Dependable Italian Anchor With a Decent Cellar
· La Crosse · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed September 14, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Ciatti's Italian Grill’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Ciatti's hands you a 69-bottle list at a mid-range Italian grill in La Crosse, and the first thing you notice is that it's actually trying. This isn't a laminated afterthought — there's structure here, with whites organized by grape and a real attempt to cover Italian heritage alongside California crowd-pleasers. It's not ambitious, but it's not lazy either.
The white wine lineup is where Ciatti's puts its energy, and it shows — three Pinot Grigios alone, from the budget-friendly Folonari at $26 up through the reliably solid Santa Margherita at $44. There's a genuinely nice nod to local producers with Wollersheim Winery showing up twice (White Riesling and Prairie Fumé), which is a smart regional move that earns some goodwill. The Ruffino Orvieto Classico at $28 is exactly the right Italian white for this kind of restaurant, and the Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier at $32 adds a little curve ball. The list doesn't push into serious Italian reds or anything that would make a collector's pulse quicken, but for a neighborhood Italian in Wisconsin, it's covering the bases without embarrassing itself.
Twenty-one by-the-glass options is a generous pour for a restaurant at this level — that's nearly a third of the entire list available by the stem. The price range of $5–$9 a glass is refreshingly honest for 2024 and means you can actually explore without flinching at the check. Rotation appears limited (no evidence of a seasonal program), but the sheer count keeps things from feeling stagnant.
Wollersheim White Riesling — $25
A Wisconsin-grown Riesling at $25 that supports a local producer and drinks well with pasta or lighter dishes — this is exactly the kind of under-the-radar pick that makes a list interesting. Skip the mass-market imports and go local.
Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier
Most tables at an Italian grill will default straight to Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay and never notice this blend sitting at $32. It's a more interesting glass — floral, slightly textured, and genuinely food-friendly in a way the safe picks aren't.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
At $44 a bottle, you're paying mostly for the brand. Santa Margherita is fine, but it's a restaurant menu staple propped up by name recognition, and the Maso Canali at $40 or even Bertani Due Uve at $36 give you a more interesting glass for less money.
Ruffino Orvieto Classico + Pasta with cream or white wine sauce
Orvieto's gentle acidity and slight nuttiness are built for the kind of butter-and-white-wine pasta sauces that anchor a menu like this — it cuts through the richness without fighting the dish.
The Bottom Line
Ciatti's isn't going to make anyone's wine pilgrimage list, but it's a genuinely solid neighborhood Italian with fair prices, a thoughtful white wine program, and a local Wisconsin producer on the list. Send a friend here for dinner and they won't be stuck drinking swill.
· La Crosse · Wine Bar
The Wine Guyz earns its Wild Card badge by being something La Crosse didn't necessarily need but clearly does: a real wine bar with range, a relaxed atmosphere, and food that goes beyond bar snacks. We'd send a curious wine drinker here without hesitation — just go in ready to ask questions, since the list doesn't live online and the real program reveals itself in person.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· La Crosse · Hotel Restaurant / American
This is a wine list that exists because the hotel felt obligated to have one, not because anyone thought carefully about it. Order a beer or a cocktail and move on.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· La Crosse · Steakhouse / Smokehouse
Piggy's isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — but for a smokehouse in La Crosse, the list is fair, the pricing doesn't embarrass itself, and there are a couple of genuinely solid bottles if you know where to look. Order the Seghesio, eat the ribs, and leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · La Crosse · French-Influenced New American
For a hotel restaurant in La Crosse, The Charmant's wine list is a genuine surprise — thoughtfully assembled, fairly priced, and hiding at least two or three bottles that serious wine drinkers would seek out anywhere. Send a friend here and tell them to order the Radikon.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· La Crosse · Steakhouse / American
Freight House is a dependable steakhouse wine list — fair prices, familiar names, no nasty surprises. If you're looking for discovery, look elsewhere; if you're looking for a solid bottle to go with a good cut of meat in La Crosse, you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Onalaska · La Crosse · American / Supper-Club Style
Blue Moon is a dependable neighborhood spot that takes its wine list seriously enough to give you real options without overcomplicating things. Send a friend here if they want a lake view, a fair pour of Chianti, and no stress — just don't send them expecting adventure.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Conyers · Italian
Cafe Milano's wine list is a placeholder, not a program — Gallo house pours and grocery-store staples with a couple of Ruffino Chiantis to remind you you're at an Italian restaurant. The pricing is fair and the by-the-glass selection is wide, so you won't feel robbed, but you will feel like the kitchen cares more about your meal than the list does about your glass. Order the Chianti Riserva and spend your energy on the food.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Decatur · Decatur · Italian
Sapori di Napoli isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a pizzeria that put genuine thought into sixteen Italian bottles instead of padding the list with grocery-store fillers. If you're looking for a deep cellar or adventurous pours, keep walking; if you want a solid Valpolicella or a proper Brunello with your Neapolitan pie, this list delivers exactly what it promises.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Alpharetta · Italian
Ippolito's Alpharetta keeps it simple and mostly keeps it fair — bottle prices stay under $50, the Italian reds are the right call for the cuisine, and the across-the-board by-the-glass program gives you flexibility. Skip the Meiomi, lean into the Italian side of the list, and you'll drink well enough for a weeknight dinner without any drama.
Crowd Pleasers
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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