Il Mercato Wine Bar
150 Bottles Deep in South Florida
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 1, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
A 150-plus bottle list in Fort Lauderdale is not something you expect to stumble into, and Il Mercato earns a second look the moment you open the menu. The range here — Italy anchoring things, with California, the Rhône, Mosel, and Marlborough all showing up — signals that someone actually thought about this. For a wine bar in a market that usually settles for Meiomi and a couple of Malbecs, this is a legitimate surprise.
Selection Deep Dive
The Italian backbone is strong: you've got a Cortese di Gavi from Enrico Serafino, a Silvio Grasso Barolo, and an Amarone from Torre D'Orti all on the same list, which is more than most dedicated Italian restaurants bother with. California gets real representation too — Paul Hobbs Cabernet and Martinelli 'Giuseppe & Luisa' Zinfandel from Russian River are not filler picks. The Ferraton Père & Fils Grenache/Syrah from the Rhône and Dr. Loosen Riesling from Mosel round out a list that genuinely spans the map. The gaps are around South America and anything natural or biodynamic, but at this depth, that's a minor complaint.
By the Glass
At least 18 pours running $9 to $12 a glass is a strong program by any standard, and the range isn't just a token white-red split. The fact that you can get into the Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc or the Zenato Pinot Grigio by the glass without committing to a bottle makes this a solid spot for solo diners or mixed-preference tables. We'd love to see more rotation and a posted glass list with tasting notes, but the price point is honest.
Cortese di Gavi - Enrico Serafino — $35–$45
Gavi is criminally underordered by most restaurant-goers, and Enrico Serafino is a reliable Piedmontese producer. You get a crisp, mineral-driven white that punches above its price tier — and you'll look like you know exactly what you're doing when you order it.
Zinfandel - Martinelli 'Giuseppe & Luisa' (Russian River Valley)
Martinelli is one of the benchmark names in California Zinfandel and this bottling — named for the founders — is a serious wine that often flies under the radar because people wrote off Zin years ago. Don't. This is the bottle worth seeking out on this list.
Pinot Noir - Angeline (Napa Valley)
Angeline is a volume brand that shows up on wine lists when someone needed to fill a Pinot Noir slot without spending much thought on it. With a Silvio Grasso Barolo and a Martinelli Zin on the same list, there's no reason to settle here.
Barolo - Silvio Grasso + Charcuterie and aged cheese board
Barolo and cured meats is a classic Piedmontese move for a reason — the wine's tannin structure and dried cherry character cut right through the fat of a salumi spread and lock in with hard aged cheeses. If Il Mercato runs any kind of charcuterie plate, this is the call.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Il Mercato punches well above its weight for Fort Lauderdale — a 150-bottle list anchored by serious Italian producers and honest glass prices makes this worth an actual visit, not just a quick drink. If they sharpen the staff knowledge and add some rotation to the glass program, this edges toward must-visit territory.
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