Chianti With a Side of Predictability
La Frontera · Round Rock · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Macaroni Grill reads exactly like you'd expect from a chain that also sells breadsticks in the freezer aisle — familiar names, safe bets, nothing that'll surprise you. It's the kind of list where you already know what you're getting before you open the menu. That's not always bad, but it's rarely exciting.
Twenty to thirty labels split between Italy and California, with the Italian side leaning heavily on the most recognizable export names rather than anything with actual regional character. Ruffino Chianti and Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio are the anchors here — workhorses that check the Italian checkbox without doing much else. The California side brings in BV Coastal Cabernet and Kim Crawford (a New Zealand wine that's somehow become a chain restaurant staple regardless of geography). There are no outliers, no grower producers, no regions worth getting curious about.
Ten to fifteen by-the-glass options sound generous until you realize they're essentially the entire list. Pours run $8–$14, which feels fine until you remember these are supermarket-shelf wines marked up two to three times over retail. The rotation appears to be permanent — don't expect anything new showing up seasonally.
Ruffino Chianti — $8
If you're eating chicken parmesan and want something Italian that won't actively fight the food, this is your lowest-risk move on the list. It's not exciting, but at the entry price point it does the job.
BV Coastal Cabernet Sauvignon
Nobody comes to Macaroni Grill hunting for Cabernet, but the BV Coastal is a quietly decent pour — more structured than you'd expect at this tier and a better match for the grill items than anything else on the list.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita is one of the most aggressively over-marked-up wines in the restaurant industry. You're paying chain-restaurant prices on top of an already inflated retail price for a wine that's perfectly average. Buy it at the grocery store for half the price if you love it that much.
Ruffino Chianti + Chicken Marsala
The Chianti's bright acidity and light tannins cut through the marsala's rich, savory sauce without overwhelming the dish. It's not a revelatory combination, but it's the most coherent wine-and-food moment this list is capable of producing.
❌ The Bottom Line
Macaroni Grill's wine list is functional in the same way a vending machine is functional — it'll get you a drink, but nobody's excited about it. If wine matters to you even a little, you're better off at almost any independent Italian spot in the area.
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One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.