Old World Gravitas, Providence's Most Serious List
Downtown · Providence · International with Northern Italian/Mediterranean accent · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Capriccio's historic cellar space and picking up that wine list feels like the restaurant is clearing its throat before a very important speech. France, Italy, Napa — all the heavyweights are here, and the list makes no apologies for skewing classic and expensive. This is a room where people order Champagne by name, and the list knows it.
The 300-500 bottle list leans hard into Champagne, Burgundy, and Bordeaux on the French side, with Italy and Napa rounding things out in a way that feels considered rather than compulsory. Dom Pérignon appears in multiple vintages, including the 2003 Rosé at $695 and the 2010 at $595, which tells you exactly the kind of guest Capriccio is courting. The Italian selections nod appropriately to the kitchen's Northern Italian roots, and the Napa presence gives the power-lunch crowd something familiar to point at. Gaps exist — don't come looking for natural wine, Jura, or anything with a funky label — but within its classical lane, this list covers serious ground.
Twelve pours by the glass at $14–$22 is a reasonable spread for a fine dining room at this price point, and the range appears to cover the major bases without being adventurous. The top end of that glass range can add up fast if you're not watching the clock, but for a business dinner where you need something credible without committing to a bottle, the program holds up. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here — this list has the feel of something curated once and trusted to hold.
Moët & Chandon Imperial Rosé — $165
Relative to the company it keeps on this list — multiple Dom Pérignon vintages north of $500 — the Imperial Rosé is where you land if you want bubbles without the sticker shock. It's a crowd-pleaser that actually delivers in a celebratory room like this one.
Quinta do Noval Vintage 1970
A 1970 Quinta do Noval on any list is worth stopping for. This is a legendary Portuguese Port house in a legendary vintage, and most tables will blow right past it ordering another round of Champagne. If you're the kind of person who knows what this is, you already know what to do.
Moët & Chandon Cuvée Dom Pérignon Rosé 2003
At $695, you're paying serious money for a wine that retails in the $300–$400 range — and the 2003 vintage in Champagne, while iconic, was a heat-stressed year that divides experts. The markup here is real and the vintage argument is real. Spend less on the Imperial Rosé or save the Dom Pérignon splurge for the 2010.
Moët & Chandon Cuvée Dom Pérignon 2010 + Kobe Carpaccio
The 2010 Dom Pérignon is precise, mineral, and built with enough acidity to cut through the fat-rich richness of Kobe beef carpaccio without bulldozing the delicate flavors. It's an indulgent move that actually makes sense on the plate, not just on the expense report.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Capriccio is Providence's best case for serious, old-school wine service — deep list, knowledgeable staff, proper stems — but the markups mean you need to spend thoughtfully or this gets expensive fast. Send your friend here for a special occasion, but tell them to pick carefully.
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
Downtown Providence · Providence · Seafood
Hemenway's is the rare seafood institution that earns its reputation on the wine side too — the sommelier presence is real, the French whites are well-chosen, and the list is built with actual intention. The markups are real and the BTG program could use more energy, but if you're eating raw bar in Providence, you could do a lot worse than starting with a glass of Fèvre Chablis here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Providence · Providence · Modern American with European Influence
The Dorrance is a reliable night out for wine drinkers who want a well-managed list in a genuinely beautiful room — just come in with your eyes open on the markups. If you work with the sommelier instead of defaulting to the famous labels, you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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