Solid Italian anchor with a dessert wine secret
Downtown · Columbus · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed March 22, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Due Amici’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Due Amici feels like the restaurant itself — polished enough for a date night, grounded enough that you're not sweating over the prices. It skews Italian where it should, and doesn't try to be something it isn't. What catches the eye, though, is an unexpectedly well-curated dessert wine section that most tables will fly right past.
The main list covers Italian and Iberian ground without going particularly deep on either front — you're not finding small-producer Barolo or obscure Sicilian grapes here. The regional spread does nod toward South America with a Uruguayan tannat and Chilean offerings, which adds a small wrinkle of interest. Where the list punches above its weight is at the finish: a Vin Santo, a Montepulciano-style digestif, multiple Port expressions, and a late harvest Sauvignon Blanc give the dessert section more personality than the main list. The broader wine program feels like it was built to be approachable rather than adventurous, which is a fine choice for a Gay Street Italian spot — just don't come expecting deep cuts.
The by-the-glass breakdown isn't fully documented on the site, but the dessert wine pours — Uggiano Vinsanto at $18, Dow's 10 Year Tawny at $18, and the Alcyone Tannat dessert wine at $11 — are clearly the stars of the glass program. If the savory pours match the same value-conscious pricing, there's a decent evening to be had here without committing to a bottle.
Alcyone Tannat Dessert Wine — $11
Uruguayan tannat in dessert form is a genuine novelty at this price — rich, dark fruit without the Port price tag. At $11 a glass it's practically a gift.
Uggiano Vinsanto del Chianti
Most people skip Vin Santo entirely because they don't know what it is. That's their loss. This Tuscan classic — oxidative, honeyed, with dried fig and walnut — is exactly the kind of thing you don't order and then kick yourself for on the way home.
Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2008
At $12 it's not a rip-off, but with the 10 Year Tawny sitting nearby at $14, there's almost no reason to go LBV. The Tawny delivers more complexity for two more dollars — this one just gets lost by comparison.
Dow's 10 Year Tawny Port + Veal Meatballs
The Tawny's nutty, caramel-edged sweetness plays well against the savory depth of braised veal — use it as a closing pour after the plate rather than a strict pairing and it absolutely sings.
The Bottom Line
Due Amici isn't a destination wine list, but it's honest, fairly priced, and hides a surprisingly thoughtful dessert wine program that most tables never discover. Send a friend here for dinner — just make sure they order something from the back of the list.
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