Ruby Tuesday Picks Up Bronco Challenge

Three and a half years ago, “Mr. Two-Buck Chuck” — Bronco Wine Company Co-owner Fred Franzia — challenged the restaurant business to stop ripping off diners. Franzia’s challenge? Price a bottle on the restaurant’s wine list for $10 or less.

Every restaurant in America ignored the challenge and went about its usual business of cheating customers with bottles priced at three times retail and more.

But Bronco announced Saturday that Ruby Tuesday had decided to offer one of its wines, Coastal Vines California Chardonnay for $10. While the gesture is a good — if timid acceptance of the challenge — it is scheduled to last just one week.

The Ruby Tuesday beverage menu listed the Bronco wine as a “Staff Choice” along with several other starred wines. No prices are listed for any of the wines.