Big Italian Bottles, Absurdly Low Glass Prices
Uptown · Dallas · Italian, Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed April 27, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Avanti Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Avanti hits differently the moment you see the prices — this is a white-tablecloth Italian spot on McKinney Ave where Tignanello runs $32 a glass and Gaja Barbaresco is $26. Either the printer made a typo or Avanti genuinely does not care about squeezing the room, and we are here for it.
The list is unapologetically Italian and makes no apologies about it — which is exactly right for this kitchen. You've got serious Piedmont representation with Vietti Barolo Castiglione, Ceretto's Bricco Rocche, La Spinetta Barbaresco Valeirano, and Gaja all showing up, plus Tuscany flexing hard with Brunello from Castello Banfi, the Super Tuscan holy trinity of Tignanello, Sassicaia, and Antinori all accounted for. Wine Spectator has recognized this list since 2018, and the Italy-first focus earns that credential honestly. Breadth outside Italy is unclear, but frankly the Italian depth alone is enough reason to come.
We don't have a confirmed by-the-glass count, but the price points on these pours suggest they're running serious bottles by the glass rather than padding the program with bulk wine. If you can get a pour of La Spinetta Barbaresco Valeirano for anywhere near the $22 bottle-equivalent price, that's a genuinely special glass of wine at a genuinely absurd value.
Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2019 — $24
Vietti is one of the most respected names in Barolo and the Castiglione is their benchmark bottling — structured, age-worthy, and deeply Piemontese. At $24 this is not a restaurant markup, it's a gift. Order it.
La Spinetta Barbaresco Valeirano 2020
Most people see Barbaresco on a list and reach for Gaja because the name is familiar. Spinetta's Valeirano single-vineyard is every bit as serious and far less likely to get ordered — which means your server might actually be excited to pour it.
Sassicaia 2019
At $65 this is still a relative value compared to most restaurants, but Sassicaia at retail is widely available and not hard to find. The other bottles on this list offer far more per dollar for what you can't easily replicate at home.
Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2018 + Osso buco
Braised veal shank has the weight and richness to stand up to Brunello's firm tannins and cherry-driven structure — and the Sangiovese acidity cuts right through the marrow butter. This is the kind of pairing that makes you feel like you've figured something out.
Wednesday — Half-price wine on Wednesdays — already-absurd prices cut in half. This is not a drill.
The Bottom Line
Avanti is pulling off something rare in Dallas: genuinely great Italian bottles at prices that feel like a Wednesday night deal every night of the week. Wednesday half-price wine just makes a great deal mathematically irresponsible — go now.
· Dallas · Steakhouse
Perry's is a reliable steakhouse wine program — fair pricing, a broad glass selection, and enough variety to keep most tables happy without any real effort on your part. If you want adventure or discovery, look elsewhere; if you want a competent, frictionless list that won't embarrass you on a work dinner, Perry's delivers exactly that.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dallas · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Dallas brings a reliable, if uninspired, wine list that leans on brand recognition over discovery — the Bodega Garzón Albariño and Zuccardi Malbec are the standouts in a sea of familiar faces. If you're here for the meat, the wine list will keep you covered; just watch the markup on the glass pours, which can quietly run up a tab. We'd send a friend here for the experience, not specifically for the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Dallas · Dallas · Steakhouse
STK Dallas is a place to be seen, not a place to drink well — the wine list is a predictable lineup of brand names with almost no by-the-glass program to speak of. Order a cocktail, or commit to a bottle and go straight for the Twomey.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dallas · Steakhouse
Y.O. Ranch's wine list does the job without doing much else — it's a safe, brand-heavy selection that keeps the room happy but won't make any wine drinker's night. Come for the beef, order the Malbec or the Il Poggione, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dallas · Steakhouse
Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse takes its wine as seriously as its beef, which is rarer than it should be. The Cabernet runs deep, the global bench is real, the Coravin program lets you drink up, the markups are fair for the tier, and the Texas section gives the whole thing a personality. Skip the trophy-label tax, lean on the Rioja, the Pinot, and the homegrown Texas pours, and you'll eat and drink like the buyer clearly intends.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Dallas · Dallas · American
Ellie's is a respectable hotel wine list that earns its Wine Spectator nod without ever threatening to surprise you — California crowd-pleasers at steep markups in a beautiful room. If you're celebrating or just want a reliable bottle with a great burger, it does the job; just don't expect the list to take you anywhere you haven't already been.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Italian, Mediterranean
A short, Italian-leaning wine list with a note that the full list is available on request. Start with the Planeta Grillo at 12/40 or the Noussan Petit Arvine at 23/80, ask which number is the glass price, and confirm everything, since the files are linked with 2024 dates in their names. This unrated guide covers the posted wine PDF, not service, storage or markups.
River Oaks · Houston · Italian, Mediterranean
Zanti's list is large and Italy-heavy, and the glass pages are the easiest way into it. Order the $16 Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva, or splurge on the $35 Caparzo Brunello with the braised lamb ossobuco. Confirm vintages and availability, since the list is marked October 2026. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Decatur · Decatur · Italian, Mediterranean
Café Lily is your dependable Decatur neighborhood restaurant that happens to take its wine seriously enough to earn a Wine Spectator nod — nothing flashy, but never a disappointment. Go on a Tuesday, order the lamb, and let the half-price wine night do the rest.
Plays It Safe
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
