Tuscany's Greatest Hits, Done Right
River North · Chicago · Italian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Coco Pazzo reads like a love letter to Italy — specifically Tuscany — and doesn't apologize for it. You open the book and the Super Tuscans are front and center: Sassicaia, Tignanello, Ornellaia. It's aspirational, confident, and squarely aimed at the business dinner crowd dropping serious money on a Bistecca alla Fiorentina.
With 200-300 bottles, the list has real weight, but it plays a familiar tune. Tuscany dominates — Brunello from Biondi-Santi, Chianti Classico Riserva from Castello di Ama, and the usual parade of Super Tuscans that every Italian restaurant in America reaches for. There's a nod northward with Gaja's Barolo and Allegrini's Amarone to round things out, but don't come here hunting for anything off the beaten path. What's here is legitimate and well-sourced — it's just not going to surprise you. Wine Spectator has recognized the list since 2005, which speaks to consistency if not adventure.
The by-the-glass program runs 20-30 options at $12-$20 a pour, which is solid for a room at this price point. We'd like to see more rotation and a few curveballs mixed in — right now it mirrors the bottle list's safe-play energy. Still, landing a proper Chianti Classico by the glass for a weeknight pasta is nothing to complain about.
Chianti Classico Riserva, Castello di Ama — $12-$20 by the glass
Castello di Ama makes some of the most serious Chianti in the game, and catching it by the glass means you're not committing to a full bottle at steakhouse markup. Grab it with the handmade pasta and call it a win.
Amarone della Valpolicella, Allegrini
Buried behind the Super Tuscan headlines, Allegrini's Amarone is the most underordered wine on this list. Rich, brooding, and built for wood-roasted meat — most tables walk right past it chasing Tignanello.
Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido
Look, Sassicaia is a great wine. But at a steakhouse-adjacent spot with steep markups, you're paying a premium on top of a premium for a name everyone recognizes. The same money buys you something more interesting with less of it going to the prestige tax.
Brunello di Montalcino, Biondi-Santi + Bistecca alla Fiorentina
Biondi-Santi's Brunello has the structure, acidity, and tannic backbone to go toe-to-toe with a massive T-bone without flinching. This is the pairing Coco Pazzo was built for.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Coco Pazzo is a dependable play for Tuscan wines in a setting that earns them — just go in knowing you're paying for curation and atmosphere, not discovery. If you want Italy's classics delivered with confidence, this list delivers.
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
The Oakville Grill earns its Wine Spectator credential and the sommelier duo makes this list accessible, not intimidating. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is reason enough to get a reservation — just let go of the idea that anything other than California is on the agenda.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American
John's is a neighborhood spot that punches well above its casual format — two sommeliers, a thoughtful France-and-California list, fair prices, and half-price bottles every Monday. Send your friends here, especially on a Monday.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
River North · Chicago · American, Seafood
Terrace 16 earns its Wine Spectator badge and delivers a respectable, California-and-France-focused list in one of Chicago's most dramatic dining rooms. Just don't expect to be surprised — the wine is as reliable as the skyline view, and nearly as expensive.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River North · Chicago · French, Indian
Indienne is the Wild Card in the truest sense — a fusion kitchen with a genuinely considered wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod. Yes, send a friend here for wine, but make sure they skip the Napa Cab and lead with Riesling.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house
BLVD Steakhouse doesn't reinvent the steakhouse wine list, but it executes the formula competently — solid producers, proper storage, and enough range to keep a table of Cab loyalists happy all night. Just go in with your eyes open on the markups and skip the trophy-bottle trap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Magnificent Mile · Chicago · American
Adorn is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in a high-overhead setting — you're paying for the view and the address, but the list itself is legitimate. Send a friend here who wants solid French and California bottles without doing homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Madison · Madison · Italian, Steakhouse
Draper Brothers Chophouse is a dependable, California-forward wine list in a genuinely beautiful room — it won't blow any minds, but it will reliably get out of the way of a good steak. Send your friends here for the beef and the atmosphere; just temper expectations if they're hoping for a wine list that matches the ambition of the building.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hubertus · Hubertus · Italian, Steakhouse
Johnny Manhattan's earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and has held it since 2018 for a reason — this is a legitimately well-curated list for a small-town Italian steakhouse that gets California and Italy right. If you're within driving distance, it's worth making the reservation and going deeper than the Caymus.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Eau Claire · Eau Claire · Italian, Steakhouse
Johnny's isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to make sure you drink well with your steak, and it succeeds. Send a friend here if they want reliable California pours at fair prices without having to think too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.