Power Dining Wines That Mostly Earn Their Keep
Back Bay · Boston · Northern Italian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Three hundred and five labels inside a converted jailhouse — yes, Davio's lives in the Liberty Hotel, which used to be a Charles Street jail, and the wine list has the same don't-mess-with-me energy. It's heavy, it's serious, and it leans hard into the steakhouse-Italian axis that built this place's reputation. You're not here for experimentation; you're here because you want a great bottle and someone who knows how to open it.
The list is anchored by California Cabernet and Italian reds, with Champagne doing the heavy lifting on the sparkling side — Krug Brut Rosé NV and Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV lead that charge. Italy shows up properly with Produttori del Barbaresco 2019 and Barolo from Bovio, which is a welcome nod beyond the usual Super Tuscans and Pinot Grigio filler. California gets the full steakhouse treatment: Jordan, Silver Oak, Peter Michael Belle Côte 2019 — this is not a list trying to surprise you, it's a list trying to close the deal. France, Argentina, and New Zealand get a seat at the table but feel like supporting cast rather than headliners.
Twenty-four-plus by-the-glass options is genuinely strong for a steakhouse, spanning $12 to $40 a pour, which means there's a real entry point whether you're expensing dinner or just treating yourself. The range covers enough ground that you're not stuck choosing between two sad options — La Crema Chardonnay at $15 holds the budget end, while the top pours push into territory where you'd rather just buy the bottle. No evidence of regular rotation or a curated weekly program, which is a missed opportunity at this level.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 — $29
Jordan retails around $55 and this is a by-the-glass pour — getting Alexander Valley Cab at that price in a Boston steakhouse without a markup-induced nosebleed is legitimately good value. Order it with the dry-aged steak and don't overthink it.
Barbaresco Produttori del Barbaresco 2019
The Produttori cooperative is one of Piedmont's most reliable houses — serious Nebbiolo without the ego-pricing of single-vineyard Barolo. Most tables here will walk right past it chasing Silver Oak, which means more for anyone paying attention.
Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
This is a $30 retail bottle sitting at $58 on the menu — nearly double, for a label you can find at any grocery store wine section. There is no version of this that makes sense when Jordan is available at $29 by the glass.
Peter Michael Belle Côte 2019 + Branzino
Belle Côte is Peter Michael's Knights Valley Chardonnay — rich but precise, with enough acidity to cut through the fish without steamrolling it. This is the move if you're skipping red meat and want something worth talking about.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Davio's wine list is exactly what it promises: a well-stocked, professionally run steakhouse program with genuine depth in the right places and markups that occasionally make you wince. Send a friend here if they want a proper bottle and someone who can help them find it — just steer them clear of the grocery-store Cabs dressed up in steakhouse pricing.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.