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 →
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
· Ogden · Italian
La Ferrovia is the kind of neighborhood Italian that Ogden is lucky to have — solid food, easygoing atmosphere, and a wine program that seems content to stay in its lane. We'd love to get eyes on an actual list before making a stronger call, so check their website or call ahead if wine is a priority for your visit. Good enough for a weeknight dinner with a carafe of something red; not the destination if wine is the main event.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Laredo · Italian
If wine matters to you at dinner, Laredo has better options than this. Olive Garden's wine program is a corporate formality — two labels do not a wine list make. Order the cocktail, enjoy the breadsticks, and save the bottle for somewhere that earned it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Las Colinas · Irving · Italian
Italian Cafe is a reliable neighborhood option for a low-key dinner with wine that won't embarrass itself alongside the food. The wine program isn't the reason to come here — the lakeside atmosphere and comfort Italian cooking are — but it should hold its own for a casual weeknight out. If you're a serious wine drinker, temper expectations; if you just want something decent in the glass with your lobster ravioli, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
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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