Texas Pride, But the Wine Forgot to Show Up
SH 121 Corridor · McKinney · Steakhouse / American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Saltgrass McKinney is exactly what you'd expect from a chain steakhouse that treats wine as an afterthought — 27 labels that read like a supermarket end-cap. Nothing here is going to surprise you, and that's probably the point. The kitchen is doing the heavy lifting; the wine list is just along for the ride.
California dominates, which is fine, but the depth stops at 'recognizable brand name.' You've got Beringer White Zinfandel anchoring one end and Caymus Cab anchoring the other, with a lot of middle-of-the-road crowd-pleasers filling the space between. There's a nod to Argentina and the Veneto, but it feels decorative rather than intentional — a few Malbecs and a Pinot Grigio to say they tried. J. Lohr's Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir is the one wine here that actually belongs at a table with serious food. The list has no adventure in it, no sense that anyone curated it with a steak knife in hand.
Sixteen pours by the glass sounds generous until you realize how much overlap there is with the bottle list — you're not getting extra range, just easier access to the same familiar names. Glass prices run $7.50 to $11.75, which is reasonable for a casual chain, and Hampton Water Rosé at $11 a glass gives you something semi-interesting on a warm McKinney evening. Beyond that, the BTG program is cruise-control: pour, move on.
Hampton Water Rosé — $11/glass, $43/bottle
Jon Bon Jovi's Languedoc rosé is a genuine step up from the rest of the glass pour lineup. At $43 a bottle it's not a steal, but it's the one pour here that feels like someone actually thought about it. Better yet, split the bottle — the math gets friendlier fast.
J. Lohr 'Falcon's Perch' Pinot Noir
Most people at a Texas steakhouse are ordering Cabernet on autopilot, which means this Central Coast Pinot gets ignored. Don't let it. It's lighter, more food-friendly, and actually works well with the BBQ ribs in a way that a big Cab rarely does.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
At $135 a bottle, Caymus is the most expensive wine on the list — and one of the most overpriced. It retails around $65-70 at most wine shops, meaning you're paying roughly double just to drink it here. It's a perfectly enjoyable wine, but this markup is doing too much work. Order something else.
J. Lohr 'Falcon's Perch' Pinot Noir + BBQ Ribs
The fruit-forward, lower-tannin structure of Falcon's Perch doesn't fight the sweet-smoky glaze on the ribs the way a big Cab would. It plays along, keeps things clean between bites, and makes the whole plate taste better. It's the counterintuitive order at a steakhouse — which is exactly why it works.
❌ The Bottom Line
Saltgrass McKinney is a reliable spot for a Texas-style steak, but the wine list is clearly not why anyone is driving out here. Unless you're sticking to the J. Lohr Pinot or talking someone into splitting the Hampton Water, you're better off ordering a cocktail and calling it a night.
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
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Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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