Margaritas First, Wine Dead Last
South Willow · Manchester · Mexican · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 18, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Shorty's feels like an afterthought tucked behind the margarita menu — and honestly, that tracks. This place runs on frozen drinks and fajita platters, and the wine program exists purely as a checkbox. If you came here hoping to find something interesting in a glass, recalibrate your expectations immediately.
The list tops out around 10-20 bottles, almost exclusively California, and not the interesting California. We're talking grocery store endcap: Cupcake, Apothic, Woodbridge. There's no regional variety, no attempt to find something that actually plays nicely with Mexican food, and zero evidence that anyone involved in building this list thought about it for more than fifteen minutes. A crisp Albariño or even a basic Grüner would do so much more for a plate of enchiladas than Apothic Red, but here we are.
Six to ten options by the glass, which sounds decent until you realize they're all pulling from the same shallow pool of mass-market California brands. There's no rotation, no seasonal picks, nothing that suggests anyone is paying attention. Order the margarita.
Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon — null
If you're locked into ordering wine here, Woodbridge Cab is the most predictable and least likely to disappoint — it's consistent, inoffensive, and widely available, so at least you know what you're getting. Price unknown, but don't expect a steal.
Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc
It's not exciting, but a cold pour of Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc with a plate of salsa and chips is actually more coherent than anything else on this list — the acidity cuts through the salt and heat in a way that Apothic Red absolutely cannot. Low bar, but it clears it.
Apothic Red
A sweet, jammy blend built for the wine aisle, not for a table with fajitas and hot sauce. The residual sugar and the spice on the plate fight each other the entire time, and you're paying restaurant markup on a $10 bottle. Hard pass.
Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc + Enchiladas
The bright citrus and grassy edge of the Sauvignon Blanc is the only thing on this list with enough acidity to hold up against a saucy enchilada plate. It's not a revelation — it's just the least wrong answer available.
❌ The Bottom Line
Shorty's is a margarita bar that happens to have wine on the menu — and the wine knows it. Come for the frozen drinks and the fajitas; leave the wine list to collect dust.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.