Columbia's Italian wine obsession hiding in plain sight
Devine Street Corridor · Columbia · Italian, Pizza, Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Il Giorgione Pizzeria & Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Il Giorgione on Devine Street, the wine list feels like someone actually thought about it — a tight, Italian-only selection that skips the generic Malbec-and-Cabernet filler you find at most neighborhood spots. This is a pizza place that takes its wine seriously, and that combo is rarer than it should be in Columbia. The list isn't huge, but it earns its size.
The list leans hard into Italy's greatest hits with real regional intent: Piedmont shows up with a Barbera d'Alba and a Barolo Bisu, Tuscany gets representation via the Certosa di Pontignano Chianti Classico Riserva, Abruzzo brings the Casal Bordino Montepulciano, and Sicily slides in with the Tornatore Etna Bianco — a genuinely exciting pick for a pizza joint in South Carolina. The range of 40–70 labels stays focused rather than sprawling, which we respect. The gaps are real — no Vermentino, no Soave, no deep Campania cuts — but what's here hangs together with a coherent Italian identity you rarely see outside a proper wine bar.
Ten by-the-glass options is a healthy pour count for a spot this size, and if the bottle list is any guide, the glass pours should reflect the same regional Italian focus. Exact glass pricing wasn't confirmed, so we can't tell you if it's a deal or a ding — but with bottles running $30–$74, the pours are likely accessible. Rotation details weren't available, which is the one knock.
Salus Rosso — $30
At $30 a bottle with a clean 100% markup, this is the table wine you order without guilt and finish without regret. It's the move when you want something easy and Italian without thinking too hard about it.
Tornatore Etna Bianco
Most people at a pizza place aren't reaching for a Sicilian white from the slopes of an active volcano, and that's a mistake. Etna Bianco has the kind of mineral tension and volcanic zip that cuts through wood-fired char beautifully — and at $48, it's not gouging you for the privilege.
Lambrusco
A 150% markup on an unspecified Lambrusco producer is a tough sell. Without knowing the producer, you're paying $35 for something that might retail for $14 at your grocery store. Skip it until they name the bottle.
Certosa di Pontignano Chianti Classico Riserva + Rigatoni al Dorato
Chianti Classico Riserva wants rich, savory food, and a golden rigatoni with depth and fat gives the wine's Sangiovese acidity somewhere to go. It's a classic Italian match that works because both sides earn it.
The Bottom Line
Il Giorgione is doing something genuinely uncommon in Columbia — a focused, Italy-only wine list at a neighborhood pizza place with fair pricing and actual regional ambition. If you live nearby, this is your wine bar; if you don't, it's worth the drive.
· Columbia · New American / Southern
Terra keeps it simple with an all-by-the-glass format, fair pricing, and a few genuinely interesting picks tucked inside a short list. It won't satisfy anyone looking for a deep cellar dive, but it absolutely does the job for a New American dinner in Columbia.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Columbia · Wine Bar
Vino Sabor is betting that Downtown Columbia is ready for a real wine bar, not just wine at a bar — and based on the vibe, they might be right. We'd go back with a curiosity about Italian wine and an open mind; just don't come expecting a deep cellar or a Burgundy nerd behind the counter.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Columbia · Spanish-inspired / tapas
This is a wine list built for people who aren't really thinking about wine, and honestly that might be the point. If you're serious about drinking well with your tapas, order a cocktail and revisit the wine program if they ever add a Txakoli or a Garnacha.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Forest Acres · Columbia · Contemporary American Bistro with Southern Influences
Tombo Grille isn't going to win any points for boldness, but it delivers exactly what Forest Acres wants: familiar wines, fair-enough execution, and a menu worth eating. Send a friend here for a reliable dinner out — just temper expectations if they're hoping to discover something new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Irmo / Northwest Columbia · Columbia · Contemporary American-Italian
Travinia is a reliable neighborhood wine bar that gets the basics right — solid selection, good by-the-glass volume, food-friendly pours — without ever swinging for the fences. Send your friends here for a comfortable bottle with dinner, not for a wine discovery experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sandhill · Columbia · Contemporary American-Italian
Travinia Sandhill is a reliable wine bar in a market that doesn't have many — not adventurous, not cheap, but consistent enough that you won't regret the reservation. Just steer clear of the obvious traps and you'll have a decent night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Boardwalk (Resorts) · Atlantic City · Italian, Pizza, Wine Bar
Cielo is a decent enough wine stop if you need a break from the slot machines and want something that feels like an actual wine bar. The list plays it safe and the markups are what they are — but for the Boardwalk, it clears the bar.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Totem Lake · Kirkland · Italian, Pizza, Wine Bar
Cafe Veloce is the rare neighborhood pizza spot where the wine list actually rewards curiosity — Italian regionality, solid Pacific Northwest representation, and a few genuinely surprising bottles tucked in. Send your friends here and tell them to skip the Veuve.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Broad Ripple · Indianapolis · Italian, Pizza, Wine Bar
Diavola is the kind of neighborhood wine bar Indianapolis deserves more of — thoughtful enough to have a sommelier, honest enough to keep prices fair, and smart enough to run half-price bottles on Wednesdays. It's not a destination wine list, but for a pizza-and-pasta dinner, this is exactly where we want to be drinking.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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