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 →
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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.
Craig Ranch / SH 121 · McKinney · American / Brewhouse
BJ's McKinney is a beer destination with a wine list that exists mostly as a formality — the Wednesday half-price deal is the only reason to engage with it seriously. Come for the craft beer and the Pazookie; the wine is just along for the ride.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
SH 75 Corridor · McKinney · Asian Bistro
P.F. Chang's wine list won't win any awards, but it's doing exactly what it needs to do for a busy suburban dinner crowd. Don't come here for a wine experience — but don't write it off either, especially if you know what to order.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Craig Ranch / SH 121 · McKinney · Tex-Mex / Mexican
Blue Goose is a perfectly fun Tex-Mex night out — just don't come here for the wine. Order a margarita, eat the tamales, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that returns the favor.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West McKinney / Custer Area · McKinney · New York-style pizzeria
Durkin's is a legitimately good pizza spot that happens to have a wine list in the same way a convenience store has a wine list — it's there, it's functional, and nobody's proud of it. Come for the pies, order the beer, and if you must have wine, go Louis Martini and don't overthink it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Adriatica Village · McKinney · Seafood & American
Harry's is a reliable neighborhood anchor for McKinney — the kind of place you bring out-of-town family without stressing about it. The wine list won't blow anyone's mind, but it won't embarrass you either; just steer clear of the grocery-store staples and lean toward the upper end of the bottle list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / East Louisiana St. · McKinney · Casual American
The Yard is a patio-and-games spot first, wine bar never — and the list is honest about that. Come for the atmosphere, order the Murphy Goode if you want wine, and save the serious bottle for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Spalding Hall · Bardstown · Steakhouse / American
The Rickhouse is a perfectly competent steakhouse wine list doing exactly what a steakhouse wine list in bourbon country is supposed to do — familiar names, heavy pours, and enough bottles to keep the table happy. Just go in knowing you're paying for the atmosphere and the ambiance of that historic cellar as much as what's in the glass.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Durango · Steakhouse / American
Ore House delivers a competent, Napa-centric wine list that matches the room and the menu without much ambition beyond that — the markups sting on the trophy bottles, but there are a few smart finds if you know where to look. Send a friend here for steak and the Eroica Riesling; tell them to skip the Silver Oak.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Atherton · State College · Steakhouse / American
Texas Roadhouse is not a wine destination and makes no pretense of being one — the food is the point, and the wine list is a legal obligation. Order a beer, enjoy the rolls, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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