Italy and Napa, locked in and loaded
Chestnut Hill · Italian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 15, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Davio's Chestnut Hill reads like a greatest hits album for Italian-American steakhouse dining — Barolo, Brunello, Super Tuscans, Napa Cab. It's polished, it's familiar, and it means business. No surprises, but no embarrassments either.
Italy is clearly the anchor here, with Barolo represented by heavy-hitters like Gaja and Marchesi di Barolo, and Brunello covered by Banfi and Argiano. The Super Tuscan section leans into the classics — Sassicaia and Tignanello are both present, which signals the kitchen knows its audience. California holds its own with Caymus and Jordan on the Cab side and Rombauer and Far Niente flying the Chardonnay flag. What you won't find is much adventurousness — no Sicilian outliers, no skin-contact whites, no obscure Piedmontese grapes to dig into — but for a steakhouse crowd, the list does exactly what it needs to.
With 15-25 by-the-glass options ranging from $12 to $18, there's enough to work with across a long dinner. The range appears to mirror the bottle list's Italy-California axis, which keeps things coherent if a little predictable. Don't expect the by-the-glass program to rotate aggressively — this feels like a set-it-and-forget-it situation.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley — $40 (estimated glass range)
Jordan consistently overdelivers for its price point — structured, approachable, and genuinely food-friendly. In a list loaded with bottles pushing $200+, this is the Cab that actually shows up for your steak without requiring a second mortgage.
Argiano Brunello di Montalcino
Argiano gets overshadowed by flashier Brunello names but it's a serious, age-worthy wine that rewards anyone willing to look past Banfi on the same list. If you're splitting a bottle and ordering the veal chop, this is the move.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Caymus is on every restaurant list in America and gets marked up accordingly. At a place like Davio's you're almost certainly paying a serious premium for a wine that's readily available at retail — the Jordan next to it is a better play in every direction.
Tignanello, Antinori + Filet mignon
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet blend hits that sweet spot between Italian structure and dark fruit weight — it doesn't bulldoze a filet the way a full Napa Cab can, but it has enough backbone to stand up to the meat. It's the one bottle on this list that feels specifically made for this exact dinner.
The Bottom Line
Davio's Chestnut Hill earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence without pushing any boundaries — it's a reliable, well-stocked list built for the steakhouse occasion it's meant to serve. If you know what you like and want it executed correctly, you'll leave happy; if you're hoping to discover something new, you might need to do the digging yourself.
North End · Boston · Italian, Steakhouse
A broad list with 29 glass pours, Italian and American bottle sections, and a From the Vault section that goes well into four figures. Start with the 2021 Mauro Molino Barolo at $26 a glass or the Batasiolo Gavi di Gavi at $15, and confirm vintages, since the list says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Italian, Steakhouse
Terra Nostra's posted list is built around Napa Cabernet, Brunello, Barolo and Super Tuscans, as its own header says, and its 20 glass pours start at $8. Start with the $12 J. Lohr Cabernet or the $13 Banfi Chianti Classico Riserva by the glass, or step up to the $110 Paulo Scavino Barolo if you want a bottle. Confirm today's availability and prices, since the list says both are subject to change; this unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or retail markups.
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
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