600 Bottles Deep in Chicago's Most Serious Italian Cellar
Gold Coast · Chicago · Modern Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Adalina’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list hits the table like a leather-bound encyclopedia, and it's not showing off — there are actually 600+ bottles in this cellar. This is a serious Italian wine program that respects Barolo the way it deserves, with vertical depth on producers like Gaja and Aldo Conterno, plus enough Burgundy and California to keep non-Italophiles happy.
The Italian side is where Adalina shows its hand: proper allocations of Fontodi, Giuseppe Quintarelli, and a Barolo section that could anchor a wine shop. France gets equal respect with Bouchard Père & Fils Meursault and serious Champagne including Dom Pérignon and Billecart-Salmon Rosé. California isn't an afterthought either — Sea Smoke, Stag's Leap Artemis, and big-flex magnums of Harlan Estate and Hundred Acre prove they're not allergic to New World. The markup sampling shows restraint: Paolo Scavino Barolo at 80% over retail is practically generous for a Gold Coast dining room, while everyday pours like Chianti Classico at 172% are reasonable for the setting.
The glass program runs 18-25 pours and punches above typical restaurant fare. You can get Barolo by Silvano Bolmida, Amarone, and Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne without committing to a bottle — that's a power move. Sancerre from J. de Villebois, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, and Nero d'Avola round out a program that assumes you want real wine, not house plonk.
Paolo Scavino Barolo 2021 — $180
Only 80% over retail for one of Piedmont's elite producers is a steal in this market — and with their Bone-In Ribeye, it's a no-brainer
Nero d'Avola (glass)
Sicilian red by the glass in an Italian restaurant full of Barolos? Everyone's sleeping on this pour, but it's got the structure to stand up to their richer pastas
Lunardi Pinot Grigio 2024
273% markup on a $15 retail bottle is the kind of gouging that makes people order cocktails instead — there are better Italian whites on this list
Fontodi Chianti Classico + Crab Agnolotti
The wine's bright acidity and herbal notes cut through the richness of crab and pasta while the Sangiovese's red fruit doesn't overpower delicate seafood
The Bottom Line
This is the wine list you wish every Italian restaurant in America had. Serious depth, fair pricing on the bottles that matter, and a sommelier team that actually cares.
· Chicago · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie Chicago is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants a French-focused list executed with genuine effort and the occasional smart value. The markups aren't shy, but the BTG program and specials take some of the sting out — go in with a plan and you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Chicago · Steakhouse
This is not the wine list you expect to find at The Palm, and that's exactly why it earns attention. Six bottles, zero filler, genuinely fair pricing — if someone's tending this list, they deserve a raise.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
The Oakville Grill earns its Wine Spectator credential and the sommelier duo makes this list accessible, not intimidating. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is reason enough to get a reservation — just let go of the idea that anything other than California is on the agenda.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American
John's is a neighborhood spot that punches well above its casual format — two sommeliers, a thoughtful France-and-California list, fair prices, and half-price bottles every Monday. Send your friends here, especially on a Monday.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
River North · Chicago · American, Seafood
Terrace 16 earns its Wine Spectator badge and delivers a respectable, California-and-France-focused list in one of Chicago's most dramatic dining rooms. Just don't expect to be surprised — the wine is as reliable as the skyline view, and nearly as expensive.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River North · Chicago · French, Indian
Indienne is the Wild Card in the truest sense — a fusion kitchen with a genuinely considered wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod. Yes, send a friend here for wine, but make sure they skip the Napa Cab and lead with Riesling.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Northside / Downtown edge · Iowa City · Modern Italian
Basta isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't need to be — it's a fun downtown Italian spot with a reliable-enough list and one of the best recurring happy hour deals in Iowa City. Show up between 4 and 6, drink the Soave, eat the pizza, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Flagstaff · Modern Italian
Teatro is the kind of wine program that punches so far above its weight class for a Northern Arizona mountain town that it borders on absurd. If you care about Italian wine, make the reservation.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Central Boca · Boca Raton · Modern Italian
Novello is a genuinely good wine list for Boca Raton — Italian-focused, with real depth at the top end — but the markups and the static glass program hold it back from being truly exciting. Go for the Amarone or the Super Tuscans; skip the Napa cult bottles unless someone else is paying.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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