Tuesday Night Changes Everything Here
West Akron · Akron · Italian-American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed D'Agnese's at White Pond’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at D'Agnese's is exactly what you'd expect from a well-loved neighborhood Italian spot — familiar names, zero surprises, and a price range that feels about 20% too high for what's on offer. That said, it's clearly curated for the crowd that's coming in: people who want a bottle of Santa Margherita with their veal parm and don't want to overthink it. We respect that, even if we wish they'd pushed just a little harder.
The list leans hard on Italian classics and California workhorses, with Ruffino Chianti holding down the Italian flank and Sonoma Cutrer, Meiomi, and Josh Cellars rounding out the American side. At 40-60 labels, it's not a small list, but depth is limited — you're navigating a greatest-hits compilation, not a record store. There's no real exploration of southern Italy, nothing from Piedmont, and the California section stops well short of anything that might challenge or excite a curious drinker. What's here is competent; what's missing would make it interesting.
Ten to fourteen pours by the glass is a solid count for a neighborhood Italian, and the $8–$14 range is approachable enough to encourage experimentation. The problem is the selections mirror the bottle list almost exactly — you're not getting access to anything off the beaten path. Rotation appears minimal, so don't expect much to change season to season.
Ruffino Chianti DOCG — $32
Yes, the markup is steep in percentage terms, but $32 for a food-friendly Chianti in a sit-down Italian restaurant is still one of the more honest asks on the list. It works hard with the pasta and won't leave you wincing at the bill.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Valdadige
Everyone knows Santa Margherita, which is exactly why people ignore it — it feels too obvious. But at a classic red-sauce Italian spot, a crisp, clean Pinot Grigio genuinely earns its place on the table, and this one shows up reliably every time.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
At $48 a bottle, you're paying nearly 2.5x retail for a jammy, sweet Pinot that's fine on its own but doesn't do a thing for Italian food. Save that money for Tuesday.
Ruffino Chianti DOCG + Veal Parmesan
Bright cherry fruit and firm acidity cut through the richness of the breaded veal and tomato sauce without fighting it — this is the exact reason Chianti exists. Classic for a reason.
Tuesday — Half-price bottles on most wines under $60, available in the dining room and bar. Multiple reviewers confirm this consistently — it's the move.
The Bottom Line
D'Agnese's is a reliable neighborhood Italian that plays it safe on wine but earns its keep on Tuesday, when half-price bottles turn a steep list into a genuinely good deal. Come on a weekday, order the Chianti, skip the Meiomi, and enjoy your veal parm.
· Akron · Wine Bar & American Bistro
The Wine Mill is doing exactly what a neighborhood wine bar should do: fair prices, wide glass pour access, and a few bottles worth getting excited about buried in an otherwise approachable list. Send your friends here if they want wine without a lecture.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Akron–Canton corridor · Akron · Upscale rustic Italian
The Bistro at Gervasi is a wildcard in the best sense — a full estate wine experience dropped into the middle of northeast Ohio, executed with more care than anyone from out of state would guess. Come curious, skip the cynicism, and let the Nebbiolo do its thing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Bath / Ghent · Akron · Upscale American / Steakhouse
Ken Stewart's Lodge isn't here to challenge you — it's here to make sure your Napa Cab and your dry-aged steak show up exactly when you want them. Come on a Wednesday, order something from the Stag's Leap end of the list, and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Bath / West Akron border · Akron · Upscale American Steakhouse with Seafood
Ken Stewart's isn't reinventing the steakhouse wine list, but it's executing the classic version with enough depth and care to earn your trust. Show up on a Wednesday, grab the Jordan or Far Niente at half price, and you'll leave happy.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Green / East Akron corridor · Akron · Steakhouse / American
Prime 93 is a perfectly serviceable steakhouse wine list that won't thrill anyone but won't embarrass the table either — fair prices, California-forward, and honest about what it is. Send a friend here for the steak; just don't send them expecting a deep cellar.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose / Fairlawn · Akron · Seafood
Come for the seafood — the Shrimp & Grits and Crab Cake have genuine fans — but come on a Tuesday when the bottles are half off, because that's the only time the wine program makes financial sense. Any other night, order a cocktail.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Venice · Los Angeles · Italian-American
Ospi keeps it tight and keeps it fair — 13 wines, honest markups, and enough Italian backbone to match the menu without turning into a wine bar that forgot to serve food. If you're after depth or discovery, you'll outgrow this list quickly, but for a relaxed Venice dinner where you just want something good in your glass without overthinking it, the Cascina Barbera or the Montepeloso will do exactly what you need.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Branson · Italian-American
Pasghetti's isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that abundantly clear. If you're here for the pasta and the family-friendly Branson vibe, grab a Lambrusco and call it a night — but don't expect the wine program to be part of the reason you come back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Italian-American
The Rosa isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to serve its room well, and largely succeeds. Twenty-five by-the-glass options with Italian producers mixed alongside California staples makes this one of the more thoughtful pours in Portsmouth. If you're after wine-bar ambition, look elsewhere; if you want a reliable glass with your gnocchi without any drama, The Rosa delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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