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Some wine lists are more popular than others. Ah, wine lists, they’re just like us.
We wanted to figure out who the coolest wine lists in the room are without employing a wine negociant. So we looked at reams of online search data to figure it out. Here, then, are the 25 most-searched-for wine lists in the country. That means that every month these are the wine lists people most often type into Google.
Some of these wine lists are longer than others. Some are touchless menus. Some are made using dynamic QR codes. Some may even be objectively better than others. But one thing is for sure. They’re the most popular wine lists in America and their creators know how to sell wine. You don't need to take sommelier classes to enjoy these wine lists.
25. Outback Wine List
Starting off strong! At 25 we have Outback. We know Australia is a phenomenal viticultural region. We know that Outback is an Australian concept. So, does Outback reliably represent its home with a decent wine list? In a way, they do! Most of the Outback locations in the U.S. have a majority of wines from California and Washington state. I’d imagine most of the Outback locations in Australia have Australian wines. So, to their credit, they support local wine scenes. What is cool, though, is that they sometimes have two Australian wines, one white and one red, featured on each location’s menu. Like we’ve said before, any time a wine list offers any sort of guidance-like a lamb wine pairing, we love it. It really is always fresh in the Outback.
24. Texas Roadhouse Wine List
Sometimes when you’re at Texas Roadhouse and you order a glass of wine, it’s not enough. Something’s missing. And that something is more wine. Thankfully for a few dollars more, you can get the Texas Pour. It's a heavier pour that Texas Roadhouse offers every wine drinker for a few extra bucks. Beyond that, the Texas Roadhouse wine list is a simple affair. The offerings on it likely change by location, but probably not by much. The wine list we looked at had three reds, two whites, and a blush. A cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and a pinot noir. A chardonnay and a pinot grigio. And a white zinfandel. That’s something for everyone, right there. Roadhouse.
23. Red Lobster Wine List
This is a list of the most popular wine lists in the country, based on overall online search volume. Okay? Red Lobster is just fine, okay? Why are you staring at us? Listen, the Red Lobster wine list is chock full of well-known, reliably tasty wines from some of the top U.S. winemakers. Korbel, Robert Mondavi, Kendall-Jackson, Beringer. All wines you may see at your local Red Lobster. The actual wine lists vary by location, though. So check with the location you’d be visiting to verify just what your delicious seafood pairing options are.
22. Per Se Wine List
The Per Se wine list features wines from all the world’s major viticultural regions. Older wines and small producers are carefully highlighted. The list is fairly dynamic because the food menus change daily. They’ve got a healthy dose of German, Austrian, Italian, and French whites, with white Burgundies being the most heavily represented European white. Likewise, red Burgundy occupies the most pages in the red section, followed by red Bordeauxs, Italian reds, and red Rhônes. It’s a beautiful, organized wine list that spends over 100 pages peacefully walking you through a carefully-cultivated, much-loved collection.
Per Se uses BinWise for its digital wine list.
21. Morton's Wine List
Every Morton’s location maintains a wine list of at least 200 wines, and every location has received a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Because each Morton’s wine list varies based on location, all we can confidently provide is the Morton’s by-the-glass wine list. Most of the wines by the glass are new world wines, with most of the new world reds being Californian. Morton’s wine list also makes use of the Coravin preservation system. They offer a Coravin-sponsored Global Glamping section and a selection of Coravin wine flights.
20. Maggiano's Wine List
Every Maggiano’s wine list is online. This one is from one of their Chicago locations. To find yours, head over to the Maggiano’s website, choose the location you’ll be visiting, and click “Menu.” The menu we checked out is a tidy, well-thought-out list divided into reds and whites. With each of those further divided into new and old world selections. Unsurprisingly, most of their international reds are Italian. The new world reds are cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and pinot noir, for the most part. There will be the occasional red blend, zinfandel, and South American malbec, too. One thing Maggiano’s does that’s really cool is offer a reserve wine-by-the-glass program. Using the Coravin wine opener, they’re able to offer wines by the glass of bottles that typically cost $100 or more.
19. Le Bernardin Wine List
The Le Bernardin wine list is overseen by conveniently-named wine director and sommelier Aldo Sohm. It’s a 15,000-bottle collection that includes vintages dating back as far as 1875. That many bottles, sadly, exceeds the capacity of our plucky little bar inventory spreadsheet. Best for a wine program like that to automate their inventory with a beverage inventory management platform. The Le Bernardin wine list we link to is a smaller, by-the-glass version from their lounge. But it’s a good representation of their wine program. It’s got a lot of European influence, with French and Spanish bottles taking center stage. They also have a decent selection of fortified Madeira and Port wines.
18. Del Posto Wine List
The Del Posto wine list is the first wine list in this post that majorly specializes in one type of wine. And that wine is Italian. Perusing the Del Posto wine list is a psychic trip from northern alpine valleys to the sun-drenched mediterranean vineyards. Red wines are the most numerous, with Piemonte and Toscana offerings being particularly robust. But the regional output here is enormous.
There is almost no wine in Italy left off the list, which makes the whole project impressively inclusive. Yet, at the same time, it’s not unwieldy by any stretch of the imagination. It’s logically structured and easy to navigate. It’s a joy to behold. This list also nabbed a spot on our roundup of the best wine lists in the country.
Del Posto’s online wine menu is powered by BinWise.
17. Canlis Wine List
In 2017, Canlis won the James Beard award for Outstanding Wine Program. Peruse the Canlis wine list and you’ll see why. It’s a beautiful publication constructed by Nelson Daquip, the Director of Wine & Spirits for Canlis. It is, at present, around 90 pages of careful oenological consideration. Four pages of Champagne and sparkling wine act as an opener to the main event. There, first, the whites are broken down by grape. Chardonnay and riesling tend to be the most numerous, though all sorts of white wines are represented. The reds are then broken down by new world vs. old world. The new world selections further divide into grapes, while the old world choices separate by region. There seems to be a soft focus on Burgundy and pinot noir, though, like the whites, virtually anything anyone could want is offered.
16. Bern’s Steakhouse Wine List
The Bern’s Steakhouse wine list is, as of this writing, in its 75th edition. It has an extensive table of contents that breaks down wines by country of origin, then drills into regions and grapes. Appellations and appellations within appellations are thoughtfully represented on a wine list that spans almost 200 pages. Of particular note is the truly impressive selection of both French whites and reds. Bordeaux, especially, looms large. And for a steakhouse, that’s exactly what everyone wants. The real takeaway from the Bern’s steakhouse wine list is that, unlike some other old-school steakhouses, Berns leans more toward continental European reds.
15. Seasons 52 Wine List
The 52 in Seasons 52 represents the thinking that, when sourcing and preparing fresh food, there are actually 52 seasons in a year. Not four. That’s how dynamic fresh food is. But there’s another meaning. On the Seasons 52 wine list, there are 52 wines offered by the glass. That’s quite the opportunity to explore. What’s great is that all the wines on the Seasons 52 wine list are purposefully chosen to complement the current seasonal flavors. To see the Seasons 52 wine list at the location near you, click the link above, choose a location, then view the menu. You may not see the entire wine list, but you’ll get a good feeling for what’s on it.
14. Peter Luger Wine List
It’s Grover Cleveland’s 3rd year in office. The first Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, PA is observed. Peter Luger’s steakhouse is opened. 1887 was a standout year. Such a legacy establishment surely has a wine list of similar heft, you think. Well, you think good. We couldn’t find a reliable image of the Peter Luger wine list online. But we’re familiar enough with it that we can provide a serviceable description. Like any self-respecting steakhouse, the Peter Luger wine list is heavy on cabernet sauvignons and merlots. The majority of the big reds are domestic, though they have an impressive international collection. Argentia, Australia, France, Italy, South Africa, and Spain are all satisfyingly represented.
13. Keens Steakhouse Wine List
Keens steakhouse is an absolutely classic NYC steakhouses. Before we get into the wine list, though, we must note two things. First, in one of their private dining rooms is an enormous, opulent painting of a tiger. Second, they have the largest collection of churchwarden pipes in the world. With those out of the way, let’s talk about the Keens steakhouse wine list. About 2/3rds of the list is red wines, with the majority being cabernet sauvignons. Pinot noir is the next most represented red on the list, followed by syrah. About half the whites offered are chardonnays, followed up by sauvignon blancs. It’s a masterfully-curated wine list with lots of full-bodied, no-nonsense choices that fit right in with the old-school Keens vibe.
12. J Alexander's Wine List
J Alexander is known, rightly so, for their wood-fired cuisine. To supplement that, the J Alexander’s wine list has a top-notch selection of both bottles and glasses of wine. The J Alexander’s wine list is primarily new world wines and is categorized by the all big varietals. Cabernet sauvignon is heavily represented, along with merlot, pinot noir, and zinfandel. Wines that don’t fall into those categories are put in the bucket of other interesting reds, with a healthy variety of European, South American, and Australian offerings.
11. Fogo De Chao Wine List
It’s possible to go to Fogo de Chao’s website, find the location you’ll be visiting, and see their list of wines by the glass. You’ll need to scroll down and click on that location’s “barbook.” Chicago’s location, which we take to be representative of the others, has mostly western U.S. and South American wines by the glass. Which fits perfectly with Fogo’s rustic frontier cuisine. The proper Fogo de Chao wine list tracks similarly, with many big, bold new-world wines that complement red meat well.
10. Eleven Madison Park Wine List
The Eleven Madison Park wine list is around 200 pages long. But every single wine on it is there for a reason. This isn’t just a list of wines. It’s a critically-considered assemblage of elixirs from far-flung regions and times. But it’s not hard to peruse. It’s got a handy table of contents and a logical structure. Wines are first divided by red and white, then it further drills down into region and varietal/grape. We’re always excited to point out wine lists that encourage exploration and imagination. And on that front, the Eleven Madison Park wine list has something really great. A Wines of New York section from vineyards and wineries in the Finger Lakes region and Long Island.
We’re proud to call Eleven Madison Park a BinWise customer. Find out how you too can get a digital menu or use QR codes in restaurants
9. Carrabba's Wine List
Ah, Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Place like that’s gotta have a good wine list, right? Right. To see the Carrabba’s wine list nearest you, head to the restaurant locator and enter your zip code. There you can download the dinner menu and check out your Carrabba’s wine list. The cool thing about Carrabba’s wine list is that they make wine easy. There, wine isn’t a hefty academic pursuit. Nobody is whipping out their monocle to inspect a yellowing old label like it’s an ancient ruin. Instead, the Carrabba’s wine list has the family-oriented, communal feel of traditional Italian dining. It’s a simple celebration. They’ve got about 20 wines on their list, split up between reds, whites, and sparkling wines. Most of it comes from the U.S. west coast or Italy. And most of them are offered by the glass—both 6- and 9-ounce pours.
8. Fleming's Wine List
If you’re heading to Fleming’s, you sure are in for a treat. That’s because Fleming's wine list is so very accessible. By being highly-curated and offering the majority of their wines by the glass, Fleming’s makes it easy to explore and dabble. Because there are multiple locations, the exact wine lists may vary. But there are some general takeaways here. They focus on chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and merlot. Most of the wines are new world wines, with an emphasis on the western U.S.
7. Cheesecake Factory Wine List
Any Cheesecake Factory wine list is going to be casual, because The Cheesecake Factory is casual. But that doesn’t mean the wine list at Cheesecake Factory doesn’t deliver. The wines offered will vary by location, so check the website above to find your location and its specific wine list. That said, they offer wines from Washington state, California, Europe, Australia, and South America ranging from around $8 to $13 a glass. The Cheesecake Factory wine lists we saw typically had separate chardonnay, merlot, and cabernet sauvignon sections. Followed by more general sections for other whites, other reds, and sparkling wines.
6. Mastro's Wine List
The Mastro’s wine list is a reflection of the wines people love. They’ve got sections for the big varietals—chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot—then smaller sections for all the wines that don’t fall into those. Those smaller sections are split up between red and white, with domestic and international being subsections of reds. Most of the bottles offered are available by the glass. What we like most about the Mastro’s wine list is the Featured Wines section. Anywhere from 4 to 10 whites or reds are featured and visually emphasized on the wine list at Mastro’s. That's some solid menu engineering. Any time a wine list gives some guidance to guests, it’s a win.
5. Capital Grille Wine List
There are over 350 wines on every Capital Grille Wine List. To see the full Capital Grille Wine List, you have to download their mobile app. They’ve smartly embraced the digital wine list. Wine lists at the Capital Grille tend to be well-balanced and versatile, with a selection of glasses and half bottles for any folks looking for some moderation. Worth noting on Capital Grille wine lists are the interesting sections. Interesting Whites and Interesting Reds sections house a curated list of wines that, well, pique the interest. It’s nice to see some personality and adventure in a wine list like this, because wine is a joy. And any wine list that helps diners enjoy it is good by us.
4. Ruth’s Chris Wine List
The Ruth’s Chris wine list is a great representation of Ruth’s Chris concepts, in general. It’s high-quality and accessible. It’s got a white-tablecloth feel without any of the pretension. Their reds by the glass are mostly west coast U.S. wines, while Italy, France, and Germany show up in their whites by the glass. In terms of bottles, they have a huge selection of cabernet sauvignon, along with a healthy selection of red blends. It’s proportionally more cabs and red blends than any other wine list we’ve seen. Which is completely sensible given that this is a steakhouse. The U.S. west coast and France are the regions most heavily represented in bottled reds.
3. The French Laundry Wine List
In a word, The French Laundry wine list is epic. In two words, it’s completely epic. It’s difficult to summarize something so expansive and thoughtful, but we’ll try. The vast majority of the French Laundry wine list is bottles. If you’re looking for a deep selection of wines by the glass, the French Laundry may not be your best bet. That said, the wines by the glass they choose are considered critically. They absolutely have your best interest in mind. The bottles, then. They’re organized by geography and color. The granularity is astounding. Want to browse French whites from the Loire Valley? How about North Coast syrahs? Wait wait, what about four different bottles in eight different vintages of French Anjou-Saumur? If you’re a wine nerd, take a look at their wine list right now. It may be the most impressive collection of oenological decision-making you ever see.
The French Laundry is a BinWise customer, too. They smartly use a digital wine list.
2. Del Frisco's Wine List
Del Frisco’s has over 16 locations, so every Del Frisco’s wine list varies. These wine lists are paired-down, minimalist publications with an elegant feel. There are no prices listed on the wine lists, for example. But the end result is a lightweight document that’s very easy to look at. Which meshes well with the elegant, pleasant atmosphere in Del Frisco’s locations themselves. Del Frisco’s wine lists tend to lean red, though that’s understandable. Red wines are, far and away, the most frequently ordered wines in bars and restaurants. There is a fairly even split between domestic U.S. and international wines represented. They also, thankfully, offer every wine on their published wine lists by the glass.
1. Cooper's Hawk Wine List
The grand prize winner. Top of the pops. Congratulations, Cooper’s Hawk. The one Cooper’s Hawk wine list that’s published online offers every wine on it by the glass or the bottle. That’s because A.) it’s a limited menu B.) their full cellar list is likely too large and too dynamic to distribute widely and C.) the majority of the wines on this list are made by the Cooper’s Hawk winery. They produce over 700,000 cases of wine every year, primarily from growing regions in California, Oregon, and Washington state. For the jetsetters out there, they do offer a few international wines. The Cooper’s Hawk wine list is particularly exciting for sparkling wine enthusiasts. They have a relatively large selection of fizzy wines—from a classic sparkling rose to their brachetto-style Scarletto.
The Cool Wine Lists
These are the wine lists that sit together during lunch. They play sports and have great relationships with teachers. They’re the most popular wine lists, and chances are your wine list wants to be like them. Just don't forget to list the calories in wine or how much sugar in wine if you want to avoid extra questions.
Well, it’s possible. Building a QR-based digital menu with the help of BinWise is quick, easy, and almost a necessity right now. Bars and restaurants are changing rapidly and touchless menus are fast becoming a cultural requirement.
Here are just some of the benefits of using QR codes in hospitality:
- They’re easy to roll out and maintain. They’re much cheaper than building out menu technologies like a menu app. All you have to do is learn how to link a QR code to a PDF. Be careful of QR code malware, though, and other QR code risks from using free online QR code generators.
- They’re versatile. A QR code can be a menu, an ordering platform, or a payment portal. You can even set up a whole QR code strategy for marketing. A QR code is used for so many things.
- They’re easy for customers to use. Take a peek at how to scan a QR code or how QR code error correction works. Anyone scanning a QR code is set up to win.
- The right digital menu is ADA compliant out of the box. Which is great because your own ADA document remediation for a menu is expensive.
With a quick scan, guests can view your menu right on their personal device. It’s inexpensive to roll out, easy to set up, and even easier for diners to use. And it’s entirely touchless. That makes it orders of magnitude safer. That’s—first and foremost—what people want right now.