Venice on the Providence waterfront, wine included
Federal Hill · Providence · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Al Forno reads like a love letter to the Veneto — and honestly, given the wood-fired Italian cooking coming out of that open kitchen, that's not a bad thing. It's focused and intentional, not scattered. You won't find yourself flipping through pages of random California Cabs here.
The list leans hard into northeastern Italy, with a clear Veneto spine running from entry-level Valpolicella Classico all the way up to aged Amarone. The 2016 Amarone Crosara de le Strie and the 2013 Amarone Riserva Monte Danieli are the headline acts, and they're legit. That said, if you're hoping for Piedmont, Tuscany, or anything outside Italy, you're going to be disappointed — the geographic range is narrow enough that it starts to feel limiting by the time you're ordering a second bottle. The Ripasso fills the middle tier nicely, but there's a noticeable gap in white wine depth.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass is a workable range for a restaurant this size, and the Carpene Malvolti Prosecco is a solid opener — familiar enough to not scare anyone off, but a legitimate producer rather than anonymous bubbles. The glass program mirrors the bottle list's Veneto focus, which means you're getting consistent quality within a narrow lane.
2021 Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso — $55
Ripasso hits the sweet spot for this kitchen — enough body and dried-fruit richness to hold up to the wood-fired flavors without requiring you to commit to a full Amarone price tag. It's the move for a table that's ordering across the menu.
2022 Valpolicella Classico
Most people at a table with Amarone on the list will walk right past the Classico, and that's a mistake. A good Valpolicella Classico is lighter, brighter, and frankly more food-friendly for a multi-course Italian dinner than its heavier Veneto cousins. Don't sleep on it.
2013 Amarone Riserva Monte Danieli
The wine itself is probably excellent, but Amarone Riserva at a restaurant markup on a decade-old vintage is a significant spend — and without a knowledgeable floor staff to walk you through what you're buying, you're paying a premium largely on faith. Save this one for a shop where you can do the homework first.
2016 Amarone Crosara de le Strie + Dirty Steak with Hot Fanny Sauce
Amarone's concentrated dark fruit and grippy tannins are built for char and fat. The Dirty Steak's wood-fired crust and assertive sauce need something with enough structure to push back — this Amarone doesn't flinch.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Al Forno is a Veneto specialist in a city that mostly plays it safe with Italian wine, and there's real value in that focus. Just go in knowing the list won't surprise you geographically, and the markup means you're paying for the room as much as the bottle.
Downtown · Providence · Italian (modern trattoria)
Sarto's wine list is a credible, Italy-focused program that earns its place in a serious Italian kitchen — just go in knowing the markups lean steep and the list doesn't reward wandering outside the boot. Order the Vermentino, eat the pasta, and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Federal Hill · Providence · Italian-American
Joe Marzilli's Old Canteen is a Providence legend for its food and its history, not its wine list — which reads like something assembled in 1994 and never reconsidered. Come for the veal cutlet and the nostalgia, but don't let the wine list talk you into spending $48 on a Kendall-Jackson.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Side · Providence · American Brasserie (French-Influenced)
Red Stripe isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either. Fair prices on recognizable bottles in a lively room that actually makes you want to stay for another glass — that's a respectable thing to get right.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Providence · Providence · Upscale American Steakhouse with Seafood
The Capital Grille Providence is a well-oiled machine with a wine program that earns more respect than most chains deserve — the depth is real, the staff knows the list, and the Generous Pour event is a legit reason to show up. The markups are steep and the soul is corporate, but if someone else is expensing dinner, you could do a lot worse.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Downtown Providence · Providence · Seafood
Hemenway's is the rare seafood institution that earns its reputation on the wine side too — the sommelier presence is real, the French whites are well-chosen, and the list is built with actual intention. The markups are real and the BTG program could use more energy, but if you're eating raw bar in Providence, you could do a lot worse than starting with a glass of Fèvre Chablis here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Providence · Providence · Modern American with European Influence
The Dorrance is a reliable night out for wine drinkers who want a well-managed list in a genuinely beautiful room — just come in with your eyes open on the markups. If you work with the sommelier instead of defaulting to the famous labels, you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
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.