Honest pours for a West Texas pizza night
· Odessa · Italian, Pizza · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Roma Italian’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Roma Italian does exactly what you'd expect from a family-friendly Italian spot in Odessa — it keeps things accessible, affordable, and uncomplicated. Fifty-one labels sounds respectable until you realize the roster reads like the grocery store aisle that's always on sale. That said, with bottles topping out at $44 and glasses as low as $6, nobody's walking out feeling fleeced.
The list leans heavily on California workhorses and a handful of Italian brands — Bolla shows up in essentially every category (Cab, Chard, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Chianti), which tells you the purchasing is practical rather than passionate. You get some decent alternatives: Trapiche Malbec for the Argentina crowd, Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc for the crowd that always orders Oyster Bay, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling as a surprisingly sensible call for spicy pasta dishes. There's no real Italian regional depth here — no Barolo, no Montepulciano, no Vermentino — which feels like a missed opportunity for a restaurant wearing the Italian flag on its sleeve. What's here works for the audience; it just doesn't stretch anyone.
Seventeen by-the-glass options at $6–$9 is genuinely solid for West Texas, and the price floor is hard to argue with. The selection mirrors the bottle list — safe, brand-familiar, broadly crowd-pleasing — but the range from Moscato to Malbec means most tables will find something that works. No obvious rotation or seasonal program is in place; what you see is what you get, week after week.
Trapiche Malbec — $8/glass
Trapiche is a reliable, food-friendly Malbec that outdrinks its price point regularly. At $8 a glass in a sit-down restaurant, it's the most interesting pour on the list and holds up well against red-sauced pasta or a meaty pizza.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Most people skip Riesling at an Italian restaurant without a second thought — don't. Ste. Michelle's Columbia Valley Riesling has the off-dry balance and bright acidity that actually plays well with cream-based pastas and seafood dishes. It's on the list at $8 a glass and almost nobody orders it.
Beringer White Zinfandel
At $6 a glass it's not expensive, but White Zin in 2024 is a tough sell on any list. There's nothing wrong with liking sweet pink wine — just drink the Castello Di Poggio Moscato instead if that's the direction you're heading.
Trapiche Malbec + Chicken Alfredo
Alfredo is rich and fatty; a fruit-forward Malbec with enough structure cuts through the cream without overwhelming the dish. It's a better call than reaching for a Cab here, and it keeps the price at $8 a glass.
The Bottom Line
Roma Italian's wine list is a no-surprises, no-drama program built for a crowd that wants a glass of something familiar with their pizza without overthinking it — and at these prices, that's a perfectly defensible position. If you're hunting for Italian regional gems or anything off the beaten path, you won't find it here; but if you want a solid Malbec or a decent Pinot Grigio with your Alfredo without paying downtown Dallas prices, Roma delivers.
· Odessa · Steakhouse/American
Logan's Roadhouse in Odessa isn't pretending to be a wine destination — and the six-can list confirms that immediately. Order a beer or a cocktail, enjoy the steak, and don't hold the wine program against the kitchen.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Odessa · Steakhouse chain
Saltgrass doesn't pretend to be a wine destination, and the list reflects that — but the markup is fair, the by-the-glass selection is wide, and there are a few solid picks hiding in plain sight. Come for the steak, drink better than you'd expect.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Odessa · Odessa · Mexican
Mi Casa is a place you go for the food — and the food is probably earning its keep. The wine list is purely functional, a last-minute add-on that no one's tended to in a while. Stick to the margaritas.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Marriott Odessa Convention Center · Odessa · Private Dining / Texas Bistro
Barrel & Derrick's private dining room wine list does exactly what it's designed to do: keep oil executives and convention guests comfortable with names they recognize at prices their companies will reimburse. If you're paying out of pocket and actually care about what's in your glass, focus on Penner-Ash or the Amarone and steer hard away from the Silver Oak Napa at $440.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
TX-191 Corridor · Odessa · Private Dining / New American
Red Oak Kitchen's wine program punches above its weight for West Texas — a thoughtful small list with some real finds buried under the obligatory Napa names. Markups keep it from being a steal, but the Social Hour pricing and the William Chris collab give you real reasons to order a bottle instead of a cocktail.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Retail Corridor · Odessa · Casual American
Ruby Tuesday Odessa is not a wine destination — and it has absolutely no interest in becoming one. Order a cocktail, lean into the salad bar, and don't come here with a corkscrew in your heart.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Akron · Akron · Italian, Pizza
Luigi's is a cash-only Akron legend that has no business having a wine list this thoughtful — and that's exactly why we like it. Don't sleep on the California Coastal producers hiding behind the checkered tablecloths.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Marshall · Marshall · Italian, Pizza
Pazzeria by Pietro's has no business being this good at wine for where it is, and that's exactly why it's worth the detour. If you're rolling through East Texas, eat here and order Italian.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
NW Ocala · Ocala · Italian, Pizza
Roma's wine list is a functional, no-fuss accompaniment to a solid casual Italian dinner — nothing you'll write home about, but nothing that'll ruin your night either. Stick to the Robert Mondavi Cab or the Trapiche Malbec, keep your expectations measured, and you'll be fine.
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.
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