Cincinnati's Italian Wine Anchor, No Passport Required
Hyde Park · Cincinnati · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Alfio's Buon Cibo’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Alfio's Buon Cibo lands with some weight — 200-plus bottles, Italy front and center, and a staff of three named sommeliers ready to walk you through it. This is not a list that got assembled by someone calling the broadline distributor and saying 'send whatever.' Someone here cares, and it shows immediately.
Italy is the backbone and the beating heart here — Barolo from Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa, Brunello from Biondi-Santi and Banfi, Amarone from Allegrini and Bertani, and the Super Tuscan hits like Sassicaia and Tignanello for when you want to feel fancy. The regional spread goes well beyond the greatest hits, which is what earns the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence they've held since 2025. California gets a seat at the table too — Stag's Leap and Jordan Cab fill the bill for guests who want something familiar — but this list is clearly Italian at its soul. The one gap worth noting: white wine depth could match the reds.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a genuinely strong pour program, especially for a neighborhood Italian spot. Expect rotating Pinot Grigio from Santa Margherita or Livio Felluga on the lighter end, with bolder Italian reds filling out the slate. If a sommelier is on the floor, ask what's recently been opened — they'll steer you toward something interesting.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $65
Jordan is a crowd-pleaser that actually delivers — polished, consistent, and usually marked up responsibly at Italian spots. For a table that wants something recognizable and reliably good, this is the move without burning through your dinner budget.
Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio
Most people hear Pinot Grigio and think Santa Margherita on autopilot. Livio Felluga is the grown-up version — textured, mineral, with actual personality. It's priced below where it should be relative to what's in the glass.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Look, it's fine. But you're paying restaurant markup on a bottle you can grab at any grocery store, and Livio Felluga is sitting right there on the same list for a better drinking experience. No shame in moving on.
Amarone della Valpolicella (Allegrini) + Osso buco
Allegrini's Amarone brings dried fruit intensity and serious structure — exactly what you want next to the deep, braised richness of osso buco. The wine's weight matches the dish without bullying it, and the slight bitterness on the finish cuts through the marrow.
The Bottom Line
Alfio's is the rare neighborhood Italian that takes its wine program as seriously as its pasta, backed by a knowledgeable floor team that can actually help you spend your money wisely. Send your friends here — and tell them to let the sommelier pick.
· Cincinnati · Contemporary American Steakhouse
Eddie Merlot's is a reliable performer in a genre that doesn't reward risk-taking — you'll eat well, drink acceptably, and pay steakhouse prices for both. If you're after a wine list that surprises or challenges you, this isn't your room. But if you need somewhere that delivers a respectable bottle alongside a serious filet, this gets the job done without embarrassing you at the table.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montgomery · Cincinnati · American
A winery-restaurant list where nearly every wine is posted with a glass and a bottle price, from $9.50 to $25.00 a glass. Start with the Cooper's Hawk Lux Cabernet Sauvignon, which the menu lists beside the red wine braised short ribs, or the Cooper's Hawk Red at $10.75 a glass, and try the CHMX from Baja, Mexico on a weekday at the $8 Wine O'Clock price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, so confirm availability.
Covington · Cincinnati · Farm-to-Table Bistro
A bistro wine list with a compact glass tab and a regional bottle tab that runs from 42 to 310. Start with the Conquilla cava or the Voliero sangiovese by the glass, or the Thymiopoulos xinomavro at $50 if you want a bottle, and confirm prices because the menu is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Cincinnati · Wood-Fired American
A French-led bottle list with a glass page that starts at $17 and a Coravin page for smaller pours. Order the Domaine Brun-Avril Côtes-du-Rhône at $20 a glass, or try the Château de Plaisance Anjou Blanc by the pour, and confirm vintages since the book says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks selection, not service, storage or markups.
Newport · Cincinnati · Farm-to-table (Italian, French, American)
A tasting-menu room with a wine book that runs from Burgundy to Tuscany and a short, specific beverage sheet. Start with the $15 Delalle sparkling Chenin Blanc, or look at the $48 Rocca del Principe Fiano if you want a bottle, and confirm what is available since neither list is dated. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks lists, not service, storage or markups.
Lytle Park · Cincinnati · Italian
A broad Italian-and-Napa list, with every glass pour labeled by size. Start with the Santa Cristina Cabernet Sauvignon (6oz 12) or the Ohio-made Carlotta red blend (43), and confirm what is pouring, since the list carries no date. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
· Dacula · Italian
Antonetas isn't a wine destination, and it isn't trying to be — it's a family-friendly neighborhood Italian with a wine list that covers the basics and stays out of the way. If you're after a solid glass of something red with your Lasagna in a no-fuss setting, you won't be disappointed. Just don't show up expecting to geek out over the list.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Alpharetta · Italian
Crust is a solid neighborhood Italian spot where the wine list is a supporting player, not the headliner — and that's fine. Come for the rigatoni alla vodka and garlic knots; order a glass of whatever red they're pouring and don't overthink it. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation, just not for the wine list alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Marietta · Italian
Vespucci's isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't pretend to be — and that honesty is refreshing. The one move that earns real respect here is the Monday half-price bottle deal, which turns an ordinary weeknight into a genuinely good value. Show up on a Monday, order the Eggplant Parmigiana, grab a bottle at half price, and you've had a solid dinner without thinking too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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