Chain Italian With a Respectable Wine Backbone
East Side · Evansville · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 6, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Biaggi's reads like a greatest hits compilation — Caymus, Silver Oak, Rombauer, The Prisoner. If you've been to any upscale casual Italian chain in the last decade, you already know this list by heart. It's not lazy exactly, but it's not trying to surprise anyone either.
At 43 labels, the list covers enough ground to keep most tables happy without ever venturing anywhere adventurous. The heavy lean toward big California Cabs and Chardonnays is predictable for the format, but there are genuine Italian touches worth noting — a Pertinace Barolo, Zenato Amarone, and the Allegrini Palazzo della Torre show someone at corporate cared at least a little about the Italian half of 'Ristorante Italiano.' The Argentinian Zuccardi Q Malbec and Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc round out the international side without much depth beyond that. Glaring gaps: almost no Burgundy, no Rhône, no skin-contact or natural options, and a sparkling section that barely registers.
Twelve by-the-glass options is a respectable number for a chain, covering both reds and whites with enough spread to avoid decision paralysis. The glass price ceiling of $18 keeps things accessible, though you're mostly choosing between recognizable brand names rather than anything with a story. Rotation appears minimal — this list looks like it hasn't changed since the last menu reprint.
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre — $36–$45 bottle (estimated from range)
A Valpolicella ripasso-style red from one of Veneto's most respected names — it punches well above its likely price point on this list and is surrounded by bottles that offer far less for the same money. Order this before you order the Caymus.
Pertinace Barolo
Barolo on a chain Italian list in Evansville is not something you expect to see. Pertinace is a solid Langhe cooperative producer making honest Nebbiolo — this bottle will outlast every Cab at the table and actually makes sense with the food.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley
Caymus is a fine wine but it's wildly overexposed and almost certainly marked up to where you're paying $100+ for a bottle you can find at Costco for $60. Save the splurge for something that earns it.
Zenato Amarone + Lasagna
Amarone's concentrated dark fruit and earthy richness stand up to the meaty, cheesy weight of a classic lasagna in a way that California Cab simply doesn't — the bitterness cuts through the fat and both things taste bigger for it.
The Bottom Line
Biaggi's is a reliable fallback when you want wine with dinner and don't want to think too hard — but steer toward the Italian bottles and ignore the California blockbusters your server will inevitably steer you toward. Not worth a special trip for the wine program, but not an embarrassment either.
West Side · Evansville · Italian-American / Pizza
Turoni's is a great neighborhood pizza spot that happens to have wine on the menu, not a wine destination that also serves pizza. Come for the food and the house-brewed beer; treat the $4.99 Lambrusco as a pleasant bonus, not the reason you're here.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Newburgh Road · Evansville · Italian-American / Pizza
Turoni's is a great pizza spot and a solid craft beer destination — the wine list is neither of those things. Order the Lambrusco if you're committed to the bit, then let the beer menu do the real work.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Evansville · Italian-American, Pizza, Brewpub
Turoni's is a great neighborhood pizza spot with a legitimate craft beer program — come for the pies and the pints, not the wine. If you need a glass of something, the $4.99 price tag makes it painless, but don't expect anything beyond the basics.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Evansville · Evansville · American / Brewpub
BJ's Evansville is a brewpub, full stop — the wine list is a courtesy offering for the table members who don't drink beer, not a destination in itself. If you're going, go on a Thursday, order the Meiomi or the Kim Crawford at half price, and let everyone else worry about the craft tap list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Eagle Crest · Evansville · American gastrobar
Bar Louie Evansville is a fine place to grab a beer or a cocktail — the wine list is an afterthought dressed up in a laminated menu. Come on a Thursday, order the rosé, and call it a win.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
East Side · Evansville · Casual steakhouse; American steak, ribs, chicken, and seafood
LongHorn's wine list is the dining equivalent of a screensaver — it's technically there, it moves occasionally, but nobody's really watching it. Come for the steak, order the La Crema if you want wine, and keep your expectations where the decor suggests they should be.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Italian
Brio McKinney's wine list won't win any awards and the markup will sting if you reach for the California heavyweights, but there are a few genuinely Italian picks buried in there worth finding. Come for the food, order thoughtfully, and stick to the Old World side of the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Italian
Palermo isn't a wine destination, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood Italian with a list that respects the cuisine and won't punish your wallet. Send a friend here if they want a good bottle with dinner — just steer them toward the Italian side of the list.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Randolph · St. Paul · Italian
Luci Ancora isn't here to dazzle wine geeks, but it earns its keep as a thoughtful neighborhood Italian with a list that respects the kitchen. If you're after a quiet dinner and a well-chosen Italian bottle, you're in the right place.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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