Italian Comfort with a River View
Downtown Riverfront · Wilmington · Upscale Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Floriana Wilmington’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Floriana arrives looking exactly like the room feels — warm, Italian-leaning, and put together without showing off. It's the kind of list that makes sense for a romantic riverfront dinner in downtown Wilmington: not trying to be a wine bar, just trying to make sure your Osso Buco has a proper companion. Sixty to a hundred labels is a respectable haul for this market.
Italy anchors everything here, with Tuscany and the Veneto doing the heavy lifting. Chianti and Chianti Classico show up as the red workhorses, which is exactly right for the food program — you want structure and acid next to braised short ribs and rich pasta. California Cab and Chardonnay round out the list for guests who haven't taken the Italian plunge yet, which is a reasonable concession without selling out. The gaps are real: no Barolo or Barbaresco visible, nothing from southern Italy, and zero natural or biodynamic options for the adventurous drinker. It's a confident list that plays a short field, and plays it well.
Twelve to eighteen pours is a generous spread, and the program leans into its strengths with Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc as the primary whites by the glass — approachable, crowd-pleasing, and food-friendly. Glass prices run $10–$16, which is honest money for an upscale room in North Carolina. House Prosecco anchors the bubbles side, making it easy to start any meal right without committing to a bottle.
Chianti Classico — $40–$60
Chianti Classico at the entry-level bottle price here is the sweet spot on this list — bright acidity, enough structure to cut through the Short Rib Pappardelle, and priced where it should be for a restaurant of this caliber. Don't overthink it.
Prosecco (House Sparkling)
Most people order this as a one-glass opener and move on, but sitting riverside at Floriana, a full bottle of house Prosecco as your dinner wine — especially with the Lobster Ravioli — is genuinely underrated. Light, effervescent, and easy on the wallet compared to still options.
California Chardonnay
The California Chardonnay exists as a safety net for guests who won't try anything Italian, and it's priced like a safety net. For the same money or less, the Pinot Grigio by the glass gives you more brightness and actually belongs on an Italian table.
Chianti Classico + Short Rib Pappardelle
Braised short rib needs a wine with enough acid to cut the fat and enough earthiness to play along — Chianti Classico does both without overcomplicating the table. This is the pairing the list was clearly built around.
The Bottom Line
Floriana isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's trying to be a great Italian restaurant with a wine list that doesn't let the food down. For a date night in Wilmington, it delivers exactly that.
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