Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse - Liberty
Power Dining Wines That Mostly Earn Their Keep
Back Bay · Boston · Northern Italian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
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.
Selection Deep Dive
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.
By the Glass
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.
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