Red-sauce nostalgia with a serious Italian cellar
West Village · New York · Italian-American · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 25, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Don Angie’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Don Angie reads like it was built by someone who actually loves Italy — not just the hits. It's all-Italian, and that commitment feels intentional rather than gimmicky. You open it expecting Chianti and Pinot Grigio and instead find Lambrusco Bianco, Trentodoc, and a Barolo that has no business being on a red-sauce menu (in the best possible way).
The list runs 200-300 bottles deep and sticks to Italy with real conviction — Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Sicily, and Marche are all well-represented. The California and Oregon presence feels like a quiet concession to the crowd, but even that doesn't dilute what is otherwise a smartly curated Italian program. Bovio's 'Gattera' Barolo and La Fornace Brunello are the anchor bottles on the high end, and they're here because they belong, not just because they look good on a menu. The Emilia-Romagna section — with its Lambruscos — is the kind of genuine regional love that most Italian restaurants in New York completely ignore.
Eighteen options by the glass is a generous pour program, ranging from $12 to $33, and the selection skews refreshingly off the beaten path. The Lini 910 Labrusca Lambrusco Bianco is the standout pour — effervescent, slightly funky, and completely unlike anything else on a by-the-glass list in this city. The Da Mar Prosecco holds down the approachable end without embarrassing itself.
Lini 910 Labrusca Lambrusco Bianco Emilia-Romagna NV — $16/glass (est.)
Lambrusco Bianco is criminally underrated, and Lini 910 is one of the best producers making it. Light, fizzy, slightly savory — it's the rare glass that makes the food taste better and still leaves you wanting another pour.
Cesarini Sforza Trentodoc Brut Trento NV
Most people walk right past Trentodoc and grab a Prosecco. Don't. This is méthode traditionnelle sparkling from the Dolomites — more texture, more complexity, and a fraction of the attention it deserves. It's the table-opener that actually starts a conversation.
Tolaini 'Valdisanti' Cabernet Blend Tuscany
A Tuscan Cab blend at a place this committed to regional Italian identity feels like a concession to guests who just can't let go of Napa. It's fine wine, but it's also the least interesting thing on the list and likely carries a markup that doesn't reward the adventure.
Ca' Montanari 'Opera' Lambrusco Emilia-Romagna NV + Pinwheel Lasagna
The gentle fizz and bright acidity in this Lambrusco cuts through the richness of the lasagna's béchamel and meat layers in a way that a big Tuscan red just can't. It's the classic Emilia-Romagna logic — the wine comes from the same place as the dish's DNA.
The Bottom Line
Don Angie is the rare restaurant where the wine list actually reinforces the kitchen's point of view. The markup stings a little, but the depth and sincerity of the Italian program makes it worth ordering something you've never heard of — which is exactly the right outcome.
Midtown · New York · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie earns its place as a reliable stop for wine in Midtown, especially if you're leaning French. The glass list is genuinely wide and has some smart picks buried in it — the Fleurie and the Wiemer Riesling both punch above their price points. Markups trend steep as you climb the bottle list, so your money works hardest in the by-the-glass section. If you're here for the brasserie experience, the wine program holds up its end of the deal.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Steakhouse
BLT Prime's wine program is glass-only, which limits your options if you came for a big bottle moment, but the pricing is honest and the selection is more thoughtful than most steakhouses bother with. If you're keeping it casual and ordering by the glass, you can drink well here without feeling taken advantage of — and that's not nothing in this city.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
The Palm Midtown is not where you'd expect to find Puzelat and Ruth Lewandowski sitting next to each other on a wine list — which is exactly what makes it worth a second look. Six bottles is a short menu, but all six are defensible picks at prices that don't insult you. If you're in the mood to trust the list and not overthink it, this works.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Murray Hill · New York · Classic American Steakhouse
Wolfgang's is a reliable steakhouse wine experience in the sense that you know exactly what you're getting: a list built around the bottle you already know, priced for the room you're sitting in. If you're here to close a deal over a Porterhouse for Two, the wine list will do its job without embarrassing anyone — but it's not going to surprise you, and it's almost certainly going to cost more than it should. Go in with eyes open and a strong second-choice red in mind.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Mediterranean
Zaytinya's wine list is a rare thing in New York: a focused, regionally coherent program that commits hard to Greek and Eastern Mediterranean varieties without making you feel like you need a flashcard to order. The by-the-glass selection alone — 18 options, all under $18, featuring producers most wine lists wouldn't touch — makes this worth visiting even before the food arrives. If you eat here and order a Cabernet, that's on you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Italian
A long bottle list with Italian, Burgundy and Champagne sections, fronted by a 22-wine glass page. For a glass, try the Skerk Orange Wine from Friuli at 25/95, and for a bottle on a lighter budget, the Volpaia Vermentino at 60; upstairs in the café, the labeled list pours Palistorti di Valgiano's orange Tuscan blend at Glass $22. Confirm prices before you order, because the site's Upstairs Café dinner menu and the beverage PDF do not match. This unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
· Hartford · Italian-American
Carbone's Hartford punches above its weight on Italian whites and Champagne — the Greco di Tufo, the Etna Bianco, and the Suavia 'Massifitti' are exactly the kind of picks that separate a real wine list from a prop. Markup runs steep in spots (that Livio Felluga isn't doing anyone favors), and the by-the-glass program leaves some of the best bottles stranded on the bottle-only list. Come for the Italian-American classics, bring a table of four, and split something interesting from the whites.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Kansas City · Kansas City · Italian-American
A glass list that fits an Italian menu: 24 wines from $8 to $13, with Barolo, Amarone and Brunello available by the bottle. Start with the $8 Capasoldo Pinot Grigio, or the $13 Banfi Chianti Riserva if you are ordering the Veal Parmigiana, and confirm current prices. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Old Mill District · Bend · Italian-American
This is a pasta-house list with a wide Italian and Oregon spread: bottles start at $36 and 14 wines come by the glass. Start with the Pastini Rosso at $9.25 for 6oz or the La Quercia Montepulciano at $10, and save Elk Cove ($60) for when you want to splurge on a Willamette Pinot. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, and the list is undated, so confirm what is available.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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