Red Sauce, Chianti, Milwaukee Does Italy Right
Bluemound · Milwaukee · Italian-American · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 30, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Balistreri's’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Balistreri's reads exactly like the room looks — comfortable, familiar, and unapologetically Italian-American. You're not getting surprises here, but you're also not getting insulted. It's the kind of list that fits the Chicken Marsala like a glove.
The list leans hard into Tuscany and Piedmont, which is the right call for a kitchen built around red sauce and veal. Antinori and Ruffino anchor the Chianti Classico Riserva section, and there are Barolo and Barbaresco bottles from Piedmont that give the list some backbone. California shows up in the form of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Merlot and Beringer Cabernet — crowd-pleasers that will keep the table happy without anyone raising an eyebrow. Sicily gets a nod, which is welcome, but the list doesn't wander much beyond these safe zones — no Abruzzo, no Campania, nothing to spark a conversation.
The by-the-glass program runs 10 to 16 options, which is a reasonable spread for a supper-club format. Expect Italian standbys and a California red or white for anyone not ready to commit to a bottle. Rotation appears minimal — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program rather than one chasing the season.
Chianti Classico Riserva (Ruffino) — $45
Ruffino's Chianti Classico Riserva is a workhorse bottle that consistently over-delivers for its price point. Against a plate of house-made pasta or lasagna, it's the obvious call and usually one of the fairer prices on the list.
Barbaresco (Piedmontese producer)
Most tables at Balistreri's are going straight for the Chianti or the California Cab, which means the Barbaresco often gets overlooked. Nebbiolo with a bit of age in a supper-club setting is an underrated move — more complexity, more interest, and the kitchen's richness handles the tannin just fine.
Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon
Beringer Cab is a $12 grocery store bottle. Whatever it's priced at here, you're paying restaurant markup on something that doesn't warrant it. The Italian side of the list gives you actual value — stay there.
Chianti Classico Riserva (Antinori) + Veal Parmesan
Sangiovese's natural acidity cuts through the richness of the breaded veal and tomato sauce without fighting it. Antinori's Chianti Classico Riserva has enough structure to hold up and enough fruit to stay friendly — it's the pairing this kitchen was built for.
The Bottom Line
Balistreri's wine list isn't trying to impress anyone, and it mostly doesn't need to. If you're here for the red sauce and a bottle of Chianti, you'll leave happy — just steer clear of the California grocery-store pours and let the Italian side of the list do its job.
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