Meat Comes First, Wine Holds Its Own
La Plaza Mall area · McAllen · Brazilian Steakhouse (Churrascaria) · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 2, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Texas de Brazil – McAllen’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Texas de Brazil McAllen does exactly what a chain churrascaria's wine list is supposed to do — it doesn't embarrass you. Flip through it and you'll recognize every name, which is either reassuring or a little boring depending on your expectations. This is a list built for people who came for the picanha and want a bottle that keeps up, not a wine geek's hunting ground.
The 60-100 bottle list leans heavily on American workhorses and international crowd-pleasers: Jordan Cab, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, Conundrum Red Blend, Catena Zapata Malbec — all recognizable, all safe. There's no real regional adventure here, no deep South American exploration despite the Brazilian concept, which feels like a missed opportunity given the theme. The list covers the bases — bold reds for the meat parade, a few whites for the table — but it won't surprise you. Gaps are obvious: no Spanish Tempranillo, no Rhône, nothing remotely adventurous on the Old World side.
With 10-16 options by the glass ranging from $12 to $20, there's enough to work with across the meal. The pour selection mirrors the bottle list — familiar names, proven categories, nothing that'll make you linger over the decision. Rotation appears minimal; this reads like a set program that changes when corporate says so, not when the seasons do.
Catena Zapata Malbec — $45
Catena Zapata is a legitimate producer making serious Malbec out of Mendoza's high-altitude vineyards. At the lower end of the bottle range, it's the most honest pairing for the meat-forward feast on your table — and it's not a throwaway label.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling
Everyone at a churrascaria reaches for Cabernet on autopilot, but the Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling is a legitimate counter-move. The off-dry profile cuts through the richness of the garlic sirloin and lamb in a way that a heavy red just can't. Washington State Riesling at a Brazilian steakhouse — nobody orders it, everybody should.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita is fine wine, but it's also one of the most aggressively marked-up Pinot Grigios in the American restaurant industry. You're paying for a name that's been coasting on its 1980s reputation for decades. There are better ways to spend your money at this table.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Picanha (top sirloin)
Jordan's Alexander Valley Cab is built for exactly this moment — it's full enough to stand up to the char and fat on the picanha without the tannin aggression that would fight the meat. Classic pairing, executed well, no overthinking required.
The Bottom Line
Texas de Brazil McAllen isn't a wine destination, but it's not a wine disaster either — the list is overpriced in spots and short on imagination, but the anchor bottles are solid enough to carry a big carnivore night. Send your friend here for the meat; just tell them to reach for the Malbec and skip the Pinot Grigio.
· McAllen · Southwestern / Steakhouse
Republic of the Rio Grande is a solid night out with a wine list that won't embarrass itself but won't impress either. Come for the steak, enjoy the room, and keep your wine expectations squarely in 'reliable cab country.'
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McAllen · Steakhouse / Seafood
Liam's is a dependable upscale night out in the RGV — the food is clearly the draw, and the wine list does its job without embarrassing anyone. If you're celebrating, you'll find something suitable; if you're deep into wine, manage expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McAllen · Pizza / Wine Bar
For McAllen, Texas, this is genuinely impressive — a thoughtful Italian-leaning list with enough global range to keep things interesting, sitting inside a pizza spot that clearly decided to take wine seriously. We'd send a friend here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Central McAllen / Expressway 83 · McAllen · American Comfort Food
Cheddar's is a solid spot for a Monte Cristo and a cold beer — but the wine program is a corporate afterthought dressed up as a list. Order a cocktail, tip your server well, and save the wine for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central McAllen · McAllen · Seafood
Red Lobster's wine list exists to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Riesling or the Sauvignon Blanc, accept the situation for what it is, and save your wine ambitions for a different night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Plaza Mall area · McAllen · Asian Bistro
P.F. Chang's McAllen isn't a destination for wine lovers, but the list is thoughtfully assembled for what it is — a chain that actually considered food-pairing when building it. Order a Riesling, get the Lettuce Wraps, and adjust your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Appleton · Brazilian Steakhouse (Churrascaria)
Texas de Brazil is about the meat, full stop — and the wine list makes no effort to pretend otherwise. Come for the endless churrasco, but don't come here expecting the wine to keep up with the kitchen.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Columbia Center / W Canal Dr corridor · Kennewick · Brazilian Steakhouse (Churrascaria)
Boiada is doing something genuinely interesting for a Brazilian steakhouse in Eastern Washington — leaning hard into local wines, running a real winemaker dinner program, and pricing fairly enough that you don't feel like the wine list is the second hustle. If you're in the Tri-Cities and eating rodízio, you could do a lot worse than a bottle of Col Solare on a Wednesday at half price.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West End · Billings · Brazilian Steakhouse (Churrascaria)
Carverss isn't a wine destination, but it's a solid wine experience for what it is: a festive, meat-heavy celebration restaurant in Billings. Send your friends here knowing they'll eat extraordinarily well and drink just fine.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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