Old-School Italian with Predictable Wine Safe Plays
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Casa D'Angelo’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Casa D'Angelo feels like it was assembled a decade ago and hasn't been touched since. It's the kind of Italian-American setup where you know exactly what you're getting before you even open the book: Super Tuscans, Barolos with restaurant markup, and safe Pinot Grigios that won't offend anyone.
The Italian focus is obvious but uninspired—heavy on recognizable names from Tuscany and Piedmont without much depth in regions like Sicily, Campania, or the emerging areas doing exciting work. You'll find the usual suspects: Antinori, Gaja, maybe a Brunello or two priced like they're serving liquid history. The list plays it safe with crowd-pleasers that tourists expect at an upscale Italian joint, which means you're paying for familiarity rather than discovery. There's minimal representation from smaller producers or natural winemakers, and the selection feels frozen in the early 2010s wine boom.
The by-the-glass program is functional but forgettable—probably six to eight pours that rotate about as often as the décor. Expect a Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige, a Chianti Classico, maybe a Barbera, and an overpriced Sangiovese that should cost half what they're charging. The pours are generous enough, but nothing here suggests they're thinking creatively about glass service or using it to introduce diners to anything unexpected.
Terre di Balbia Falanghina — $42
If they stock this Campanian white, it's your escape hatch from boring Pinot Grigio—crisp, mineral-driven, and priced somewhat reasonably for what you get
Vajra Langhe Rosso
A Nebbiolo-based blend that drinks like baby Barolo without the $120 markup—assuming it's on the list and not buried under the Super Tuscans
Any Chianti Classico Riserva over $75
Restaurant markup on these is brutal, and you're paying double what you would at retail for a wine that's solid but not special
Donnafugata Cerasuolo di Vittoria + Osso Buco
This Sicilian red has the fruit and structure to stand up to braised veal without overwhelming the dish—if they carry it, it's a move
The Bottom Line
Casa D'Angelo is fine if you're here for the pasta and need something drinkable, but the wine program feels like an afterthought. Limited intel aside, this reads like a place where the list exists to check a box rather than enhance your meal—order conservatively and don't expect discovery.
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