The Menu's Great. Skip the Wine List.
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Cheesecake Factory - SanTan Village’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list here reads exactly like you'd expect from a 200-item menu laminated to a tablet stand — safe, familiar, and clearly built by a corporate committee in 2014. Every bottle is a name you've seen at a grocery store end cap. That's not an accident; it's a strategy.
The list leans almost entirely on California stalwarts and a handful of Italian crowd-pleasers, with nothing that would make a curious drinker lean forward. You've got Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, Robert Mondavi Cab, Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio — the holy trinity of 'wine for people who don't really want to think about wine.' There's no real regional depth, no interesting producers, and zero evidence that anyone at the corporate level lost sleep over this. If you're hoping for a Rhône, a Willamette Pinot Noir, or literally anything south of the equator, close the wine menu and order a cocktail.
There are roughly 15-20 glass pours available, which sounds generous until you realize it's the same rotation at every Cheesecake Factory from Gilbert to Glendale. La Marca Prosecco and KJ Chardonnay anchor the list and are fine for what they are — but at $12-$13 a glass for wines that retail for $12-$14 a bottle, you're paying full bottle price for four ounces of something unremarkable.
La Marca Prosecco — $12/glass
It's still overpriced relative to retail, but at least you're getting something bright and easy-drinking that makes sense at a loud, bustling table. Of everything on this list, it's the most honest pour for the occasion.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Alto Adige
Most people order this on autopilot, which is a shame because it's actually one of the more legitimate bottles on the list — Alto Adige Pinot Grigio is the real deal, crisper and more mineral than the generic stuff. At $52 it's still marked up hard, but if you're splitting a bottle and need something that won't embarrass you, this is the move.
Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Forty-eight dollars for a bottle that retails at $18 is a 167% markup on a wine that was already mediocre at the store. This is the definition of a captive audience wine — it exists because the name sounds impressive and nobody's going to look it up on the spot.
La Marca Prosecco + Chicken Madeira
The Chicken Madeira is rich, saucy, and leans sweet — the La Marca's bubbles and light citrus cut through that heaviness better than any of the heavier reds on this list would. It's a practical pick in an impractical wine situation.
The Bottom Line
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
· Gilbert · American / Bar
Backyard's wine list is competent the way a beige wall is competent — it's there, it won't offend anyone, and you won't remember it. If you're here for the patio vibes and cold drinks, stick to beer or cocktails and save the wine exploration for somewhere that's actually trying.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Gilbert · Gilbert · Italian
North Italia Gilbert is a chain that does the bare minimum of interesting things — and sometimes that's exactly what you need on a Tuesday in Gilbert. The Italian regional whites are the real reason to open this list; everything else is serviceable.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Gilbert · Gilbert · Wine Bar / Italian Small Plates
The board-and-bottle deal after 8 PM — bruschetta plus a bottle for $25 — is one of the better wine-night setups in the East Valley, full stop. If you live nearby and aren't already going on Mondays or Tuesdays, you're leaving money on the table.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Gilbert Rd & Warner Rd area · Gilbert · Italian, Dessert Café
The Sicilian Baker is a bakery café that accidentally built a wine list worth paying attention to — lean on the Italian selections, ignore the California filler, and let the Fiano or Grillo do the talking. We'd send a friend here for a glass and a pastry without hesitation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Gilbert Border / Chandler Fashion Center · Gilbert · Steakhouse
Fleming's is the reliable wine friend who always shows up with a solid California Cab — not surprising, not cheap, but never wrong. If you're after a safe, well-executed wine experience with a great steak, this delivers. Just don't come looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American / Brewhouse
BJ's Gilbert is a beer destination that happens to sell wine, and the list reflects exactly that level of effort. Come for the craft brews and the Pizookie — but if Wednesday rolls around and you want a glass of Cab with your deep dish, the half-price deal makes it a perfectly acceptable call.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Baltimore · American
Give the international and local sections a look before defaulting to Burgundy. Sula at $70 and Old Westminster at $90 offer different budget options. These are posted bottle prices, not guaranteed stock; confirm availability. This menu guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kerns · Portland · American
Noble Rot is the rare restaurant wine program that would hold up as a standalone wine bar — deep list, sharp staff, fair prices, and a view that makes the whole experience feel earned. Send your friends here. Send yourself here.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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