Lakeside Italy, priced like they want you back
Lake Austin · Austin · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed April 29, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed 68 Degrees Kitchen’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list arrives and it's immediately clear someone here has a thing for Italy — a focused, confident thing. No page-filler Malbec or obligatory Napa Cab wall of shame; just a tightly curated Italian program that means what it says. The lakeside setting makes you want to order something special, and for once, the list actually lets you.
This is an Italy-first list with real conviction behind it. Piedmont gets the serious treatment — Vietti, Conterno Fantino, Bruno Giacosa, and Gaja are all present, covering the full spectrum from approachable Barolo to serious collector Barbaresco. Tuscany shows up strong with Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Ornellaia alongside Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico Riserva, while Alto Adige Pinot Grigio and Amarone della Valpolicella round out the North. A few California bottles (Ridge, Flowers) appear as capable understudy options, but nobody comes here for those.
With 12–18 pours in the $12–$18 range, the by-the-glass program punches well above its weight for a neighborhood Italian spot. The range likely tracks the bottle list — expect a proper white from Alto Adige and at least one structured red from Tuscany or Veneto. Wednesday's half-price wine night turns these already reasonable pours into some of the best-value glass drinking in Austin.
Conterno Fantino Barolo Sori Ginestra 2019 — $32
A single-vineyard Barolo from one of Piedmont's most respected names for $32 a glass is almost offensive in the best way. At that price you'd barely get a grocery-store Chianti elsewhere in Austin.
Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2019
Most people at this table are going to reach for something they recognize, but the Vietti Castiglione is a masterclass Barolo from a vintage that's already drinking beautifully — and at $28, it's the kind of bottle that makes you feel smarter than everyone else at the restaurant.
Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2022
Flowers is a fine wine, but you're at an Italian restaurant with access to Giacosa and Gaja. Ordering California Pinot here is like going to a great taqueria and getting the quesadilla. Nobody's stopping you, but you'll regret it.
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 2018 + Short rib agnolotti
The Asili vineyard produces Barbaresco with a silky structure and red fruit depth that cuts right through the richness of braised short rib without overwhelming the pasta. It's the kind of combination that makes a Tuesday feel like an occasion.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — applies to the wine list and makes an already fairly-priced program genuinely exceptional value.
The Bottom Line
68 Degrees is doing something genuinely rare in Austin: an Italian wine list with real depth, honest pricing, and a Wednesday deal that should be on your calendar. We'd send anyone here who wants to drink well without a fight.
· Austin · Steakhouse
Perry's is a competent steakhouse wine program that won't embarrass you, but it won't thrill you either. The by-the-glass breadth is the real story here — 37 options gives you room to explore without committing to a bottle. Just don't come expecting adventurous picks or fair markups across the board; come expecting a list that gets the job done for a celebratory dinner without too much fuss.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Austin · Seafood Steakhouse
Truluck's Austin runs a by-the-glass program that genuinely outperforms what most standalone seafood houses manage, with producers like Markus Molitor and Drouhin-Vaudon sitting next to the expected California lineup. Pricing is fair without being flashy. If you're eating seafood and want to drink well without committing to a bottle, this list has you covered — just work through the whites and bubbles and don't let the Napa trophy bottles at the top drain your wallet.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Austin · Upscale American Seafood and Steakhouse
Eddie V's is a reliable wine destination in the sense that a well-pressed suit is reliable — it won't let you down, but it won't make anyone's year-end list either. If you're on a date, celebrating something, or just need a wine program that won't embarrass you in front of a client, this is a safe and comfortable call. Just don't expect to find anything that makes you pull out your phone to take a note.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Austin · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Austin is not a destination wine list, but it's a legitimately fair one — South American focus, honest prices, and a couple of genuine steals hiding in plain sight. If you're here for the espeto corrido experience, grab a VIK blend at $30 and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Austin · Steakhouse
ALC Steaks plays it safe and plays it competently — this is a wine list that serves the room without challenging it. If you know what you're looking for, there are smart picks buried in here; if you don't, you'll still drink fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Austin · Austin · American, Italian
Sammie's is a genuinely fun room with a wine list that's earned its Wine Spectator hardware — the Italian depth is real, the sommelier knows her stuff, and Monday half-price bottles might be the best deal in Austin. Just go in knowing the markups lean steep, and let Jenny point you toward the plays that aren't on the tourist track.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
· West Palm Beach · Italian
Santucci runs a tight, Italy-focused wine list that rewards the curious — Etna wines, a real Barolo by the glass, a Sicilian Frappato at a fair price. Markup is reasonable across the board, and the all-pours-available-by-the-glass setup is a genuine differentiator in this price range. If you're eating Italian in West Palm Beach and you want to drink something more interesting than the Chianti default, this list earns your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Billings · Italian
Ciao Mambo has assembled an Italian wine list that would hold up at a serious restaurant in a much larger market — Vietti Barolo, Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco, and a Valle d'Aosta oddity on the same list in Billings is genuinely impressive. Without pricing or glass program data we can't call it a Rager, but if you're passing through Montana and want a real bottle of Nebbiolo with your pasta, this is your move.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vinings · Vinings · Italian
Cotto is doing more with a 51-bottle list than most Italian restaurants do with twice as many labels — the Italian whites alone make this worth a visit for anyone tired of the same old Pinot Grigio rut. The markup is fair, the by-the-glass program is genuinely generous, and the presence of bottles like the Bocale Trebbiano Spoletino signals real intent. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Santa Margherita and work their way through the Vermentinos instead.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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