Solid Italian Picks Without the Wine Bar Pretense
Harbordale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Bistro Mezzaluna’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Bistro Mezzaluna reads like a greatest hits compilation from 2008 — safe, recognizable, predictable. It's the kind of list that won't offend anyone but won't surprise anyone either. Fifty bottles strong with a solid eighteen by-the-glass pours, it's built for the crowd that knows what they like and likes what they know.
The Italian section leans heavily on Tuscan crowd-pleasers like Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti and the ubiquitous Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio — safe choices that pair well with the homemade pastas but lack the regional depth you'd hope for at an upscale Italian spot. California gets its due with Kendall Jackson Chardonnay and Etude Lyric Pinot Noir, both solid producers but safe picks that every wine list in America stocks. There's a smattering of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc to round things out, but the list feels more like a steakhouse wine program than an Italian bistro exploring the Boot's incredible diversity. No Barolo, no Brunello, no skin-contact whites, no volcanic wines from the south — just the hits.
Eighteen glass pours at $10-$18 is a decent spread for a neighborhood spot, and the range covers the bases from Pinot Grigio to Chianti to Pinot Noir. The Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio and Santa Margherita options give guests two takes on Italy's most-ordered white, while the Veuve Clicquot by the glass is a nice touch for celebrations. The problem is rotation — this feels like a set-it-and-forget-it program with no seasonal changes or adventurous pours to keep regulars engaged.
Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva — $58
A classic Tuscan that over-delivers on structure and complexity, perfect with their U.S.D.A. prime steaks and won't break the bank
Etude Lyric Pinot Noir
Most diners skip past this for the bigger Cabs, but Etude's Carneros fruit has elegance and restraint that shines with their pasta dishes
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
You're paying $68 for a bottle you can find at Total Wine for $22 — the markup here is aggressive for a wine this mass-produced
Ruffino Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva + Homemade Pappardelle with Bolognese
Sangiovese's bright acidity and cherry notes cut through rich meat sauce while the wine's earthy tannins echo the dish's savory depth
The Bottom Line
Bistro Mezzaluna delivers exactly what its loyal Harbordale crowd wants: familiar wines that pair well with excellent Italian-American cooking, served with warmth and no pretense. The list won't thrill wine geeks, but it won't disappoint your parents either.
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Mediterranean
The Terrace Grill isn't where you go to chase down rare bottles or get your mind blown by an unexpected producer — it's where you go to drink well without overthinking it. For waterfront Mediterranean dining in Fort Lauderdale, that's a perfectly respectable offer.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian, Floridian
La Fuga earns its Wine Spectator hardware with a focused Italian-California list that does right by the food — just be prepared for steep markups on the prestige bottles. Send a friend here when they want serious Italian wine with their pasta and a view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian
Anthony's Runway 84 is a Fort Lauderdale institution that knows its audience and delivers exactly what it promises: big Napa names, old-school Italian comfort, and no surprises. Wine-forward diners may find the list a little safe, but the Italian highlights and the fresh Wine Spectator Award of Excellence signal that someone here is paying attention — even if the list isn't ready to take risks.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ft. Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · Steak House
Steak 954 is a legitimately strong wine program for a beach hotel steakhouse — deep on the producers that matter, proper storage, and a by-the-glass count that punches above its weight. Markups are what they are at this address, but if you pick smart, this is a great place to drink wine with a serious piece of beef.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · French, Japanese
MAASS is the real thing — a sommelier-driven program with genuine depth, proper glassware, and staff that actually knows what's in the cellar. Markups run steep at the top end, but this is a Best of Award of Excellence list for a reason, and it earns every bit of the credential.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · American, Farm to Table
Daniel's is a legitimate Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence earner — the list is deep, the heavy hitters are all here, and the room is built for serious wine drinking. The markups sting and there's no sommelier pushing you toward discovery, but if you know what you're looking for, this is one of Fort Lauderdale's best bottles-over-dinner experiences.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Healdsburg · Italian
Ciao Bruto is running one of the smallest and most coherent wine lists in wine country, which is either audacious or brilliant — probably both. If you want a 200-label deep-dive, go somewhere else. If you want eight smart picks at prices that won't make you wince, this is the move in Healdsburg.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Geyserville · Healdsburg · Italian
Diavola earns its Wild Card badge because it's a wood-fired pizza joint that punches well above its weight on wine — sommelier on staff, regional focus, and a setting that practically demands you order a second glass. We can't give you the bottle-by-bottle breakdown until we get eyes on a current list, but the bones here are good enough to say: don't just order a beer and move on.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Healdsburg · Italian
Ca'Bianca is a genuinely lovely place to eat, and if the food lives up to its reputation for house-made pasta and classic Italian technique, a bottle of something from the list is absolutely worth ordering. We just can't tell you exactly which bottle to order yet — the wine program's specifics aren't publicly documented well enough for us to make a confident call. When in doubt, ask your server what's local and what they're excited about, and go from there.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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