Neapolitan Pizza Meets Predictable Italian Pours
St. Petersburg · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed February 22, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Bavaro's Pizza Napoletana & Pastaria’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Bavaro's reads like a greatest hits compilation of Italian-American dining: Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Montepulciano. Nothing surprising, nothing offensive. It's the wine equivalent of their menu — familiar, safe, and designed not to scare anyone away from ordering a second bottle.
The selection leans heavily into crowd-friendly Italian reds and whites, with the occasional nod to California standards for those who don't want to commit to the Old World. You'll find the usual suspects from Tuscany and Veneto, a Lambrusco or two if you're lucky, and probably a Super Tuscan at the top end for anniversary dinners. The list doesn't venture into natural wine territory or explore lesser-known Italian regions like Campania or Sicily with any depth. It's built for volume and familiarity, not discovery.
Glass pours likely stick to the safest bets — a Pinot Grigio, a Chianti Classico, maybe a Prosecco to start. We're guessing four to six options that rotate about as often as the pizza oven gets replaced. The staff can tell you if it's red or white, but don't expect granular details on vintage or producer philosophy.
Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina — $38
If they stock this Campanian white, it's the move — crisp, mineral-driven, and pairs beautifully with their margherita without the Pinot Grigio snooze factor
Tommasi Ripasso Valpolicella
Often overlooked for its flashier Amarone sibling, this delivers dried cherry depth and works with everything from sausage pizza to pasta pomodoro
Any Super Tuscan over $80
Restaurant markups on these bottles tend to be aggressive, and you're paying for name recognition more than actual quality at this price point
Terredora Greco di Tufo + Linguine alle Vongole
The wine's citrus acidity and saline finish mirror the briny clams and garlic — a classic Southern Italian combination that works every time
The Bottom Line
Bavaro's won't blow your mind with adventurous selections or sommelier-level service, but it won't steer you wrong either. Order something Italian, keep it under $50, and focus on the pizza.
St. Petersburg · St. Petersburg · Mediterranean
Ceviche is the best Spanish wine list you're likely to find on the Gulf Coast of Florida, and it earns its Wine Spectator credential without feeling stuffy about it. If you're eating Iberian food and drinking anything other than Spanish wine here, you're doing it wrong.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
St. Petersburg · St. Petersburg · Seasonal, Steakhouse
Rococo Steak is the real deal for wine in St. Pete — a deep, curated list backed by credentialed sommeliers and a room that earns it. Markups run steep, as they do at every serious steakhouse, but the depth and intentionality here make it worth the splurge if you're going in with a plan.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown St. Petersburg · St. Petersburg · American Steakhouse
Birch & Vine is doing something genuinely rare for the Gulf Coast — running a world-class wine program in a city better known for beach bars and grouper sandwiches. The markups sting at the top end, but the depth, the staff, and the commitment to French and Italian classics make this worth a special trip if wine is part of the reason you're going out.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
St. Petersburg · St. Petersburg · Italian
Osteria 617 isn't going to blow your mind, but it won't let you down either. It's the kind of place where you can get a solid Italian red with your pasta and not overthink it—and sometimes that's exactly what you need.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
St. Petersburg · St. Petersburg · Asian Fusion
Mandarin Hide isn't a wine destination, and it's not pretending to be. It's one of the best cocktail bars in St. Petersburg—a genuine craft bar with a spirits collection and cocktail program that most bars only dream about. If you're here reading this hoping for a wine deep-dive, you're missing the point. Go for the cocktails, stay for the atmosphere, and save your wine ambitions for the restaurant next door. Sometimes the wildest card in your night out is knowing exactly what a place does best and letting them do it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Stemless Casual
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
St. Petersburg · St. Petersburg · Mexican
Red Mesa won't blow your mind with wine, but they're not actively sabotaging your meal either. Order something Spanish, keep expectations modest, and save room in the budget for that second round of guac.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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
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