Tuscany's Greatest Hits, Done Right
River North · Chicago · Italian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Coco Pazzo’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
Logan Square · Chicago · Italian
Come to Osteria Langhe for a focused trip through Piedmontese wine. Thursday’s advertised half-price selection is worth asking about, and Wednesday offers a wine pairing alongside the four-course menu. The linked wine list is dated December 2025, so confirm today’s bottles and prices before choosing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American Casual
Summer House is not a wine destination, but it's a reliable place to drink well enough without getting gouged on the low end — just steer clear of the big-name bottles where the markup climbs. Send your friend here if they want something easy and good; don't send them here if they're chasing something serious.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · Italian
il Carciofo is doing something genuinely rare: building a wine list that treats Italian regional variety as the main event, not the footnote. If you're tired of the same Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico circuit, this is exactly where you should be eating dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Chicago · Chicago · Steakhouse
STK Chicago is here to sell you a night out, and the wine list is just part of the set dressing. If you care about what's in your glass, eat here for the steak and order water.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie Chicago is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants a French-focused list executed with genuine effort and the occasional smart value. The markups aren't shy, but the BTG program and specials take some of the sting out — go in with a plan and you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Chicago · Steakhouse
This is not the wine list you expect to find at The Palm, and that's exactly why it earns attention. Six bottles, zero filler, genuinely fair pricing — if someone's tending this list, they deserve a raise.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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.
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