Tignanello in Minnesota? Yes, Really.
Duluth · Duluth · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
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 →
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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.
Downtown · Duluth · Italian-American and Pizza
Sammy's is a Duluth institution and the pizza earns its reputation — the wine list is just not the point, and the restaurant isn't pretending otherwise. Order a beer or grab the cheapest glass pour, eat the pizza, and be happy.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Canal Park · Duluth · American, Bar, Pizza
Old Chicago Duluth isn't a wine destination and doesn't pretend to be — it's a reliable fallback for the table member who wants a glass of something decent while everyone else works through the tap list. If you stick to the Ste. Michelle Riesling, you'll leave satisfied; just don't come here expecting anything that will make you put down your pizza.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Duluth · Duluth · American, bar & grill
Grandma's Saloon is a genuinely fun West Duluth institution, but the wine list is an afterthought and everyone involved knows it. Order a local beer, enjoy the ribs, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that shares it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Miller Hill · Duluth · American, bar & grill
Grandma's Miller Hill is a beloved Duluth institution, but the wine list has never been the reason to show up — and with the location closing in May 2026, it's not getting better. Order a beer, enjoy the nostalgia, and save the wine for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Miller Hill · Duluth · Casual American steakhouse with Australian-themed branding
Outback Duluth is a perfectly fine place to eat a steak; it is not a place to think about wine. Order the Alamos Malbec, enjoy your sirloin, and save the wine exploration for somewhere that's doing the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fitger's / Waterfront · Duluth · Upscale American
Boat Club is a reliable wine room for Duluth — a sommelier on staff, a genuinely broad glass pour program, and a Monday half-price bottle deal that should be on every local's calendar. The markups keep it from being a Rager, but if you play the specials and lean into the European selections, you'll drink well with a great view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
· Atlanta · Italian
Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway / Elks Plaza · Gatlinburg · Italian
The Best Italian's wine list does exactly what it needs to do: keep casual diners happy, not drain wallets, and get out of the way of the garlic knots. We wouldn't drive to Gatlinburg for the wine, but if you're already there and want something decent with dinner, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Italian
La Nonna brings a legitimately serious Italian cellar to a town where most restaurants are content to coast on their ski-town captive audience — and that deserves real credit. The markups are steep across the board, but the bones of the list are strong enough that the right bottle makes the whole evening.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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