Casa Santo Stefano

Casa Santo Stefano keeps it straightforward with a wine list that doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. This is Italian comfort food territory, and the wines follow suit—familiar names, safe choices, nothing that'll make you pull out your phone to Google a producer.

The list leans heavily into recognizable Italian regions—Chianti, Pinot Grigio from Veneto, maybe a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo or two. We're guessing there's a Tuscan focus given the restaurant's name, with a handful of Super Tuscans in the mid-range and some everyday drinking reds. Don't expect deep cuts from Etna or natural wines from Friuli. This is the Italy your parents know: reliable, food-friendly, uncomplicated. A few California standards probably round out the list for guests who want Cab over Sangiovese.

By-the-glass offerings likely stick to the hits: a Pinot Grigio, a Chianti Classico, maybe a Prosecco to start. The pours probably rotate seasonally at best, with a core lineup that stays consistent year-round. Nothing adventurous, but nothing offensive either—safe choices that pair with red sauce and don't require staff training.