Dat's Italian
Old Colorado City's cozy Italian wine anchor
Old Colorado City · Colorado Springs · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 2, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The list at Dat's Italian reads like a greatest hits of Italian-American restaurant wine — familiar names, safe choices, and zero surprises. It fits the room: warm, family-run, unpretentious. You're not here to discover a grower Barolo; you're here to eat lasagna and not stress about the wine list.
Selection Deep Dive
The focus is firmly Italian, which makes sense, though the selections lean heavily on supermarket-familiar producers rather than anything that might make a real wine lover lean forward. Antinori and Ruffino anchor the Tuscan side, which is respectable, but there's little digging into southern Italy, Piedmont, or anything off the beaten path. With 60-90 bottles estimated, the depth is there in volume, but it's width — not range — that's missing. If you want a Sicilian Nero d'Avola or an Aglianico, you'll probably need to look elsewhere.
By the Glass
Ten pours by the glass is a decent showing for a neighborhood Italian spot, though the selections skew predictably toward crowd-pleasers like Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and Meiomi Pinot Noir. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here — this list feels set and stable, which isn't the worst thing if you already know what you want.
Antinori Chianti Classico — null
Antinori is a legitimately good producer and Chianti Classico is the natural match for red-sauce dishes on this menu. Among the options here, it's the one that earns its place — solid structure, real Sangiovese character, and a producer that doesn't cut corners.
Ruffino Ducale Chianti Riserva
Most tables at a place like this reach for the basic Chianti and call it a night. The Ducale Riserva gets overlooked, but it's a step up in seriousness — more age, more complexity, and it stands up better to a heavy lasagna or chicken parm than its younger sibling.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita is the wine that taught a generation of restaurant-goers to overpay for Pinot Grigio. It's fine, but it's marked up everywhere it appears, and you're almost certainly paying a premium for the name recognition alone. There are better pours for the money.
Antinori Chianti Classico + Eggplant Parmesan
Chianti Classico and tomato-based Italian dishes are a textbook match for a reason — the high acidity in Sangiovese cuts through the richness of the sauce and cheese without fighting the dish. The Antinori is structured enough to hold its own against the eggplant's earthiness.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Dat's Italian is a genuinely charming neighborhood spot where the food does the heavy lifting and the wine list is there to support it — not steal the show. Come for the lasagna, pick the Riserva, and don't overthink it.
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