Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse
Italy and Napa, locked in and loaded
Chestnut Hill · Chestnut Hill · Italian, Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 15, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
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.
Selection Deep Dive
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.
By the Glass
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.
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