Charlie Gitto's on the Hill
Old-school Italian soul, wine list to match
The Hill · St. Louis · Italian-American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Charlie Gitto's reads like the restaurant itself — comfortable, familiar, and not trying to impress anyone who didn't already love it. Italy and California anchor everything, which makes sense for a Hill institution that's been feeding St. Louis for decades. No surprises, no fireworks, but it fits the room.
Selection Deep Dive
The Italian side leans predictably toward Tuscany and Piedmont — there's a house-label Chianti and a Nebbiolo from Bric Cenciurio that show at least a passing interest in the old country. California gets its obligatory Napa Cab presence via Paul Hobbs and a nod to the crowd-pleasing Orin Swift crowd. The Averaen Willamette Valley Pinot is probably the most interesting detour on the list, but one Oregon outlier doesn't make for an adventurous program. Gaps in southern Italy, natural wine, and anything outside the comfort zone are wide open.
By the Glass
Glass pours start at $13.50, which is reasonable for St. Louis, but the by-the-glass selection is thin — three or so options that aren't rotating anytime soon. It's a bottle-list restaurant at heart, and the by-the-glass program feels like an afterthought tacked on for guests who don't want to commit.
Averaen 2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir — $65
It's the most alive wine on the list and priced at a level where you're not getting gouged. Willamette Pinot at this price point in a classic Italian-American spot is the quiet overachiever — grab it before the table orders another Chianti.
Bric Cenciurio 2019 Nebbiolo
Most tables here are reaching for the house Chianti or whatever the server recommends first. The Bric Cenciurio is a proper Piedmontese producer making serious Nebbiolo — at $75 it actually rewards anyone willing to look past the obvious choices.
Paul Hobbs 2020 Napa Valley
Two hundred dollars is a lot to ask in a neighborhood Italian restaurant, and Paul Hobbs Napa Cab at that price point reflects a retail markup that doesn't do you any favors. You can drink this wine better and cheaper somewhere else — or just put that money toward two bottles of everything else on this list.
Charlie Gitto's Private Label 2022 Chianti + Toasted Ravioli
Look, you're on The Hill, you're ordering the toasted ravioli, and a house Chianti with enough Sangiovese spine to cut through the fried coating and marinara is exactly what this moment calls for. It's not complicated. That's the point.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Charlie Gitto's is a St. Louis legend that earns its reputation on food and history, not its wine program — the list is safe, a little overpriced in spots, and unlikely to thrill anyone hunting for discovery. Come for the toasted ravioli, order the Averaen or the Nebbiolo, and don't expect the wine to be the story.
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