Midsize Italian List Punches Above Its Weight
Hallandale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Gioia Italy’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Twenty-five bottles isn't much, but Gioia's list reads like someone's personal Italian cellar — laser-focused on the boot from Piemonte to Sicilia. Fair pricing and a Wednesday half-price program suggest they actually want you to drink here, not just look at the list. The selection skews traditional with some serious heavy hitters lurking in the lineup.
This is an all-Italian show, and they're not messing around with the usual suspects. You've got legit Barolo and Barbaresco from Francone, Brunello from Ridolfi, and regional gems from Puglia and Salento through Cantine Fabio Cordella. The list leans northern but doesn't ignore the south — smart for a pizzeria that likely moves volume on lighter reds and crisp whites. No international filler, no California Cab hiding in the corner. Just Italy, done right, with producers who know their terroir.
Six glass pours starting at $12 is solid for a neighborhood Italian spot. The Chardonnay from Cantine Fabio Cordella shows they're not defaulting to Pinot Grigio basics, and the price point suggests fair restaurant markup. Glass selection appears to rotate with some thought, though we'd love to see more adventurous picks beyond the standards.
Barbaresco I Patriarchi DOCG Francone '19 — ~$65
Barbaresco at this probable price point is a steal compared to its Barolo sibling, offering elegant Nebbiolo with less sticker shock
Chardonnay Donna Tiziana IGP Cantine Fabio Cordella Salento '22
Pugliese Chardonnay flies under the radar but delivers Mediterranean sunshine and stone fruit without the Burgundy markup
Barolo Piemonte DOCG Francone '19
It's probably great wine, but 2019 Barolo needs more time and you'll pay top dollar for a bottle that's drinking tight
Brunello Di Montalcino Amauri DOCG Ridolfi '22 + Eggplant Parmigiana
Young Brunello's bright acidity and cherry fruit cut through the richness while the tannins play nice with tomato and cheese
Wednesday — Half-priced wine bottles from 6PM to closure
The Bottom Line
For a 25-bottle list in a Hallandale Beach pizzeria, Gioia Italy delivers surprising depth and Wednesday half-price makes it a no-brainer neighborhood wine night. Come for the pizza, stay for the Barbaresco.
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Mediterranean
The Terrace Grill isn't where you go to chase down rare bottles or get your mind blown by an unexpected producer — it's where you go to drink well without overthinking it. For waterfront Mediterranean dining in Fort Lauderdale, that's a perfectly respectable offer.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian, Floridian
La Fuga earns its Wine Spectator hardware with a focused Italian-California list that does right by the food — just be prepared for steep markups on the prestige bottles. Send a friend here when they want serious Italian wine with their pasta and a view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian
Anthony's Runway 84 is a Fort Lauderdale institution that knows its audience and delivers exactly what it promises: big Napa names, old-school Italian comfort, and no surprises. Wine-forward diners may find the list a little safe, but the Italian highlights and the fresh Wine Spectator Award of Excellence signal that someone here is paying attention — even if the list isn't ready to take risks.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ft. Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · Steak House
Steak 954 is a legitimately strong wine program for a beach hotel steakhouse — deep on the producers that matter, proper storage, and a by-the-glass count that punches above its weight. Markups are what they are at this address, but if you pick smart, this is a great place to drink wine with a serious piece of beef.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · French, Japanese
MAASS is the real thing — a sommelier-driven program with genuine depth, proper glassware, and staff that actually knows what's in the cellar. Markups run steep at the top end, but this is a Best of Award of Excellence list for a reason, and it earns every bit of the credential.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · American, Farm to Table
Daniel's is a legitimate Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence earner — the list is deep, the heavy hitters are all here, and the room is built for serious wine drinking. The markups sting and there's no sommelier pushing you toward discovery, but if you know what you're looking for, this is one of Fort Lauderdale's best bottles-over-dinner experiences.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Atlanta · Italian
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
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