Midsize Italian List Punches Above Its Weight
Hallandale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed February 28, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Gioia Italy’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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 · American Steakhouse Grille
What we can see from the available data is a six-bottle California-only snapshot tied to a wine dinner event — not enough to call this a real wine program. Del Frisco's Grille may have more going on behind the scenes, but until we see the full list, we'd recommend ordering a cocktail or asking your server what's actually available by the glass before committing to a bottle.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Las Olas · Fort Lauderdale · Brazilian Churrasco Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Fort Lauderdale is a great place to eat a lot of excellent meat; the wine list appears to be a functional but uninspired supporting cast. If you're a serious wine person, do your homework before you go — call ahead and ask what's on the list, because we couldn't nail it down from publicly available sources. The food will carry the night regardless.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
· Dacula · Italian
Antonetas isn't a wine destination, and it isn't trying to be — it's a family-friendly neighborhood Italian with a wine list that covers the basics and stays out of the way. If you're after a solid glass of something red with your Lasagna in a no-fuss setting, you won't be disappointed. Just don't show up expecting to geek out over the list.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Alpharetta · Italian
Crust is a solid neighborhood Italian spot where the wine list is a supporting player, not the headliner — and that's fine. Come for the rigatoni alla vodka and garlic knots; order a glass of whatever red they're pouring and don't overthink it. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation, just not for the wine list alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Marietta · Italian
Vespucci's isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't pretend to be — and that honesty is refreshing. The one move that earns real respect here is the Monday half-price bottle deal, which turns an ordinary weeknight into a genuinely good value. Show up on a Monday, order the Eggplant Parmigiana, grab a bottle at half price, and you've had a solid dinner without thinking too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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