anyone's comfort zone. There's no depth to speak of, no discovery, and no reason to linger over the list.
Eight to twelve pours depending on the day, and honestly the glass program is where this list lives or dies — mostly dies. The spread runs from a $6.49 Sutter Home house pour up to a $10.49 Robert Mondavi Cab, which at least gives you some range. Rotation is essentially nonexistent; what's on here today was probably on here two years ago.
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon — $10.49/glass
At roughly 105% markup on a $11 retail bottle, this is the closest thing to a fair deal on the list — and it holds up against the heavier dishes without embarrassing anyone.
Columbia Crest H3 Merlot
It's not glamorous, but Columbia Crest H3 punches above its price tier — genuinely food-friendly, softer tannins, and it actually makes sense next to a plate of shrimp scampi in a way the Apothic Red Blend does not.
Apothic Red Blend
Sweet, jammy, and built for people who aren't sure they like wine yet. At restaurant markup on a bottle you can find for under $12 anywhere, there's no reason to order this when the Mondavi Cab costs nearly the same.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Shrimp Scampi
Kim Crawford is bright, citrusy, and high-acid enough to cut through the garlic butter without getting lost. It's one of the few wines on this list that feels like it was chosen with seafood in mind rather than just filling a slot.
❌ The Bottom Line
Red Lobster's wine program is exactly what it is — a chain afterthought with recognizable labels and pricing that won't actively insult you. Come for the biscuits, drink the Kim Crawford with your shrimp, and don't expect anything more.
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Fair
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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Acceptable
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