All-Italian, All-Honest, All-Night
Unknown · Raleigh · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed March 17, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Bella Monica’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Bella Monica does exactly what a neighborhood trattoria's should — it stays in its lane, keeps prices honest, and doesn't try to impress you with names you can't pronounce. Everything on the list is Italian, full stop. That kind of editorial discipline is rarer than it should be.
This is a tight, focused Italian list that covers the peninsula's greatest hits without overstaying its welcome. You've got your Abruzzo bases covered with the Ca' Brigiano Montepulciano, a Barbera d'Alba from Damilano for the Piedmont crowd, and the Cantine Madonna delle Grazie Liscone Aglianico for anyone who wants something with a little more grip and ambition. Whites lean toward the north and center — Suavia Soave Classico, Casammata Vermentino, and Cordero di Montezemolo Arneis round out a white selection that punches above the price point. The gaps are real — no Barolo, no serious Sicilian representation, no natural wine presence — but for a casual trattoria this size, the curation is genuinely respectable.
Glass pours start at $6 and top out around $11, which in today's restaurant climate borders on civic service. The pour selection mirrors the bottle list closely, giving you legitimate access to regional Italian variety without committing to a full bottle. Rotation appears limited — this feels like a static list rather than one that changes with the seasons.
Suavia Soave Classico — $10
A serious producer making one of Veneto's most underrated whites — Garganega with real mineral backbone — for ten bucks a glass. You'd pay double this at most Italian spots in the region.
Cantine Madonna delle Grazie Liscone Aglianico
Aglianico is Campania's dark horse — tannic, earthy, with a savory edge that most diners walk right past. At a trattoria where most people default to Chianti, this is the bottle for anyone who wants something that actually makes you think.
Cordero di Montezemolo Arneis
It's a fine wine, but at a 55% retail markup it's the weakest value on the list — noticeably steeper than everything else. The Suavia or Casammata Vermentino gives you more excitement per dollar.
Damilano Barbera d'Alba + Wood-fired pizza
Barbera's high acidity and low tannin make it the ultimate pizza wine — it cuts through cheese fat, plays nice with tomato, and doesn't fight the char from a wood-fired oven. Classic move for a reason.
The Bottom Line
Bella Monica won't change your life, but it'll charge you a fair price and pour you something genuinely Italian while it's at it. For a weeknight neighborhood spot, that's exactly enough.
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Glenwood South · Raleigh · Mediterranean
Vidrio isn't trying to reinvent wine lists, and it doesn't need to — solid French selections, fair pricing, and a by-the-glass program that actually gives you options make this a dependable wine destination in Raleigh. Send a friend here and they won't come back disappointed.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Raleigh · Raleigh · American, Seafood
The Players Retreat is the Wild Card because nobody walks in expecting a legitimate wine program at a beloved Raleigh neighborhood bar — and yet, here we are. Matt Fern keeps things credible, the California and French anchors are well-chosen, and as long as you steer past the grocery-store staples, you're drinking better than the room suggests.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Raleigh · Raleigh · Italian
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Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Brier Creek · Raleigh · Indian
Azitra is doing something genuinely unusual — running a Wine Spectator-caliber list at an upscale Indian restaurant in Raleigh — and largely pulling it off. The Wednesday half-price program alone makes it worth putting in your rotation; the Bollinger and the Drouhin make it worth telling your friends about.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Unknown · Raleigh · Pizza
Ruckus Pizza is a solid spot for a casual pizza night — just don't come for the wine. Order a beer or a cocktail, or grab a bottle from the shop next door if they'll let you bring it in.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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
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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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