Dressed Up Italian With Decent Wine Sense
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Italian-inspired fine dining with seafood and global influences · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 11, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list at Bellinis lands somewhere between ambitious and safe — Italian and French anchors with California and a few global wildcards thrown in. It's the kind of list that suits the room: polished, a little formal, not trying to surprise you. You're here for the Duck Two Ways and the live music, and the wine list knows that.
Coverage spans Italy, France, California, New Zealand, Germany, and South Africa, which sounds impressive until you realize the actual depth per region is thin. The Italian picks are solid — a Chianti DOCG and a Valpolicella Ripasso anchor the list with real credibility — and the Meursault from Bichot is a genuinely interesting white for Fort Myers. Champagne leans on the big houses (Mumm and Veuve), which is crowd-pleasing but uninspired. The California showing is represented by Textbook's Pey Family Reserve, which is a fine Napa Cab but not exactly a risk taken.
We couldn't confirm specific by-the-glass options from the available data, which is itself a mild yellow flag. A fine dining spot at this price point should be leading with its glass pour program loud and proud. If you're going in, ask the server what's open — hopefully it's more than the Mumm.
Chianti Il Cerevelli DOCG '20 — $38
At $38, this is the easiest call on the list. A Chianti DOCG for under forty bucks at a white-tablecloth spot is a legitimate deal — versatile enough to work with nearly everything on the menu and priced like it belongs at a trattoria, not a fine dining room.
Valpolicella di Ripasso Almadi '21
Ripasso gets skipped by people who don't know it, and ordered once by people who do. It's halfway between a standard Valpolicella and an Amarone — richer, darker, more structured — and at $65, it's the most interesting red on the list that most tables will walk right past.
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut
At $120, you're paying a serious premium for a label that retails around $55-60. Veuve is a fine Champagne, but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles in the restaurant industry. The Mumm at $90 isn't much better value-wise, but at least it's cheaper. Order the Chianti and save the Champagne for somewhere that earns it.
Meursault Bichot '18 + Seafood Wellington
A Meursault with a seafood Wellington is exactly why white Burgundy exists. The richness of the pastry and whatever fish is inside needs something with enough weight and texture to keep up — and Bichot's '18 Meursault brings butter, stone fruit, and enough acid to cut through the whole thing cleanly.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Bellinis is a solid choice if you want Italian-leaning fine dining with a wine list that won't embarrass anyone — just don't expect discovery or deal-hunting at the top of the price range. Stick to the Chianti or the Ripasso and you'll leave happy.
Downtown River District · Fort Myers · Japanese, Sushi
Blu Sushi Downtown isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly functional place to have a decent glass while eating good rolls in a fun room. Send your friend here for a night out — just tell them to skip the Rombauer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fort Myers / Daniels Parkway · Fort Myers · Japanese, Sushi
Mori Sushi & Grill isn't the place you go for a wine adventure, but the list is priced fairly and the Sauvignon Blancs do real work alongside the food. Grab a glass of Nobilo, order the sashimi, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fort Myers / Daniels Parkway · Fort Myers · Italian-American, family-style
Two Meatballs isn't a wine destination, but the Italian backbone of the list is honest and the pricing is fair enough that you won't feel robbed. Order the Barbera, get the baked ziti, and let the chaos of the dining room do the rest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fort Myers / US-41 · Fort Myers · Wine Bar, New American
Non Chalance has all the right intentions — a chill wine bar vibe with small plates in a neighborhood that needed it — but the list leans hard on low-cost, high-markup retail staples that don't hold up under scrutiny. Come for the atmosphere, but go easy on the bottle orders.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Fort Myers River District · Fort Myers · Rooftop Bar / Tapas & Small Plates
Beacon Social Drinkery is a genuinely fun place to watch the sun go down — just don't come here expecting the wine list to match the altitude. Order a cocktail, enjoy the view, and if you must have wine, the Crios Rosé is your move.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Fort Myers River District · Fort Myers · Upscale Contemporary Seafood and American
The Silver King won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you either — and for a hotel restaurant in Fort Myers, that's a genuine win. Take the Leflaive, skip the Rombauer, and enjoy the river view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.