Olive Garden is a chain restaurant that people can’t help but say no to. It has a clean, elegant, and classy vibe compared to its competing restaurants working at that same level. It has simply earned its reputation thanks to the quality it provides.
It’s an adored Italian-American restaurant that every family frequently visits. With its ability to forge Italian American cuisine, it also brings a level of hospitality and warmth to the visitors. The unlimited breadsticks at Olive Garden are such a treat that people can’t get enough of them. Whether it’s that or the mouth-watering heart pasta, people love to go to the olive garden with family and friends.
Not just that, but no Italian meal can be had without a good alcohol pairing, so Olive Garden provides the same treatment. The wide variety on its alcohol menu shows they care about preferences. The drinks enhance your meal and make it a better experience to enjoy.
A Journey Through Italy
Olive Garden’s slogan is “When you’re here, you’re family.” They truly live up to that because of their accepting and welcoming environment. Tradition and roots are celebrated at the olive garden, so much so that everything takes you to Italy immediately.
Whether it’s the delicious kinds of pasta and pizzas filled on the menu, the bread, or even the wines they offer, the servers make great efforts to offer you wine choices that pair best with the food you order.
It pays homage to Italy best, even with the other alcohol choices, like the age-old Negroni or the fresh Aperol-Spritz. Each drink and cocktail is purposely there to fit the theme, just like the food.
Wines To Savour
Olive Garden gives a great deal of precedence to its wine collection. It’s extensive, and people enjoy it the most with Italian cuisine; this combination gives them an authentic feeling when they visit. There is an emphasis on the Italian varieties, so they list all kinds of reds, whites, and roses from various regions.
Tuscany and Veneto are two of the many places where Olive Garden wine is outsourced. Guests appreciate them going that extra mile (literally) to recreate that authentic experience for them. The elegance and the delight both are loved by the visitors.
Red Wines
- Roscato Rosso Dolce: This unique blend pairs well with any food with carbohydrates, such as pasta and cheeses. This wine is priced at 20$.
- Merlot Beringer: It carries intense flavors of strong tropical fruits with its fruity notes and a touch of sweet floral aromas. This wine is priced at 30$
- Rosé Porta Vita: It carries flavors of strawberries and raspberries, with their fruity sweetness subtly coming in. This wine is priced at 20$.
- Kris Pinot Noir Meiomi: This wine goes well with a lot of dishes such as seafood, poultry, salads, and light kinds of pasta. This is a pricier wine, listed at 34$
- Chianti Classico Rocca Deile Macie: This delightful red wine is made from Sangiovese grapes in the Chianti Classico region of Tuscany. It costs around 31$ at any olive garden.
- Cabernet Robert Mondavi Private Selection: It has aromas and flavors of black cherry, plum, vanilla, oak, and spice. It costs 31$.
White Wines
- Moscato Primo Amore: This wine is made from muscat grapes and pairs well with cheese and desserts. It costs 12$
- Moscato Castello Del Poggio: This sweet and sparkly wine gives an aroma of apples. It costs 11$
- Sweet Pink Moscato Blend Confetti: This one is a rosé wine made from a mixture of muscat and other types of grapes. A bottle costs 9.99$
- White Zinfandel Sutter Home: This wine gives off aromas of everything sweet, such as strawberries and watermelon even. It costs 6$
- Riesling Chateau Ste. Michelle: This wine pairs best with seafood due to the balance in acidity. It costs 10$
- Pinot Grigio Cavit: It is made from Pinot Grigio grapes found in various regions in Italy. The price for a bottle is 14$
- Sauvignon Blanc Starborough: This crisp wine is made in New Zealand and pairs well with seafood and pasta. It costs 12$
- Chardonnay Château Ste. Michelle: It has aromas and flavors of apple, pear, pineapple, vanilla, and oak. It costs 11$
Cocktails
Here are a few cocktails enjoyed by every visitor who does not have an affinity for wine. Only some people like wine, so they also order a lot from their cocktail list. So much so that they even try to recreate these drinks at home.
- Italian Margarita: This original Olive Garden treat can be found nowhere but there. This Italian margarita has an interesting combination of tart and sweet flavors together. This is usually indulged during happy hour. With 3 oz of Tequila, it definitely packs a punch. This drink is priced at 6$.
- Blue Amalfi: This is the tropical drink of your dreams! With its combination of pineapple and coconut, the flavors are an explosion. It has a beautiful balance of sweetness, tartness, and even run that you immediately feel like you are on vacation. This drink is priced at 5$.
- Italian Rum Punch: This is a refreshing, almost Caribbean drink. Including rum and fruit juices along with a hint of spice. It costs 7$
- Amaretto Sour: Fruity flavors and vodka go hand in hand. This tropical fusion is inspired by the Tuscan summer breeze. It costs 7$
- Peach Bellini: This is a citrus-centered drink that is both refreshing and visibly delightful. It costs 5$
- Spiked Strawberry Lemonade: Limon liquor has a vibrant and overpowering flavor; adding the fruity goodness of strawberry makes this drink a hit. Priced at 6$
- Strawberry Bellini: A splash of citrus, along with mixed ripe strawberries and prosecco, is what this drink consists of. For every fruit lover, this is THE drink! It costs 8$.
Crafted Beer Selection
The great thing about olive gardens is that they have kept their options open instead of boxing themselves into one cuisine. So within their Italian-American regiment, they have also let some space out for people who like all-American flavors and blends.
People who don’t want an overtly Italian, overwhelming experience can still visit and enjoy their favorites. For beer lovers, the olive garden offers everything from craft beers to local and international brands, so nothing is missing on this menu either. Whether you want your typical lager with your hearty pasta or porter to go along with some meatballs, there’s something for everyone. The beers available at Olive Garden are:
- Bud Light 18$
- Coors Light 16$
- Michelob Ultra 21$
- Miller Lite 18$
Spirited Enhancements
For those seeking a more sophisticated experience, Olive Garden presents an assortment of hard liquors and spirits for those who enjoy the classics. Visitors don’t have to worry about their whiskey or just neat vodka when they come to Olive Garden. They have a range of bartenders who know their liquor well, so they can extend their knowledge and recommend pairing. Available Liquor is listed below:
- Absolut Vodka 26$
- Bacardi Rum 25$
- Patron Silver Tequila 40$
- Jack Daniel’s Whiskey 50$
- Tanqueray Gin 25$
Final Thoughts
So low and behold, the alcohol menu of Olive Garden is full of various assortments, and they have many varieties, just like their food. It adds sophistication and fun when your food goes well with the kind of beverage it pairs the best with.
From wines to cocktails to beers to spirits, Olive Garden has yet to leave any stone unturned regarding its selection. The alcohol menu should be explored even more with different dishes, so get out of your comfort zone the next time you go.
I am a passionate beer connoisseur with a deep appreciation for the art and science of brewing. With years of experience tasting and evaluating various beers, I love to share my opinions and insights with others and I am always eager to engage in lively discussions about my favorite beverage.
