CAN MAKE A GREAT MEAL
EVEN BETTER.
Our award-winning wine program was created to help our
guests choose the wine that best enhances their meal.
Olive Garden is committed to offering our guests world-class Italian wines as well as domestic wine selections. Olive Garden partners with many prestigious winemakers in Italy, including the Rocca delle Macie winery in Tuscany, which is also the site of our Culinary Institute of Tuscany, to source a selection of distinct and delicious wines. To further broaden the choice and variety we offer our guests, we also serve fine quality wines from award-winning domestic vineyards in California, Oregon and Washington.
Olive Garden's wine program has won several awards of its own, including "America's Best Casual Dining Wine List" by the Monterey Wine Festival and the best wine program among the top 10 casual dining restaurants by the
Wall Street Journal.
We've designed our comprehensive wine list to be accessible to everyone from the seasoned aficionado to the casual diner - with 28 selections ranging from light and sweet to dry and full-bodied. Our restaurants feature a seasonal menu with recommended food and wine pairings. Furthermore, guests of drinking age are invited to sample a complimentary one ounce portion of any of Olive Garden's wines to decide what tastes best for them.
Choosing a great wine is never as easy as "red" and "white", but once you learn the ropes
you'll be making confident decisions in no time.
There are several basic guidelines that can help you choose the right bottle or glass of wine for you.
Let's start with the basics of pairing your food to wine.
CHICKEN 
BEEF 
FISH 
PORK 
PASTA 
*If you like sweeter styles of wine, White Zinfandel and Riesling complement all food items.
Digging Deeper Into Pairing
THE NEXT LEVEL
Once you feel more familiar with pairing your food to wine, you can take it a step further. Begin to experiment. Break the 'rules'. Ultimately, the perfect pairing is simply the wine you like and the food you like.
WHEN IN DOUBT, ASK!
Our servers are trained to help guide you to a glass or bottle of wine that will delight your palate and enhance the enjoyment of your meal.
Wine phrase book
Aroma - Smells in wine that originate from the grape.
Balanced - All components of the wine are in harmony.
Barrel Fermented - White wine that is fermented in an oak barrel instead of a stainless steel tank.
Body - The weight and tactile impression of the wine on the palate that ranges from light to heavy/full.
Bouquet - Smells from winemaking, aging and bottle age.
Buttery - Rich, creamy flavor associated with barrel fermentation.
Character - Describes distinct attributes of a wine.
Clean - Wine without disagreeable aromas or tastes.
Complex - Layered aromas, flavors and textures.
Delicate - Light, soft and fresh wine.
Dry - No sugar or sweetness remaining; a fruity wine can be dry.
Earthy - Flavors and aromas of mushroom, soil and mineral.
Elegance - A well-balanced, full wine with pleasant, distinct character.
Finish - The final impression of a wine on the palate; ranges from short to long.
Firm - Texture and structure of a young, tannic red.
Floral - Flower aromas such as rose petals, violets, gardenia or honeysuckle.
Fruity - Obvious fruit aromas and flavors; not to be confused with sweet flavors such as berries, cherries and citrus.
Full-Bodied - Rich, mouth filling, weighty-textured wine.
Green - Unripe, tart flavors.
Hard - Texture and structure that hinders flavor.
Herbaceous - Grassy, vegetable tones and aromas.
Legs - Teardrop impressions of alcohol weightiness that are visible on the inside edges of a wine glass.
Light-Bodied - A wine with delicate flavors, texture and aromas.
Lively - Young, fruity and vivacious flavor.
Medium-Bodied - A wine with solid, but not rich weight and texture.
Nose - The smell of a wine; aroma.
Oak - Aromas and flavors contributed during barrel fermentation and/or aging such as vanilla, caramel, chocolate, smoke, spice or toast.
Off-Dry (Semi-dry) - Very low levels of residual sugar remaining in the wine.
Rich - Weighty flavors and texture.
Round - Smooth flavors and texture; well-balanced.
Smoky/Toasty - Aromas of smoke and toast imparted by fired barrels.
Sweet - Wines that have a higher concentration of sugar after fermentation.
Tannin - A drying, astringent sensation on the palate that is generally associated with heavier red wines.
Velvety - Wine is unpleasantly watery and lacks flavor and texture.
Vintage - Year that grapes were harvested and fermented to make a wine.