Bottega
Frank Stitt's List Is No Afterthought
Highland Avenue · Birmingham · Italian-Inspired · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
When a restaurant updates its wine list four times in two years, that's not maintenance — that's a program with a pulse. Bottega's list arrives with real intention: 150-plus selections, a sommelier on staff, and a range that stretches from Champagne grower houses to Sonoma Coast cult producers without feeling scattered.
Selection Deep Dive
The backbone is California and Oregon, with Sonoma Coast Pinot dominating the red side — Littorai, Hirsch, and Evening Land 'Summum' from Eola-Amity Hills all showing up, which is not something you expect to find in Birmingham. Italy earns its place given the kitchen's Italian lean, with the Adami Prosecco and Chiquet Champagne rounding out the sparkling program. There's a noticeable gap in Old World reds beyond Italy — Burgundy and Rhône are underrepresented for a list this size — but what's here is thoughtfully chosen, not just name-checked. The presence of Bedrock 'Old Vines' Zinfandel and Turley alongside the Pinot heavyweights shows someone actually put thought into the American section.
By the Glass
The by-the-glass lineup clears six options and pulls from the real list rather than relegating pours to clearinghouse bottles. The Gaston Chiquet Champagne available by the glass at $23 is a legitimate flex — that's a grower 1er Cru, not a supermarket NV. Rotation appears active given the frequency of list updates, so what you see one visit may shift by the next, which is a feature, not a bug.
LIOCO Chardonnay 2021, Sonoma Coast — $50
At 32% above retail, this is practically cost pricing for a restaurant. LIOCO makes lean, mineral Chardonnay that punches well above its retail $38 — getting it here for $50 is the kind of deal that doesn't come around often on a wine list.
Frank's Pinot Noir, Clendenen Family Vineyards 2022, Santa Maria Valley
Named for chef Frank Stitt, this is a house-adjacent pour that most tables will overlook in favor of the Domaine Serene or Littorai. Don't. Jim Clendenen's Santa Maria fruit is the real deal, and at $14.50 a glass it's the most honest pour on the list.
La Spinetta Il Rosé di Casanova 2021, Tuscany
At $48 on a bottle that retails for $28, this is the list's biggest markup at 71% over retail. It's a fine rosé but there are better values here — this one's coasting on the La Spinetta name.
Evening Land 'Summum' Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills + Wood-Roasted Fish
Eola-Amity Pinot runs cooler and more savory than its Dundee Hills neighbors — earthy, red-fruited, with enough acidity to cut through roasted fish without overwhelming it. It's the rare red that actually works here.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Bottega is doing real wine work in a city that doesn't always reward it — fair markups, a live list that gets updated, and producers that signal someone with actual taste is running this program. Send your wine-drinking friends here without hesitation.
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