Tignanello in Minnesota? Yes, Really.
Duluth · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed April 8, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Bellisio's Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're in Duluth, Minnesota, staring at a wine list that leads with Gaja Barbaresco and Sassicaia, and for a second you wonder if you've been transported. Bellisio's has held a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 1999 — a quarter century of keeping the bar high in a city more associated with lake views than Barolo. The list punches well above its geographic weight class.
The Italian spine is serious: Antinori Tignanello, Gaja Barbaresco, Sassicaia, Brunello from Banfi and Castello Romitorio, Barolo from Prunotto and Ceretto — this is a roll call that would hold up at a dedicated wine bar in any major city. California gets its due too, with Caymus, Silver Oak Alexander Valley, and Stag's Leap Wine Cellars covering the crowd-pleasing end without feeling like a cop-out. The range runs 200-350 selections, which is legitimately deep for a restaurant of this size in this market. If there's a gap, it's that adventurous drinkers looking for natural wine or off-the-beaten-path regions will need to look elsewhere.
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is a genuinely strong program — most restaurants half-heartedly commit six and call it a day. Glass prices run $10–$18, which is honest money for what's on offer. We'd love to see the BTG list rotate more aggressively, but quantity and accessibility are both there.
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva — $35–$45
A reliable, food-friendly Tuscan red that drinks above its price point — perfect entry into the Italian section without committing to a three-figure Barolo.
Castello Romitorio Brunello di Montalcino
Banfi gets all the recognition, but Castello Romitorio makes a more structured, terroir-driven Brunello that most diners skip right past. Order it while everyone else plays it safe.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is everywhere, marked up everywhere, and rarely worth it at restaurant pricing. With Stag's Leap on the same list, your California Cab dollar goes further elsewhere.
Prunotto Barolo + Osso Buco
Braised veal shank needs something with structure and grip to cut through the richness — Prunotto's Barolo brings the tannin and earthy depth to stand up to it without overwhelming the dish.
The Bottom Line
Bellisio's is the kind of wine list that shouldn't exist where it does, and that's exactly why it deserves your attention. If you're passing through Duluth and care about drinking well, this is your stop.
· Duluth · Japanese
Haru Ichiban is not a wine destination, and that's fine — plenty of great Japanese restaurants aren't. But if wine matters to you at dinner, this list gives you nothing to work with: no producers, no prices, no effort. Come for the food, skip the wine, and maybe order the Choya Plum Wine if you want something that at least fits the vibe.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Korean BBQ
Honey Pig is not a wine destination and it isn't pretending to be — the real draws here are the grill, the banchan, and the beer-and-soju situation. If you're committed to wine, the Korean Raspberry Wine is the one genuinely interesting call on a list that otherwise treats wine as an obligation. We wouldn't come here for the bottles, but we wouldn't hold it against the food.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Asian
Dubu Gongbang clearly isn't here to win a wine award, and that's fine — the draw is the food, not the cellar. But four generic California labels with no by-the-glass program and no apparent curation is a wine list in name only. If you're eating here, order what looks good on the food menu and don't overthink the wine.
Grocery Store
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Steakhouse
Uncle Jack's is a solid suburban steakhouse with a wine list that does its job without exceeding it. The food — especially that 35-Day Dry-Aged Rib Chop — is the reason to show up; the wine list is there to support the meal, not to steal the show. If you're a wine-first diner, you'll find enough to work with, but don't expect to be surprised. For everyone else, let the steak lead and pick whatever Napa Cab feels right for the occasion.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Gastropub/Tavern
Good Word is a brewery that built a wine list with actual intention, and that's rarer than it should be. We can't speak to pricing or glass pours without more data, but the selection itself — Vinho Verde, Mosel Riesling, Languedoc Chardonnay, Argentine blends, two Cavas — is the work of someone who wanted wine drinkers to feel welcome at a beer place. If you're the wine person in a beer-drinking group, Good Word has you covered.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Duluth · Fine Dining / Event Venue
The 1818 Club's wine program is a catering checklist, not a considered list — eight unlabeled varietal names do not constitute a wine program at a fine dining venue. If you're attending an event here, manage expectations accordingly and hope the host bar tier is generous. We wouldn't choose this venue for the wine.
Grocery Store
Steep
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
· 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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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