Coltivare

You open this list expecting casual pizza-joint wines and instead find 100+ bottles skewing Italian with enough depth to make you rethink your dinner plans. This is Chris Shepherd's farm-to-table Italian spot with a wine program that takes the cuisine seriously — think obscure Puglian whites and Alpine reds alongside the expected Chiantis.

The list runs 80-120 bottles with a clear Italian backbone, but they're not playing it safe with Pinot Grigio and Chianti. You'll find Produttori di Manduria's "Alice" Verdeca from Puglia, a rare Sforzato di Valtellina from Dirupi called "Vino Sbagliato," and skin-contact wines like the Chiara Pinot Grigio. Europe gets solid representation with a Bischofliche Weingut Trier Riesling from the Mosel and Cyprien Perchaud Sauvignon Blanc. The U.S. section exists but clearly plays second fiddle to the Old World focus.

Eighteen to twenty-two pours by the glass is a strong showing for a neighborhood spot. The glass list mirrors the bottle program's adventurous spirit — you're not stuck with the usual suspects. Monte Bernardi's Gioventu shows up on the by-the-glass menu, giving you access to quality Tuscan wines without committing to a full bottle.