Texas Pride, But the Wine Forgot to Show Up
SH 121 Corridor · McKinney · Steakhouse / American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Saltgrass Steak House – McKinney’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 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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Ida Claire isn't a wine destination, but it's a solid place to drink wine — especially if you time it for happy hour. Show up between 3 and 6, order the shrimp and grits, and let someone else worry about the cellar.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
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Taverna Rossa's wine list gets the job done for a casual dinner out, but the markups on familiar bottles make it hard to recommend going beyond a glass or two. Stick with the Barbera or the Guigal and save the splurge for the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Mexican
Mi Cocina McKinney put exactly zero thought into their wine program, and it shows in every predictable bottle on that nine-label list. Order a margarita and don't look back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Italian
Bravo! is a competent chain wine program — wide by-the-glass selection, a few Italian producers worth noting, and prices that are steep but not insulting. You're not coming here for the wine list, but you won't regret ordering either.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
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Brio McKinney's wine list won't win any awards and the markup will sting if you reach for the California heavyweights, but there are a few genuinely Italian picks buried in there worth finding. Come for the food, order thoughtfully, and stick to the Old World side of the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Wyoming's Rib & Chop House isn't trying to win any wine awards, and it doesn't need to — the list does exactly what it's supposed to do for a steakhouse in Casper. Grab the Gascon, order your cut medium-rare, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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FireRock isn't trying to win any wine awards, and that's fine — it's a steakhouse in Casper doing exactly what it needs to do. The list is familiar, the markups are fair, and with 20 by-the-glass options, you're not going to go thirsty. Send a friend who wants a solid steak and a recognizable red without any fuss.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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