Italy and Washington State, sharing a table
Lower Queen Anne · Seattle · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at How to Cook a Wolf reads like it was built by someone who actually eats Italian food — not someone trying to impress a table of collectors. It's compact, confident, and doesn't waste your time with filler. The Italy-forward focus fits the room, and the presence of Washington State bottles alongside the imports shows a little regional pride without turning into a local wine manifesto.
The list runs 60 to 100 bottles deep, anchored by Italian heavy hitters like Barolo and Barbaresco on one end and lighter, food-friendly options like Vermentino and Sicilian Nero d'Avola on the other. That range is exactly right for a place built around shareable pastas and small plates — you can go serious or go easy depending on the night. Washington Sangiovese earns its spot as a smart bridge between the Italian roots of the menu and the local sourcing ethos. What's missing is any adventurous reach into lesser-known Italian regions — no Etna Rosso, no Friuli — but for a neighborhood restaurant at this price point, that's a quibble, not a complaint.
Eight to fourteen pours by the glass is a respectable spread, and the mix likely tracks the bottle list — some Italian whites, a couple of reds, and at least one Washington option keeping the locals happy. Rotation appears limited, so don't expect the list to surprise you on a return visit. That said, if the Vermentino is on pour, it's a no-brainer with the pasta course.
Washington Sangiovese — $40–$55
Washington Sangiovese is still underpriced relative to its quality, and at a restaurant built around Italian food, it makes more sense here than almost anywhere else. It's the kind of bottle that punches well above its price tag and makes everyone at the table look smart for ordering it.
Sicilian Nero d'Avola
Most tables will gravitate toward the Barolo and ignore this completely — which is a mistake. Nero d'Avola is darker and earthier than its reputation suggests, and it holds up beautifully against anything rich and braised on the menu. It's also almost certainly the better value in the red column.
Barolo
Barolo on a restaurant list at a $30-and-under casual spot almost always means you're paying a steep premium for a wine that needs another five years in a cellar anyway. Unless this one is priced like a gift, the money goes further elsewhere on this list.
Vermentino + Fresh house-made pasta
Vermentino's bright acidity and slight saline edge cut right through the butter and olive oil in fresh pasta without overpowering it. It's a textbook match that actually works in practice — crisp, clean, and it makes you want another pour before the plate is empty.
✔️ The Bottom Line
How to Cook a Wolf is doing the right things with wine without making a big deal about it — a focused Italian-leaning list, fair prices, and enough by-the-glass options to keep things interesting. Send a friend here and tell them to skip the Barolo and order the Nero d'Avola.
Eastlake · Seattle · Italian
Serafina is a reliable Italian neighborhood spot with a wine list that matches its ambitions — cozy, competent, and a little expensive for what it is. Send a friend here for the pasta and Nebbiolo, but warn them to steer clear of the Prosecco markups.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Capitol Hill · Seattle · French / Northwest Seafood and Wine Bar
Bar Melusine is what Capitol Hill needed more of: a focused, France-forward wine program that actually earns its place next to the food. If you're eating oysters in Seattle, this should be in your regular rotation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Magnolia · Seattle · Italian
Picolinos is the kind of neighborhood Italian where the wine list genuinely backs up the food, and that's rarer than it should be. Send your friends here if they want a proper Barolo with their osso buco without flying to Turin.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pike Place Market · Seattle · Italian-American with Northwest influence
The Pink Door is a reliable wine list in a genuinely great room — the atmosphere does a lot of heavy lifting, and the wine program is good enough not to get in the way of a memorable evening. Just watch the markups, stick to the Italian bottles, and let the trapeze act do the rest.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Capitol Hill · Seattle · Modern steakhouse with French-influenced Pacific Northwest cuisine
Bateau is the rare steakhouse where the wine list earns as much attention as what's on the butcher board. Markups keep it from being a total steal, but the depth, the staff, and the Pacific Northwest-first perspective make this one worth the splurge.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Belltown · Seattle · Italian
Tavolàta's wine list is exactly what a good Italian pasta spot should have — focused, fairly priced, and honest about what it is. If you're looking for a list to geek out over, keep walking; if you're looking for something that drinks well with great pasta, pull up a chair.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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