Appleton's Secret Weapon Has Serious Cellar Cred
Appleton · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Carmella's Italian Bistro’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 find Mascarello Barolo and Le Ragnaie Brunello at a neighborhood Italian bistro in Appleton, Wisconsin — but here we are. The wine list lands with genuine weight: 110 labels that read like someone actually cares, not like a manager copy-pasted from a distributor sheet. The range from entry-level pours to serious Piedmontese heavyweights is legitimately impressive for this zip code.
The Italian backbone is the real story here — Oddero's 'Gallina' Barbaresco, Damilano's 'Cannubi' Barolo, and Le Ragnaie's Brunello di Montalcino give this list more Piedmont and Tuscan firepower than restaurants three times its size. California shows up strong too, with Sea Smoke and Doubleback representing the prestige end of the West Coast. France gets a seat at the table with Drouhin's 'Laurene' Pinot and proper Champagne representation. The one gap: the lighter, entry-level Italian whites and everyday Nebbiolo territory that would make this list more approachable for the table that isn't ready to commit to $400 Barolo.
Ten by-the-glass options at $9–$15 is a workable program, though it skews toward approachable rather than adventurous — none of the heavy-hitter Italian reds make the cut by the glass, which is both understandable and a missed opportunity. The glass range is fine for a weeknight dinner crowd but won't wow anyone who's already scanned the bottle list and gotten hungry for more. Rotation frequency is unclear, and no standout pours by the glass were confirmed in our research.
Lapostolle 'Clos Apalta' 2018 Carmenere / Chile — $Not publicly listed
Clos Apalta is one of Chile's most decorated wines and consistently punches above its tier. If the price sits anywhere near the lower-middle of this list, it's the smartest bottle in the room — complex, age-worthy, and routinely overlooked by diners who default to Napa Cab.
Oddero 'Gallina' 2020 Barbaresco
Gallina is one of the most celebrated crus in Barbaresco and Oddero is a serious, traditional producer. Most tables will walk right past it chasing the Barolo names, but this is the move — aromatic, structured, and ready to drink now without needing a decade in your cellar first.
Mascarello 2020 Barolo
Mascarello is a legendary producer and the wine is real, but $426 at a neighborhood bistro in Appleton is a significant markup on a wine that still needs years in the bottle to open up. Unless you're celebrating something major and you know exactly what you're getting into, this one's better left on the list.
Drouhin 'Laurene' Pinot Noir / Dundee Hills + Wild Mushroom Risotto
Laurene's earthy, red-fruit-forward Oregon Pinot plays directly into the umami depth of wild mushroom risotto — neither one bulldozes the other. It's the rare pairing where the wine actually elevates the dish rather than just tolerating it.
The Bottom Line
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.
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
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
Appleton area · Appleton · Steakhouse
Wissota Chophouse is a reliable stop for a well-poured glass of something familiar alongside a good steak — just don't expect the wine list to be the reason you drove here. Stick to the mid-tier bottles, avoid the trophy wines, and you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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