Italian Vibes, Grocery Store Wine Prices
Federal Hill · Providence · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Cafe Zivoli’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Cafe Zivoli leans hard on names you'd recognize from a Kroger endcap — Kim Crawford, Josh Cellars, Meiomi. For a Federal Hill Italian spot sitting in Providence's most storied Italian neighborhood, that's a missed opportunity that's hard to ignore.
The list nods to Italy in concept but doesn't really follow through in practice. Regional focus is supposedly Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, but the bottles that show up in the markup data are California and New Zealand crowd-pleasers with zero Italian identity. A 30-50 bottle list could absolutely punch above its weight class here — Federal Hill deserves a Barbera d'Asti or a proper Sangiovese — but this list isn't doing that work. There are no notable producers cited, no surprises, and nothing that tells you the people curating this list care deeply about wine.
Six to ten pours by the glass sounds decent until you realize the roster is likely built around the same familiar faces: Kim Crawford, Meiomi, Sterling Chardonnay. Rotation appears minimal, and with no active specials program, what you see tonight is probably what you'll see in six months.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 — $38
It's the least offensive markup on the list at 90% over retail — which, yes, still stings, but at least you know exactly what you're getting: an easy-drinking, inoffensive California cab that won't embarrass you at the table.
Meiomi Pinot Noir California 2022
Nobody's ordering this at a Federal Hill Italian dinner, but if you're splitting a light pasta and want something soft and fruit-forward without overthinking it, Meiomi does that job. Just don't pay full attention to the $55 price tag.
Sterling Vineyards Vintner's Collection Chardonnay 2022
A 100% markup on an $18 retail bottle is the most egregious pour on the list. This is a supermarket wine dressed up in a restaurant price tag. Order anything else.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2023 + antipasti
The bright citrus and herbaceous snap of Kim Crawford actually works against a plate of briny olives, cured meats, and pickled vegetables — the acidity cuts through the fat and keeps things lively. It's still $42 for a $22 bottle, but at least the pairing logic holds up.
The Bottom Line
Cafe Zivoli's wine list feels like an afterthought stapled onto an otherwise Italian-proud Federal Hill address — steep markups on recognizable but uninspiring bottles don't do the neighborhood justice. Order a cocktail or bring your own if corkage is an option.
Federal Hill · Providence · Italian
Camille’s offers plenty to explore, but set your wine budget before opening the list. Our starting order is Jorio Montepulciano at $11/glass or Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina at $12/glass. Save Tignanello for a planned splurge.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Providence · Restaurant
Mare Rooftop is a great place to watch the sunset with a cold glass of Whispering Angel — and that's about the ceiling of its wine ambition. If you're here for the view and the vibe, lean into it; if you showed up hoping for a thoughtful wine experience, you're in the wrong place.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Providence · Italian (modern trattoria)
Sarto's wine list is a credible, Italy-focused program that earns its place in a serious Italian kitchen — just go in knowing the markups lean steep and the list doesn't reward wandering outside the boot. Order the Vermentino, eat the pasta, and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Federal Hill · Providence · Italian-American
Joe Marzilli's Old Canteen is a Providence legend for its food and its history, not its wine list — which reads like something assembled in 1994 and never reconsidered. Come for the veal cutlet and the nostalgia, but don't let the wine list talk you into spending $48 on a Kendall-Jackson.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Side · Providence · American Brasserie (French-Influenced)
Red Stripe isn't a wine destination, but it's not pretending to be one either. Fair prices on recognizable bottles in a lively room that actually makes you want to stay for another glass — that's a respectable thing to get right.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Providence · Providence · Upscale American Steakhouse with Seafood
The Capital Grille Providence is a well-oiled machine with a wine program that earns more respect than most chains deserve — the depth is real, the staff knows the list, and the Generous Pour event is a legit reason to show up. The markups are steep and the soul is corporate, but if someone else is expensing dinner, you could do a lot worse.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
· Lincoln · Italian
Lincoln Ristorante is doing something genuinely unusual: running a wine list in central Nebraska that would hold its own in most major American cities. The Italian focus is deep and well-curated, the by-the-glass program gives you real options, and the pricing — particularly on the reds — is fair enough that you won't feel punished for ordering well. If you're in Lincoln and you care about wine, this is the only room that answers that call.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Italian
Il Tavolo isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a reliable Italian spot with fair pours, sensible pricing, and enough range to keep the table happy. If you're in Jersey City and want a glass of Chianti that won't cost you a car payment, this is a safe and honest bet.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · Italian
Sorellina has done something genuinely weird here — built an all-dessert-wine list and committed to it fully, with enough range and producer credibility to make it worth taking seriously. If you are coming here expecting a broad Italian bottle list to drink through dinner, adjust your expectations before you walk in. But if you want to spend an evening exploring Italian sweet wines poured by the glass at prices that do not insult you, this is one of the more interesting niche programs in the area.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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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