Red-sauce nostalgia with a serious Italian cellar
West Village Β· New York Β· Italian-American Β· Visit Website β
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Don Angie reads like it was built by someone who actually loves Italy β 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 β 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 β with its Lambruscos β 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 β 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 β $16/glass (est.)
Lambrusco Bianco is criminally underrated, and Lini 910 is one of the best producers making it. Light, fizzy, slightly savory β 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 mΓ©thode traditionnelle sparkling from the Dolomites β 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 bΓ©chamel and meat layers in a way that a big Tuscan red just can't. It's the classic Emilia-Romagna logic β the wine comes from the same place as the dish's DNA.
π² 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 β which is exactly the right outcome.
Midtown West Β· New York Β· Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes β five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Β· New York Β· Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top β but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Β· New York Β· Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village Β· New York Β· American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding β but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo Β· New York Β· Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should β France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the RhΓ΄ne or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca Β· New York Β· American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned β just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Toledo/Monroe Street Β· Toledo Β· Italian-American
The wine list at Olive Garden Toledo is a corporate afterthought dressed up as a selection β overpriced relative to quality, built to please no one in particular, and completely interchangeable with every other location in the country. Order the Chianti if you must, drink the Moscato if you want something fun, and save your real wine curiosity for a restaurant that earns it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Grafton Hill Β· Worcester Β· Italian-American
Dino's isn't a wine destination β it's a red-sauce neighborhood classic that happens to have an unexpectedly serious Port program tucked at the back of the menu. Come for the Chicken Parm, stay for the Taylor Fladgate.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Multiple Plano corridors Β· Plano Β· Italian-American
The Col d'Orcia Brunello and Bertani Amarone suggest someone, somewhere, tried β but the surrounding list is chain-restaurant autopilot and the markups don't reward your loyalty. Order the breadsticks, nurse the Amarone, and keep your expectations exactly where the laminated menu set them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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