Waterfront Views, Wine List Worth the Stop
Estero Bay · Fort Myers · Italian-inspired with American · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed April 14, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Acqua Bistecca Estero Bay’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're seated overlooking Estero Bay at golden hour, and the wine list arrives thick enough to feel serious. At 80-120 bottles, this isn't a token effort — someone put real thought into building this around the Italian-leaning kitchen. The price tags, however, remind you pretty quickly that the sunset view comes with a premium.
The list leans on California and Italy, which makes sense given the steakhouse-meets-trattoria DNA of the place. Piemonte gets a proper nod — the Cascina Delle Rose Barbaresco from Rio Sordo is a legitimately exciting pick in a market where most restaurants would just throw a Banfi on and call it Italian. California representation is thoughtful too, with Lioco's Chardonnay from the actual Estero vineyard in Russian River — a local name-check that's more than just gimmicky. The gap is everywhere else: if you want Old World outside Italy or anything from the Southern Hemisphere, you're mostly out of luck.
With 12-18 pours available, the glass program is one of the stronger aspects of this list. It gives you real room to explore across the meal rather than committing to a bottle at these prices. We'd love to see more rotation and adventurous pours, but for a Gulf Coast waterfront spot, this is better than average.
Lioco Chardonnay 'Estero', Russian River, CA 2023 — null
Lioco is a producer that consistently punches above its price point — restrained, terroir-driven Chardonnay with none of the butter-bomb nonsense. The fact that it shares a name with the bay you're staring at is a bonus. Likely one of the most honest bottles on the list relative to what you're getting in the glass.
Cascina Delle Rose Barbaresco, Rio Sordo Valley, Piemonte 2020
Cascina Delle Rose is a small, family-run Piemonte estate that doesn't get nearly enough attention outside of Italy-obsessed wine circles. Their Rio Sordo Barbaresco is elegant, earthy, and needs food — which you'll have plenty of. Most tables here will reach for something familiar and blow right past this one. Don't be most tables.
Linden Vineyards Hardscrabble Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Linden is a respected Virginia producer, and Hardscrabble is genuinely good wine — but it's a niche, higher-priced bottle from a region most diners here won't recognize, and it's likely marked up in a way that doesn't reward the curiosity. At a waterfront Florida restaurant, you're paying for context that isn't there. Save Linden for a trip to the Shenandoah.
Cascina Delle Rose Barbaresco, Rio Sordo Valley, Piemonte 2020 + Chargrilled Steak
Barbaresco and a chargrilled steak is one of those combinations that exists for a reason. The wine's Nebbiolo tannins and bright acidity cut through the fat beautifully, and the earthy, floral notes hold up against the char without getting steamrolled. Classic for a reason.
The Bottom Line
Acqua Bistecca is doing more with its wine list than you'd expect from a waterfront resort-adjacent spot in Southwest Florida — a few genuinely excellent producers make this worth exploring. Just go in with eyes open on pricing, and let the Barbaresco do its thing.
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Steakhouse
A one-page list of 42 wines where 24 are priced by the 6 oz and 9 oz pour, from $11 to $28, and the rest are bottles up to $499. Start with the $12 Cigar Box Malbec by the 6 oz glass, or step up to the $75 Les Cadrans de Lassègue if you want the one Bordeaux on the list. The PDF is undated, so confirm what's pouring. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Mediterranean-inspired small plates and wine bar
A compact, Italian-leaning list with glasses from $10 to $15 and a happy hour board that includes any glass. Order the $10 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo with the $20 board, or the $15 Valle Segreta Super Tuscan with the short rib ravioli, and confirm prices on the day. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
McGregor Boulevard · Fort Myers · New American
A wine list that tells you what is in the glass but not what it costs. For a steak, start with the Chappellet Signature Cabernet or the Gigondas, and ask the server for prices and by-the-glass availability since the list posts none. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Italian
A long, Italian-and-Napa-heavy list with 18 glass pours from $10 to $29 and a bottle range from $40 to $2,250. Start with the $12 Castello di Albola Chianti Classico, or order the Laurent Perrier half bottle at $85 if you want Champagne without a full bottle, and confirm current prices. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Bell Tower Shops / South Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Mexican
A compact 13-wine list for a Mexican restaurant, with half-off wine by the glass at the bar on posted days. Start with the Marqués de Cáceres Rosé at 8 | 28, or the Catena Malbec at 10 | 37 if you want a red, and ask which number is the glass. Wine prices are posted without units and the menu is undated, so confirm what the Fort Myers bar is pouring. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Fort Myers River District · Fort Myers · Gastropub
A short wine list at a craft beer and cocktail bar: nine wines, two price tiers, no regions or vintages. Order the Meiomi Pinot Noir with the You Gouda Try This! mac and cheese, or stay on the house wines at $8 and $30; the page is undated, so confirm current wines and ask which price is the glass before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks menu, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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