Serious Italian Cellar Hiding in Wisconsin
Appleton · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Carmella's’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You don't expect to flip open a wine list in Appleton, Wisconsin and find Mascarello Barolo and Le Ragnaie Brunello staring back at you — but here we are. Carmella's has assembled a ~95-label list that punches well above its zip code. This isn't a grocery store rack dressed up in a leather binder; somebody here actually cares.
The Italian anchoring is strong and legitimate — Oddero Gallina Barbaresco, Damilano Cannubi Barolo, and Le Ragnaie Brunello represent serious Piedmont and Tuscany firepower that most big-city Italian restaurants would be proud to carry. They've rounded it out globally with thoughtful picks like Doubleback Cab from Walla Walla, Lapostolle's Clos Apalta from Chile, and Sea Smoke pulling double duty from Santa Rita Hills. The Drouhin Laurene Pinot adds an Oregon voice to a list that otherwise leans Old World, which keeps things interesting. The main gap is a thin showing in lighter, more affordable everyday Italian — you jump pretty fast from entry-level to collector territory.
Ten by-the-glass options at $9–$15 is a reasonable pour program for this market, though the BTG lineup doesn't appear to feature the headline names from the bottle list. Rotation and depth of the glass program isn't fully transparent from the menu, but the price ceiling keeps it accessible for a weeknight dinner without committing to a full bottle.
Lapostolle 'Clos Apalta' 2018 Carmenere / Chile — N/A — bottle price not published
Clos Apalta is one of Chile's most decorated wines — a blend anchored by Carmenere that regularly retails in the $60–$80 range. If Carmella's is pricing it near that neighborhood, it's the move on this list for someone who wants complexity without buying a Barolo.
Oddero 'Gallina' 2020 Barbaresco
Barbaresco gets overshadowed by Barolo on most lists, and Gallina is one of the great Neive crus — elegant, perfumed, and more approachable in its youth than the big Barolos sharing the page. Most tables will walk past it. Don't.
Mascarello 2020 Barolo
Mascarello is genuinely one of Italy's greatest producers and this wine deserves its reputation — but at $426 on a restaurant list, you're paying a serious premium. Unless this is a very special occasion, you're better served by the Damilano Cannubi or the Oddero Barbaresco and keeping the rest of your money.
Damilano 'Cannubi' 2017 Barolo + Seasonal Italian bistro pasta or braised meat entree
Cannubi is one of Barolo's most storied single vineyards — firm tannins, dried rose, tar, and red cherry that need something rich and savory to open up. A slow-braised meat ragu or a hearty pasta is exactly the kind of anchor this wine is built for.
The Bottom Line
Carmella's is doing something genuinely unusual for its market — a thoughtfully curated, Italy-forward list with real cellar cred that most Midwest restaurants wouldn't attempt. The markups get steep at the top end, but if you navigate the list smart, there's a serious dinner to be had here.
Unknown · Appleton · Brazilian Steakhouse (Churrascaria)
Texas de Brazil is about the meat, full stop — and the wine list makes no effort to pretend otherwise. Come for the endless churrasco, but don't come here expecting the wine to keep up with the kitchen.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greater Appleton / Fox Cities · Appleton · Winery Bistro
LaBelle Winery Fox Cities is a genuine Wild Card in the Appleton dining scene — a focused, single-producer list of cold-hardy grapes you won't find anywhere else in town. Send a friend who's curious and open-minded; skip it if they need a Cabernet.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Appleton · Appleton · Italian
Carmella's is the kind of place that has no business having this good a wine list — and that's meant as a compliment. The markups on the top-shelf bottles sting, but the depth and seriousness of the Italian selection alone make it worth a visit for anyone who wants to drink well in Wisconsin.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Appleton · Appleton · Italian
Victoria's isn't a wine destination, but the prices are honest, the Italian picks are legitimate, and a $10 Chianti Riserva with a massive plate of pasta is a genuinely good night out. Send your friends here if they want comfort food and an easy bottle — just don't expect anyone to geek out over the list with you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Appleton · Appleton · Japanese
Katsu-Ya is a perfectly solid Japanese restaurant where the wine list exists as an obligation, not a feature. Come for the katsu and ramen, order sake or a Sapporo, and if you must have wine, grab the Koshu and move on.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Appleton · Brewpub / American
Stone Arch earns its reputation on craft beer, full stop — the wine list is a courtesy offering for whoever at the table doesn't drink beer, not a reason to come in thirsty for something from a bottle. Order a pint, enjoy the atmosphere, and save your wine ambitions for another night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· College Station · Italian
Amico Nave is a reliable neighborhood Italian with a wine list that's serviceable but won't knock your socks off — great for a date night when the food is the star, less great if you're there for the wine. Order something Italian, keep it simple, and enjoy the room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hartford · Italian
Geppetto is the kind of place where the wine list actually reflects the kitchen's point of view — Italy, seriously, without apology. It's not a destination wine program, but it's a trustworthy one, and in Torrington, that earns real points.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Round Rock · Round Rock · Italian
North Italia Round Rock doesn't break any new ground, but the Italian-leaning selection, fair bottle pricing, and massive by-the-glass count make it a reliable dinner option for anyone who wants a real wine alongside their pasta. Send your friends here — just steer them away from the Duckhorn.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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