Monday Half-Price Bottles Earn Their Stripes
Downtown · Saratoga Springs · Tuscan Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 20, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Forno Bistro’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Forno Bistro reads like a greatest-hits of accessible Italian and California standards — familiar names, approachable prices, nothing that's going to stress you out. It fits the room: a lively converted firehouse where the wood-fired oven is clearly the star and the wine list is playing a solid supporting role. Don't come here hunting for skin-contact Friulano or single-vineyard Barolo, but do come hungry.
The 40-60 bottle list leans predictably Italian — Mellini Chianti from Tuscany anchors the red side, Ca'Donini Cabernet covers the crowd-pleasing middle ground, and the Cavazza Pinot Grigio handles the table that always orders Pinot Grigio. California fills in the gaps without much ambition. The price ceiling around $200 suggests there are a handful of slightly more serious bottles lurking, but the list doesn't push you toward discovery — it steers you toward comfort. Gaps in southern Italian and anything natural are noticeable, though probably not to the average Tuesday-night table.
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass is a respectable range for a neighborhood Italian bistro, and happy hour prices dipping to $6-$8 mean you can taste around without committing to a bottle early. The Pellegrino Zebo Moscato and White Sangria signal that this program is built for fun over finesse, which honestly isn't a bad thing on a summer night in Saratoga. Rotation doesn't appear aggressive, but what's there is priced to move.
Mellini Chianti — $30
A Tuscan Chianti at the entry price point is exactly what you want with wood-fired pizza or housemade pasta — bright acidity, food-friendly tannins, and a price that doesn't make you second-guess a second bottle. On a Monday, it's basically a steal.
Cavazza Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio gets eye-rolls for good reason, but Cavazza is a legitimate Veneto producer doing honest, refreshing work. Most tables here will reach for it reflexively and never notice — but it's actually the right call with anything light off the menu.
Ca'Donini Cabernet Sauvignon
Ca'Donini is a high-volume commercial label that shows up on lists like this because it's reliable and easy to order, not because it's interesting. At a Tuscan-focused restaurant, a Cabernet Sauvignon is already an odd fit — and this one doesn't earn its place on any list.
Mellini Chianti + Wood-fired pizza
Chianti and wood-fired pizza is one of those combinations that exists for a reason — the wine's acidity cuts through the char and tomato, the tannins don't fight the crust, and the whole thing tastes like you made a smart decision.
Monday — Half-price bottles on Mondays — exclusions not specified, but multiple guests confirm the deal applies broadly. Worth planning around.
The Bottom Line
Forno Bistro isn't a destination wine list, but it's a fair and functional one that respects your wallet — especially on Mondays when half-price bottles make a $30 Chianti feel like a genuine gift. Send your friends here for a fun dinner; just don't send the ones who want to talk about terroir.
Downtown · Saratoga Springs · Casual Italian
Wheatfields is a reliable neighborhood Italian stop, and the wine list does exactly what it needs to — it covers the room without taking any risks. The Dr. Konstantin Frank Riesling and the Louis Jadot Mâcon Village are the two picks worth seeking out; everything else is competent filler at markups that could be friendlier. If you want to drink well here, order by the glass and go off the beaten path.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Winery Bistro
Thirsty Owl Saratoga is a single-producer concept that leans all the way in, and if you're curious about Finger Lakes wines in a comfortable dining setting, it's a genuinely good place to learn the range. The wild card badge fits: you won't find the usual suspects here, but that's exactly the point. Go in knowing what you're signing up for and you'll walk out pleasantly educated.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Italian / Pizzeria
Village Pizzeria's wine list is a pleasant surprise for a Saratoga Springs Italian spot — fair prices, a serious BTG count, and enough Italian-regional picks to reward the curious. It's not a destination wine list, but if you order the Lugana or the Vermentino instead of the default Pinot Grigio, you'll drink well without overthinking it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · New American / Fine Dining
Morgan & Co. has built a wine list that respects its guests without overcharging them — fair pricing, a meaningful by-the-glass selection, and enough off-the-beaten-path picks to reward the curious. It's not a destination wine list, but if you're in Saratoga Springs and want a reliable bottle alongside a fine dining meal, you're in good hands. Go for the Sancerre, take a flyer on the Falanghina, and let someone else order the Rombauer.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Italian
Noah's Italian made a bold structural call — every wine by the glass, no exceptions — and the Italian-focused selection backs it up with real producers like Ratti, Tornatorre, and Buglioni rather than the usual suspects. We don't know what's on the plate or who's pouring, but on the strength of the wine list alone, this is worth a visit if you're in Saratoga Springs and want to drink Italian wine without committing to a full bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Saratoga Springs · Winery tasting room / light bites
Adirondack Winery isn't trying to be a destination wine list — it's a tasting room that wants you to leave with a bottle of something you didn't know was made in New York. The pricing is genuinely fair across all 36 labels, the Baco Noir and Cab Franc give curious drinkers something worth lingering on, and the Meritage 2019 at $44.99 tops out the range without gouging anyone. If you're passing through the Lake George area and curious about what northeastern New York actually grows, this is worth the stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
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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