Reno's Midtown surprise with actual wine ambition
Midtown · Reno · Modern American tapas / small plates · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Centro reads like someone actually gave a damn — which isn't a given in Midtown Reno. Fifteen by-the-glass options with bottles topping out around $110 signals a program that's trying without pretending to be something it's not. For a tapas spot in Nevada's second city, this is a genuinely pleasant surprise.
The list pulls from a solid spread of regions — Italy, New Zealand, Spain, California, Uruguay — which tells you there's a real buyer behind the scenes, not just a distributor's sales sheet. Highlights include Pieropan Soave and Allegrini Valpolicella on the Italian side, plus Craggy Range Pinot Noir representing New Zealand with some credibility. The Prunotto Barbaresco is the most serious bottle on the list and earns its spot. Gaps exist — Burgundy and Rhône are absent, and the California section leans predictable — but for a tapas bar, this is more than enough to work with.
Fifteen by-the-glass options is a strong number for a room this size, and the range is genuinely varied — you're not stuck choosing between Chardonnay and Cab. Prices run $11–$17, which is fair for the Reno market and doesn't feel like a penalty for wanting a single glass. We'd love to see more rotation, but what's here holds up.
Foxglove Cabernet Sauvignon — $35
Foxglove consistently punches above its weight — Central Coast fruit with real structure — and at the low end of the bottle list, it's the easiest yes on the menu.
Garzon Albarino
Most people overlook Uruguayan Albariño entirely, but Garzon has been making a serious case for it. Bright, coastal, and completely different from anything else on this list — worth the curiosity.
Louis Martini Gryphon Cabernet Sauvignon
Louis Martini is a legacy name coasting on reputation. At a spot where the Foxglove Cab exists at a lower price, there's no compelling reason to pay up for the Gryphon.
Allegrini Valpolicella + charcuterie board
Valpolicella's cherry-tart snap and lighter tannin structure make it a natural match for cured meats and aged cheese — it cuts through the fat without overwhelming the spread. Classic small-plates move.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Centro is the kind of wine list that earns goodwill precisely because it doesn't have to be this good — it's a tapas bar in Reno, not a wine destination, and yet here we are recommending Prunotto Barbaresco and Uruguayan Albariño. Send your wine-curious friends here and let them be surprised.
Downtown / Casino Row · Reno · Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Reno is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program inside a casino resort — competent glassware, proper storage, and a sommelier who knows the list cold. Just don't come here looking for discovery; come here knowing exactly what you want and prepared to pay full freight for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Reno · American small plates, tapas-style, steakhouse-influenced
Sierra St. Kitchen punches above its weight for downtown Reno — the list has real producers, genuine range, and a sommelier keeping it honest. Just know the markups are real, and steer toward the Old World and Pacific Northwest bottles where the value hides.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Reno · Italian – Tuscan & Coastal
Calafuria isn't trying to be a destination wine list — it's trying to be the right wine list for this restaurant, and it mostly succeeds. Send your friends here if they want something Italian that doesn't feel phoned in; just don't expect fireworks beyond the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northwest Reno · Reno · Health-focused American café with organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and paleo options
Great Full Gardens isn't a wine destination and it doesn't pretend to be — but for a health-focused café in Northwest Reno, the glass prices are honest and the pours are solid enough to enjoy alongside the food. Send a friend here for lunch, just don't tell them to order the Chardonnay.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Reno · New American / Fine Dining
LuLou's wine list won't win any awards, but it won't ruin your dinner either — and in a city where restaurant wine programs often feel like an afterthought, that counts for something. Send a friend here for a solid meal with a bottle of Jordan; just don't expect to discover anything new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Eldorado Resort Casino · Reno · Californian / Steakhouse
Roxy isn't a destination wine program — it's a competent casino steakhouse list with the right bottles for the room. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Jordan at half price, and you'll leave happy.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.