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 →
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 · Italian bakery and cafe
Rosetta Bakery has no business having a wine list this considered. Eight labels, nearly all pourable by the glass, priced so fairly it almost seems like a mistake — and anchored by producers like Monchiero Carbone and Antica Fratta that would look at home on a dedicated wine bar menu. If you're nearby and want a glass of something genuinely Italian and genuinely good without paying downtown wine bar prices, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Smyrna · Atlanta · New American
Muss & Turner's isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and that honesty is oddly refreshing. If you're in Smyrna on a Tuesday, the reported wine-focused night is reason enough to show up early, grab a seat, and let the shrimp and grits do the heavy lifting while you figure out what's on the list.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American
Soho's wine list is built for people who already know what they like — California reds, recognizable labels, no curveballs. The markup is real (Faust at $132/bottle and Moët at $138 are tough to justify), but the by-the-glass depth gives you flexibility to stay in a reasonable range. If you're here for the food and want a no-drama pour, you'll find it — just don't come expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · French
St. John's is running a lean, all-by-the-glass program that's more considered than it looks at first glance — a Vouvray, a Barolo, and an aged Languedoc Syrah on a 14-bottle list isn't an accident. The lack of bottle service is a real limitation for a French dinner, but if you're grazing through courses and glasses, the pricing stays honest. Worth a visit if you want something beyond the usual steakhouse pour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Buckhead · Atlanta · French-American
St. John has the bones of a place worth drinking well at — a thoughtful regional spread, a dining room that takes itself seriously, and a menu built for wine-friendly food. But without confirmed list details or pricing, we can't promise the experience lives up to the setup. Go for the Welsh Rarebit and the mood, and ask your server what they're excited about on the list — that answer alone will tell you what kind of night you're in for.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern breakfast and lunch
Bantam + Biddy is a perfectly decent brunch spot that simply has no interest in wine — and that's fine, but you should know going in. If your table is splitting Mimosas and splitting biscuits, great. If you want an actual glass of wine with your eggs, eat somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Johns Creek · Italian
Pasta Vino isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a neighborhood Italian with a list that actually makes sense for the room. Pricing is fair across the board, the by-the-glass program gives you real options, and the Italian selections (especially the Chianti duo and the Lugana) show some genuine thought. Send a friend here for dinner knowing they'll drink well without overpaying.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Arlington · Italian
Piccolo Mondo punches above its Arlington zip code with a genuinely Italy-forward wine list that includes some names worth ordering. We'd love to see pricing and by-the-glass details more clearly published — and without knowing the markups, we can't fully endorse the value play — but the producer selection alone puts this ahead of most neighborhood Italian spots in the DFW suburbs. If you're going, head straight for the Tuscan reds and don't look back.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Italian
The Macaroni Grill Lakeland wine list is functional the way a vending machine is functional — it dispenses what you ask for without fuss or personality. The by-the-glass breadth gives casual drinkers options, but the markups on several bottles and the complete absence of anything interesting or Italian-forward make this a list you tolerate rather than enjoy. Order the Lambrusco or the Trapiche Malbec and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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