Old-School Italian With Safe Wine Choices
Tampa · Tampa · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Donatello’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Donatello's wine list reads like a classic Tampa Italian steakhouse playbook—safe, predictable, and built for people who know what they want before they sit down. You'll find the usual suspects from Tuscany and Piedmont, nothing that'll make you pull out your phone to Google a producer. It's the kind of list where you can close your eyes and point.
The Italian section leans heavily on mid-tier Chiantis, Barolos that command steakhouse prices, and Pinot Grigios that could be from anywhere. There's minimal regional diversity—don't expect obscure Campanian reds or natural Sicilian whites. The California side offers Napa Cabs and Russian River Pinots at markups that make you wince. What's missing: any sense of adventure, any indie importers, any wines under $50 that feel like discoveries rather than obligations.
By-the-glass pours stick to the script: a Chianti, a Pinot Grigio, maybe a Prosecco, and a handful of California standards. Rotation appears non-existent—these are the bottles that sit on the back bar until they're gone, then get replaced with the same thing. Pours are generous enough, but at $12-15 a glass for grocery store bottles, you're paying for the white tablecloth, not the wine.
Antinori Santa Cristina Sangiovese — $42
Reliable Tuscan table wine that won't embarrass you or empty your wallet—does exactly what it should with red sauce
Marchesi di Barolo Barbera d'Alba
If they have it, Barbera's bright acidity cuts through cream sauces better than over-oaked Chardonnay ever will
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva
Marked up to $78 when you can grab it at Total Wine for $18—that's steakhouse math at its worst
Damilano Langhe Nebbiolo + Osso Buco
Baby Barolo structure at half the price—the wine's tannins love braised veal and that rich marrow
The Bottom Line
Donatello delivers exactly what you'd expect from a Tampa Italian spot that's been around forever: competent wine service, zero surprises, and markups that favor the house. Come for the pasta, order a bottle you know, don't overthink it.
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Bern's is a legend for a reason, and even this sparkling-focused slice of its list shows a house that genuinely cares about what's in the glass. The grower Champagne presence alone makes it worth a visit — just steer clear of the Korbel section and spend a few extra dollars where it counts.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Proper
Tampa · Tampa · American
The Rez Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's doing the casino steakhouse thing better than it has any obligation to — a real sommelier, a Thursday half-price night, and a list that knows its lane. Come for the ribeye, order the Jordan, and leave before you hit the slots.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
SoHo · Tampa · American, Seasonal
Élevage is the kind of place that does California wine correctly without doing anything unexpected with it — the list is dependable, the setting earns it, and the Wine Spectator nod is deserved. Send a friend here if they love Napa Cab and a good steak; redirect the wine geeks to somewhere with more range.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Shore · Tampa · American, Steakhouse
Union delivers a reliable, California-heavy wine list that makes sense for a buzzy Tampa steakhouse with rooftop ambitions — just don't come looking for surprises. Send a client here; take a wine-curious friend somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Tampa · Tampa · Seafood, Floridian
Ulele is a great restaurant that happens to have a competent wine list — not a wine destination that happens to serve great food. If you're in town for the waterfront, the smoked mullet dip, and a solid glass of California Chardonnay, you'll leave happy; just don't expect the list to keep up with the ambition of the kitchen. Wednesday's half-price wine night is genuinely worth planning around.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Water Street · Tampa · American, French
Boulon is a reliable wine stop in Tampa's growing Water Street corridor — the list is curated enough to respect, even if it rarely surprises. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well; just don't send the friend who's hoping to find something they've never heard of.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway / Elks Plaza · Gatlinburg · Italian
The Best Italian's wine list does exactly what it needs to do: keep casual diners happy, not drain wallets, and get out of the way of the garlic knots. We wouldn't drive to Gatlinburg for the wine, but if you're already there and want something decent with dinner, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Italian
La Nonna brings a legitimately serious Italian cellar to a town where most restaurants are content to coast on their ski-town captive audience — and that deserves real credit. The markups are steep across the board, but the bones of the list are strong enough that the right bottle makes the whole evening.
Solid Range
Steep
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.
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