Italy-forward list with passport stamps elsewhere
· Atlanta · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed BoccaLupo’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
At 17 labels — all of which are also available by the glass — BoccaLupo is playing a tight, deliberate game. This isn't a list trying to impress with volume; it's trying to impress with intention. And mostly, it works.
The list leans Italian at its core — Barbaresco from Demarie, Foradori's Teroldego from the Dolomites, Antinori's Brunello, and Gaja's Sito Moresco — but it earns its Wild Card badge by genuinely going off-script. A Georgian Khikhvi from Nine Oaks, a Croatian Plavac Mali from Basina, a Txakoli rosé from Rezabal, and a Loire Chenin Blanc from Vignobles Denis make this feel like someone actually cares about what's in the book. There's also a Pet-Nat from Alexis Hudon and Eyrie's Chasselas Doré from the Willamette Valley, which is the kind of nerdy flex most Italian restaurants wouldn't dare attempt. The house pours (red, white, sparkling) round out the approachable end without padding the list with filler.
Every bottle on the list is available by the glass, which is genuinely rare and genuinely appreciated — you can explore the whole menu without committing to a bottle. Prices run $12–$28 per glass, which is fair for the quality on offer, especially when you're pouring Vilmart Grand Cellier or a Brunello by the glass. The Oddbird Blanc de Blancs earns points just for being a non-alcoholic option that isn't an afterthought.
Vignobles Denis Chenin Blanc 2023 — $12–$28/glass
Loire Chenin Blanc is perennially underpriced for the complexity it delivers. At the lower end of this glass range, it's the kind of wine that makes you feel smart for ordering it.
Nine Oaks Khikhvi 2019
A Georgian white from the Khikhvi grape — amber, textured, and unlike anything else on the table. Most diners will skip right past it. Don't.
Antinori Pian Delle Vigne Brunello di Montalcino 2020
A great wine, no argument there — but Brunello by the glass at restaurant markup is a tough math equation. If you're spending that much, grab a bottle and let it breathe.
Foradori Vigneti Delle Dolomiti Teroldego 2023 + House-made pasta with braised meat ragu
Foradori's Teroldego has enough dark fruit and grip to stand up to a rich, meaty ragu without bulldozing fresh pasta. It's the Italian pairing this list was built for.
The Bottom Line
BoccaLupo fits a lot of personality into a short list — global detours, Italian anchors, and a by-the-glass program that actually lets you explore. Send your adventurous friends here without hesitation.
· Atlanta · Sushi / Omakase
Sushi By Bou is clearly here to serve great fish — and the wine list confirms that wine is very much an afterthought. Order the Dom if you're feeling flush or the Hampton Water if you're being sensible, and let the food do the heavy lifting.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean / New American
Rose & Rye isn't a destination for wine nerds, but it's a perfectly functional list for a date night where the wine is supporting the evening, not headlining it. Order the Crémant, avoid the Caymus markup, and you'll do just fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Hal's delivers a competent, Napa-forward bottle list that does exactly what a steakhouse wine program is supposed to do — just without much surprise or value mercy. Send a friend here if they want a reliable big-red experience; warn them to leave the credit card breathing room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Fast Casual
Nando's is here for the chicken, and the wine list knows it — eight uninspired labels that exist to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Vinho Verde, enjoy your peri-peri, and don't overthink it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Stemless Casual
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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
· Atlanta · Southern
SouthernNational is doing something genuinely unusual — running a tight, Europe-forward wine list inside a Southern kitchen, and mostly pulling it off. If you're tired of the same Sonoma Pinot and overpriced Malbec at every restaurant in town, this list is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Galleria · Irving · Italian
North Italia isn't a destination wine list, but it's a genuinely respectable one — fair prices, regional Italian whites worth ordering, and enough variety to reward curious drinkers. Send your friends here knowing they won't be stuck choosing between Pinot Grigio and nothing.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Laredo · Italian
Johnny Carino's Laredo isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that abundantly clear. If you're here, go on a Sunday or Wednesday, grab that half-price Albertoni, and keep your expectations parked firmly at 'Italian chain in Laredo.'
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
· Toledo · Italian
Rosie's is doing what a neighborhood Italian restaurant should do with its wine list — keeping prices honest, leaning into Italian varietals, and giving you enough by-the-glass options that everyone at the table finds something. It's not pushing any boundaries, but it's not trying to either, and that's perfectly fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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