Italy-forward list with passport stamps elsewhere
· Atlanta · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 23, 2026
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 · American / Cajun
Lagarde isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list reflects that honestly — fair prices, familiar pours, and just enough interesting picks (Nebbiolo, Riesling, Albariño) to reward a curious diner. Come for the Cajun food, let the wine support the meal rather than headline it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Wine shop / bottle shop
Elemental Spirits Co. is doing something genuinely rare in Atlanta: a small-format bottle shop with actual conviction behind every label. If you care about drinking something interesting — Jura oddities, Columbia Gorge naturals, old-world Loire — this shelf is worth the trip.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern
The Southern Gentleman isn't here to win wine awards, and it doesn't pretend to be. But fair prices, a full glass pour program, and a couple of genuinely smart picks buried in a short list make it more than serviceable — come for the food, order a glass, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Winery Restaurant / American
City Winery Atlanta is a genuine wildcard: a one-producer list shouldn't work this well, but between the Finger Lakes whites, the Rhône-inspired reds, and the live music backdrop, it earns its place on your rotation. Go in curious, not skeptical.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Decatur · Atlanta · Bakery / Café
B-Side at the Bakery is the best argument we've seen for what a café wine list can be when someone actually cares. If you're in Decatur, this is a mandatory stop — come for the coffee, stay for the Morgon.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Atlanta · Bottle Shop / Market
Savi Provisions is a Wild Card because nobody expects to find Quilceda Creek and Joseph Phelps Insignia next to the olive bar — but the narrow focus and market-tier markups mean this is really a stop for collectors on a grocery run, not a destination for curious drinkers. Worth a browse; approach the register with caution.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West End · Allentown · Italian
Biaggi's wine list is better than it needs to be for a chain, especially on the Italian side — but steep markups and a crowd-pleaser mentality keep it from being anything more than a reliable option. If you navigate past the California marquee names, there's a genuinely good meal-and-wine combo waiting for you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Frontera · Round Rock · Italian
Macaroni Grill's wine list is functional in the same way a vending machine is functional — it'll get you a drink, but nobody's excited about it. If wine matters to you even a little, you're better off at almost any independent Italian spot in the area.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Wooster Square · New Haven · Italian
Tre Scalini is the rare neighborhood Italian that backs up a serious room with a serious wine list — 425 bottles, a sommelier, and real Italian depth all say someone's paying attention. Markups run steep on the prestige stuff, but value is absolutely findable if you know where to look.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.