The Wine List That Corporate Built
Valley View / North Roanoke · Roanoke · American Chain · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed TGI Friday's Roanoke’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 TGI Friday's Roanoke isn't really a wine list — it's a laminated insert that exists to justify the bar section on the menu. You get a handful of corporate-approved pours, priced for convenience, chosen for brand recognition over anything resembling quality. If you came here for the wine, we need to talk.
We're working with a micro-roster of mid-shelf domestic brands: 14 Hands Merlot out of Washington and Canyon Road Cabernet Sauvignon from California anchor the program, plus whatever house pour is running the happy hour shift. There's no regional exploration, no Old World presence, no natural or boutique producers, and no apparent curation happening at any level. The list reads like a purchasing manager hit 'sort by price ascending' on a distributor spreadsheet and called it a day. Gaps? The list is almost entirely gaps.
You've got two or three identifiable by-the-glass options plus a house wine that appears at $5 during happy hour and a wine spritzer clocking in around $12.50. The 9oz pour of 14 Hands Merlot at $10.49 is the most 'premium' thing on offer, which tells you everything. Rotation doesn't appear to be a concept here.
Cupcake Rosé NV — $5.00
On the Fridays Five happy hour menu, this is the least offensive play on the list at the lowest price. It's a 6oz pour of a widely available, inoffensive rosé — not exciting, but at $5 you're not paying to be excited.
14 Hands Merlot
We use 'hidden gem' loosely here. In a list this thin, the 14 Hands Merlot from Washington is the closest thing to a legitimate wine choice — it's a real producer, a real region, and actually drinks reasonably well with a burger. Low bar, but it clears it.
Canyon Road Cabernet Sauvignon NV
At $5 a glass during happy hour, Canyon Road Cab sounds fine — until you remember this is a bottle that retails for under $7. You're paying a 429% markup on a wine that grocery stores sell as a checkout-line impulse buy. Hard pass at any price outside of desperation.
14 Hands Merlot + Jack Daniel's Whiskey-Glaze Burger
The smoky-sweet whiskey glaze on the burger actually needs something with a little fruit weight to hold up against it, and the 14 Hands Merlot is soft and ripe enough not to fight the sauce. It's not a sophisticated pairing — it's a functional one, which is all we can ask for here.
❌ The Bottom Line
TGI Friday's Roanoke is a fine place to grab a beer or a Jack and Coke, but the wine program is a corporate afterthought with steep markups on bottom-shelf bottles. Order a cocktail, save the wine for somewhere that gives a damn.
South Roanoke / Franklin Road · Roanoke · American
Shakers isn't a wine destination — it's a reliable neighborhood spot where the wine program does its job without drama. If you're here for ribs and a casual pour, you'll leave satisfied; just don't show up expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Valley View / North Roanoke · Roanoke · Mexican
Abuelo's wine list exists to check a box, not to enhance your dinner — stick to the cocktails and revisit this list never. If someone at your table insists on wine, go Joel Gott and call it a night.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southern Hills / Franklin Road · Roanoke · Steakhouse Chain
The markups are honest and the Mollydooker pour is a genuine saving grace, but this list exists to check a corporate box, not to help you drink well. Order the Mollydooker with your steak, skip any bottle over $40, and keep your expectations calibrated to the Bloomin' Onion energy of the room.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Gainsboro · Roanoke · American Rustic / French-inspired Southern
The Pine Room is a great spot for a drink and a burger in a handsome historic room, but the wine list is an afterthought in a state with a legitimate wine culture worth showcasing. Order a cocktail or ask for whatever's on tap, and don't make a trip here specifically for the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Roanoke · Roanoke · Bistro & Bakery
On the Rise is a genuinely charming spot for baked goods and brunch, but its wine program is an afterthought with three options and zero depth. Order the bread, skip the wine list, and grab a coffee instead.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Roanoke / Williamson Road · Roanoke · American
Hollywood's is a genuinely charming neighborhood spot, and the wine list is exactly what it needs to be for a casual lunch crowd — cheap, safe, and inoffensive. Don't come here for the wine; come here for the soup, and order the Riesling if you want something in your glass.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Dirksen Parkway / Sunrise Drive · Springfield · American Chain
We wouldn't send anyone to Applebee's specifically for the wine, and we won't start now. If you're here, you're here for the food, the vibe, or the company — and that's perfectly fine. Just know that the wine list is purely incidental.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Springfield · Springfield · American Chain
The markup is shockingly fair, but you're paying near-retail for wines you could grab at Walgreens on the way home. Order a cocktail, order a beer, and save the wine night for literally anywhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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