Pittsburgh's Most Serious Wine List, No Nonsense
Shadyside · Pittsburgh · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Casbah’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Casbah hits differently than what you expect from Pittsburgh. This is a 150-200 bottle program with genuine range — France, Italy, Germany, Chile, California — and it's clear someone with actual opinions built this thing. It's not trying to impress you with trophy bottles; it's trying to get you drinking something good.
The list leans old-world in spirit even when it ventures into California. You've got Saint-Véran from Mâconnais sitting alongside Trefethen from Napa, Aglianico del Vulture from Basilicata showing up next to Grand Cru Saint-Émilion — this is a buyer who knows their way around a map. The Italian section punches above its weight, and the presence of Nik Weis Riesling and Domaine Guy Mardon Touraine signals that someone here actually likes wine, not just wine sales. Gaps exist — more depth in Spain and the Southern Hemisphere would round this out — but for a Pittsburgh neighborhood restaurant, this list is genuinely impressive.
Eighteen-plus options by the glass is a serious commitment, and the range here backs it up — you can go from an $11 Mosel Riesling to a $22 Gaston Chiquet Premier Cru Champagne without feeling like you're being steered into a corner. The glass program covers all the major bases: white Burgundy, Italian reds, a Sangiovese rosé, California Pinot Noir — real choices, not afterthoughts. Rotation data isn't available, but with this many options, there's no excuse to default to the house pour.
Chardonnay, Les Pierres Grises, Saint-Véran, Mâconnais, Burgundy 2019 — $13
Saint-Véran Chardonnay at $13 a glass is a flat-out steal. This is white Burgundy terroir — mineral, restrained, nothing like the butter-bomb Chards that dominate Pittsburgh lists — and you're paying coffee-shop prices for it.
Aglianico del Vulture, D'Angelo, Basilicata, Italy DOC 2017
Most tables walk right past Aglianico and order another Cab. That's a mistake. D'Angelo's Basilicata bottling is brooding, tannic, and has the kind of grip that makes lamb chops make sense. It's a $14 glass of something most people haven't tried and genuinely should.
Cabernet Sauvignon/Zinfandel, Paraduxx, Napa Valley, California 2016
Paraduxx is a fine wine, but at $20 a glass you're paying Napa prestige pricing for a blend that doesn't have the singular identity to justify it. There are better stories on this list for less money.
Aglianico del Vulture, D'Angelo, Basilicata, Italy DOC 2017 + Lamb Chops
Aglianico is basically built for lamb. The wine's firm tannins and dark fruit cut through the richness of the meat, and the earthy, volcanic character of Basilicata echoes the wood-roasted char. This is the pairing the list was quietly hoping you'd find.
The Bottom Line
Casbah is the kind of wine program that makes you wish every neighborhood restaurant cared this much — fair prices, real range, and a sommelier on staff who clearly built this list with intention. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Robinson Township · Pittsburgh · American, Italian
Ditka's Pittsburgh is a dependable play for a California-centric steakhouse night out — just don't come looking for adventure. If your crew wants big Napa Cabs with a serious cut of beef, this list will keep everyone happy without anyone learning anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mt. Washington · Pittsburgh · American
Altius is a reliable wine destination if you want California classics in one of Pittsburgh's best dining rooms — just don't expect the list to surprise you the way the skyline will. Send a friend here for a special occasion, not a wine adventure.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Strip District · Pittsburgh · Market / Wine Library
The Pennsylvania Market Wine Library is the rare place where the pricing alone justifies the trip — near-retail bottles in a casual market setting is a concept more cities need. It's not polished, but it's genuinely on your side.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lawrenceville · Pittsburgh · Spanish
Morcilla isn't trying to be a wine bar, but the list reads like it was built by someone who wishes it were — in the best possible way. If you're in Pittsburgh and want to drink serious Spanish wine with your food, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Pittsburgh · American, Steakhouse, Seafood
Eddie V's is the kind of wine list that earns its Rager badge on depth, staff, and execution — even if the pricing leans into the occasion-dining model hard. If someone else is expensing it, drink well. If you're paying yourself, pick strategically.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Pittsburgh · Continental-American Fine Dining
The Carlton has the bones of a Rager — deep cellar, knowledgeable staff, serious glassware — but the markups keep it from earning that badge. Go for the wine list experience, but go in knowing you're paying a downtown Pittsburgh premium for every bottle.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Little Italy · San Diego · Mediterranean
Barra Oliba is doing something genuinely interesting for San Diego — a Spain-focused wine program in a polished Little Italy setting, backed by real culinary intent and a sommelier keeping things honest. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if they're ready to let the staff steer. The full list isn't something we've been able to verify in detail, so consider this a strong lead worth confirming in person over a glass of Albariño.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Elektra's list is small and smart — a rare combination. The commitment to Greek, Lebanese, and Southern French producers gives it a personality most restaurants with three times the selection can't claim. If you're in the mood to drink something you haven't tried before without getting lectured about it, this list holds up.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Kitty Dare is punching well above its weight for an Atlanta restaurant wine list — fair prices, genuinely adventurous selections, and the rare willingness to pour all of it by the glass. We don't have visibility into service or food specifics, but the list alone is worth coming for. If you want a Lebanese white from 70-year-old vines for $13/glass, this is your place.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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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