Old-World Italy, Right in Wine Country
Sonoma Plaza · Sonoma · Traditional Italian Trattoria · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 26, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Della Santina's Trattoria’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Della Santina's and the wine list feels exactly like the room: unhurried, comfortable, and unapologetically Italian. There's no showboating here — no sprawling cellar list or trendy natural pours — just a focused selection that knows exactly what it is. For a trattoria on Sonoma Plaza, that kind of clarity is actually refreshing.
The list runs roughly 100-180 bottles and leans hard into Tuscany, which makes total sense given the kitchen's DNA. You'll find Antinori Chianti Classico anchoring the Italian reds, with Barolo and Barbaresco showing up to handle the heavier lifting, and Brunello di Montalcino for when someone at the table wants to go all in. What's genuinely interesting is the presence of Sonoma County Italian varietals — Sangiovese and Barbera from local producers — a smart nod to the geography that most Italian spots in the area completely ignore. The gaps are real: France barely registers, and anything outside Italy and Sonoma is mostly an afterthought. But within its lane, the list is curated with intention.
The by-the-glass program runs 10-18 options, which is respectable for a room this size. Expect Italian Pinot Grigio holding down the white side and Chianti-adjacent pours covering the reds. Rotation appears limited — this is not a list that changes with the seasons — but what's poured is appropriate for the food and the price point.
Antinori Chianti Classico — $48
Antinori is one of the most reliable names in Tuscany, and at this price point inside a restaurant, you're getting a proper, food-friendly Sangiovese without paying the markup you'd expect for the pedigree. Order it with anything braised and don't look back.
Sonoma County Sangiovese
Most people come here and reach straight for Italy — understandably — but the local Sangiovese is worth the detour. It's a chance to see how Sonoma handles a grape that's almost always Italian, and the results are often leaner and more site-expressive than you'd expect. Most tables walk right past it.
Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello is a magnificent wine, but in a trattoria setting with standard stemware and no dedicated cellar program, you're not getting the experience the bottle deserves. The markup on prestige Tuscans in restaurant settings rarely makes sense, and this is no exception. Drink it at home where you can give it the attention it needs.
Barbaresco + Osso buco
Braised veal shank is practically purpose-built for Nebbiolo. The wine's firm tannins and dried cherry character cut through the richness of the marrow and the gremolata brightens the whole picture. It's a classic pairing for a reason, and Della Santina's does both things well enough to make it land.
The Bottom Line
Della Santina's isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's trying to be a great Italian trattoria, and the wine list serves that goal honestly. If you want a focused, fair-priced Italian selection in a courtyard that feels like Siena, this is your spot.
· Sonoma · California and Mediterranean
Sante is doing more with its wine list than the average hotel restaurant bothers to — 120 labels anchored in Northern California producers, 25 by-the-glass options with real range, and picks like Failla Sonoma Coast Pinot and Denner Nightshade that signal genuine curation. The steep markup at the top end is real, and the lack of any structured specials program means you're paying full freight every time — but if you order thoughtfully, there's genuinely good wine to be found here.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Proper
· Sonoma · French bistro
Bistro Ralph is exactly what a wine-country neighborhood bistro should be: unpretentious, locally rooted, and honest about what it is. We can't call out specific bottles from what's available, but the Sonoma-forward identity and relaxed room make this a solid stop for a glass or two alongside the chicken paillard or pot de crème. Come for the setting, stay for the wine.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · California and Mediterranean
Sunflower Caffe isn't trying to compete with the big resort wine lists down the road, and that's exactly why it works. The list is small, local, fairly priced, and built around bubbles — which, in Sonoma, is actually a smart and honest choice. If you want a deep cellar or a Burgundy rabbit hole, go elsewhere; if you want a glass of Scribe Nouveau Pinot Noir on what is presumably a lovely patio, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · California and New American
Sonoma Valley Farmhouse runs a tight, thoughtful list that punches above its size. The all-by-the-glass format and fair pricing make it easy to drink well without a game plan, and the producer selection — Bedrock, Lasseter, Talisman, Albini — reflects someone who actually cares about what ends up in your glass. If you're in Sonoma and want to drink local without getting gouged, this is a genuinely solid stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · Food Truck / New American
The Fig Rig is the kind of place that should not have a wine list this good, and that's exactly what makes it worth seeking out. Fair prices, genuine range, and a clear Rhône-forward point of view — if you're in Sonoma and skeptical of the usual tourist-trap markups, this is where we'd send you first.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Sonoma · French and California
Cafe La Haye has assembled a 63-bottle list that punches well above its count — thoughtful French-California crossover, honest pricing on most of the list, and enough unusual picks (Gaudron Chenin Blanc, Pangloss White Rhone, grower Champagne from Pierre Paillard) to suggest real curation rather than default distributor choices. If you're in Sonoma and want a wine list that respects both the region and your intelligence, this is a reliable stop — with enough Wild Card energy to keep it interesting.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.