Jazz, candles, and Monday half-price bottles
South Lexington / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Contemporary Italian, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 4, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Giuseppe's reads like a classic supper-club card — heavy on familiar names, broad enough to cover the table, and dressed up to match the white-tablecloth room. It's not trying to dazzle you with obscure growers or century-old Barolo, but it's a real list with real options. The Monday half-price promotion is the kind of thing that earns loyalty fast.
Fifty to eighty bottles spanning Italy, California, Australia, and beyond — Giuseppe's casts a wide net without going particularly deep in any one direction. Italian representation makes sense given the concept, though specific producers aren't called out on the website in a way that builds confidence. California shows up with recognizable names like Duckhorn, and Australia gets a nod via Penfolds. What's missing is any real sense of adventure — this list is built to comfort, not to challenge.
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass is a respectable spread for a neighborhood Italian spot in Lexington. The specifics aren't fully published, so you're somewhat flying blind until the server reads them off — which can go well or not depending on who you get. On a Monday, the by-the-glass math gets a lot more interesting when bottle prices drop in half.
Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc — $28
Monday half-price night turns this into a genuine deal — $28 for a clean, well-known California Sauvignon Blanc is fair money, even if the regular $56 price tag is harder to justify. Come on a Monday, order the fish special, and you're doing fine.
Penfolds Red
Most people at an Italian restaurant walk right past the Aussie option, and that's a mistake on Monday nights when this drops to $26. Penfolds makes serious red wine at multiple price points, and at half-price you're getting more wine than the number suggests.
Penfolds Red (at regular price)
At the inferred regular price of $52, you're paying a 160% markup on a bottle that retails around $20. That's a tough ask on any night that isn't Monday. Save it for the promotion or pass entirely.
Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc + Fresh Fish Special
Duckhorn's Sauvignon Blanc has enough weight to stand up to a butter-finished piece of fish without overwhelming it — it's the kind of pairing that doesn't require any explanation. Order both on a Monday and feel like you've figured something out.
Monday — Half-price bottles every Monday night. Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc drops to $28; Penfolds red drops to $26. One of the better standing deals in Lexington for a proper sit-down dinner.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Giuseppe's isn't a wine destination, but Monday night half-price bottles make it one of the better value plays in Lexington — show up then, lean on the seafood, and you'll leave happy. Any other night, the markups ask a lot and the list doesn't ask you to think very hard.
Lansdowne / Nicholasville Road · Lexington · Italian-American
Sutton's isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly reasonable place to drink a bottle of Chianti while someone else handles the cooking. The Tignanello alone earns this list a second look if you know to ask for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Gratz Park · Lexington · New American / Southern
Jonathan at Gratz Park is the kind of reliable wine room you'd expect from a historic inn with a real sommelier — competent, well-stocked, and leaning safe. Pricing is on the steeper side and the list won't surprise you, but in Lexington, this is still one of the better places to order a full bottle with dinner.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Palomar / Harrodsburg Road · Lexington · Italian, Seasonal American-Influenced
Bella Notte isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable neighborhood spot with one genuinely smart move: Thursday half-price bottles turn a steep list into a real value play. Go on a Thursday, order the Decoy Cab with a wood-grilled steak, and you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Lexington · Italian
ItalX is a dependable Italian wine list for a night out downtown — not exciting, but not embarrassing either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well enough, as long as they steer toward the Italian reds and away from the obvious tourist traps.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Summit at Fritz Farm · Lexington · New American / Southern
33 Staves is a perfectly competent hotel wine list in a city where nobody's really coming for the wine. Drink it for what it is, keep your expectations calibrated, and save the serious bottle hunting for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Lexington · Contemporary American
Lockbox is the wine list of a restaurant that cares about wine but hasn't fully committed to obsessing over it — solid producers, a bit steep on price, and playing it safe where it could take chances. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well; just tell them to skip the rosé and go straight for the Jadot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.