Grappa '72 Ristorante
Old-World Italian Done Honestly Right
West Albany · Albany · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The list reads like a love letter to the Italian boot — Barolo, Brunello, Amarone, Chianti Classico Riserva all present and accounted for. It's not trying to impress you with obscure orange wines or a Georgian qvevri situation; it's just doing Italian, properly. For a neighborhood spot on Central Ave, that's actually refreshing.
Selection Deep Dive
Piedmont and Tuscany anchor the list with real conviction — Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino give serious drinkers something to dig into, while Chianti Classico Riserva handles the middle ground with grace. Veneto shows up via Amarone, which earns its place here, and Sicily adds some southern warmth to round things out. The 80-120 bottle range is respectable for a casual Italian joint, though you won't find much outside the Italian canon — no French detour, no Spanish sidebar. That focus is a feature, not a bug, as long as you came for Italian.
By the Glass
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass is a solid spread for a restaurant at this price point, and the presence of Pinot Grigio delle Venezie alongside heavier hitters suggests they're covering the full table — from the aperitivo crowd to the Barolo loyalists. We'd like to see more rotation and a few curveballs in the glass lineup, but what's here is functional and honest.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $45
Riserva-level Chianti at a neighborhood Italian is often where the real value hides — you're getting serious Sangiovese with actual aging behind it, typically at a fraction of what a comparable bottle costs at a white-tablecloth spot. At Grappa '72's price point, this is the move.
Brunello di Montalcino
Most tables at a casual Italian spot will default to the Barolo or whatever the server suggests first. The Brunello is sitting there quietly, and it's almost always the more complex, age-worthy pour on a list like this — worth asking about if the vintage is right.
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie
It's fine — it's exactly what it says it is — but at a restaurant with Barolo and Brunello on the same list, ordering a basic Pinot Grigio delle Venezie feels like showing up to a steakhouse and ordering a Caesar salad. There's no shame in it, but you can do better here.
Amarone della Valpolicella + Veal Medallions
Amarone's dense, dried-fruit richness and firm structure are built for exactly this kind of braised or pan-seared veal — the wine's weight matches the dish without steamrolling it, and the savory finish on a good Amarone makes the meat taste even more like itself.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Grappa '72 isn't trying to reinvent anything — it's a reliable, Italian-focused list with fair prices and the right bottles for the food they're serving. Send a friend here if they want a solid Barolo with dinner and don't want to pay Manhattan prices for it.
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