South Lamar's Wednesday Wine Night Secret
South Lamar · Austin · Italian, Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed April 27, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed It's Italian Cucina’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list is tight — 80 to 120 bottles — but it reads like someone actually cared when they built it. This isn't a generic Italian-American pasta spot that throws Pinot Grigio at you and calls it a day. There's real intent here, and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence held since 2018 to back it up.
Italy is the clear north star, and the heavy hitters show up: Antinori Tignanello, Gaja Barbaresco, Brunello from both Banfi and Casanova di Neri, and Barolo from names like Pio Cesare. That's a credible Piedmont and Tuscany backbone that punches well above what South Lamar typically delivers. Chianti Classico Riserva from Castello di Ama and Amarone from Masi round out the mid-range with legitimate options. The list doesn't wander far beyond Italy, and it doesn't need to — focus is a feature, not a bug.
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass is a respectable number for a neighborhood Italian spot, and Wednesday's half-price wine night means those pours become genuinely great deals. We'd like to see a bit more rotation on the glass program to keep regulars interested, but what's there covers the bases — expect the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio to dominate the pour counts.
Chianti Classico Riserva, Castello di Ama — $65
Castello di Ama is a serious Chianti Classico producer — structured, age-worthy, and typically marked up aggressively elsewhere. At a fair price point here, especially on a Wednesday when it's half off, this is the move.
Amarone della Valpolicella, Masi
Amarone gets overlooked by people who see 'big red' and assume they want a Barolo. Masi is the benchmark producer — their Costasera is concentrated and complex without being a bruiser. Most diners walk right past it, which means it's usually available and fairly priced.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
It's fine. It's also been on every Italian restaurant list since 1995 and is marked up everywhere it appears. There are better options on this list for the same money — or less.
Gaja Barbaresco + Tagliatelle Nero
The ink-rich, briny depth of the Tagliatelle Nero needs a wine with structure and presence to stand up to it. Gaja Barbaresco brings that — firm tannins, dried cherry, and enough acidity to cut through without overpowering the dish.
Wednesday — Half-price wine all night on Wednesdays — applies to bottles and makes the mid-tier Italian reds genuinely hard to beat at the price.
The Bottom Line
A neighborhood Italian spot with a better wine list than it has any obligation to have — and Wednesday half-price wine night is one of the better deals in Austin. Come for the pasta, stay for the Barolo.
· Austin · Steakhouse
Perry's is a competent steakhouse wine program that won't embarrass you, but it won't thrill you either. The by-the-glass breadth is the real story here — 37 options gives you room to explore without committing to a bottle. Just don't come expecting adventurous picks or fair markups across the board; come expecting a list that gets the job done for a celebratory dinner without too much fuss.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Austin · Seafood Steakhouse
Truluck's Austin runs a by-the-glass program that genuinely outperforms what most standalone seafood houses manage, with producers like Markus Molitor and Drouhin-Vaudon sitting next to the expected California lineup. Pricing is fair without being flashy. If you're eating seafood and want to drink well without committing to a bottle, this list has you covered — just work through the whites and bubbles and don't let the Napa trophy bottles at the top drain your wallet.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Austin · Upscale American Seafood and Steakhouse
Eddie V's is a reliable wine destination in the sense that a well-pressed suit is reliable — it won't let you down, but it won't make anyone's year-end list either. If you're on a date, celebrating something, or just need a wine program that won't embarrass you in front of a client, this is a safe and comfortable call. Just don't expect to find anything that makes you pull out your phone to take a note.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Austin · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Austin is not a destination wine list, but it's a legitimately fair one — South American focus, honest prices, and a couple of genuine steals hiding in plain sight. If you're here for the espeto corrido experience, grab a VIK blend at $30 and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Austin · Steakhouse
ALC Steaks plays it safe and plays it competently — this is a wine list that serves the room without challenging it. If you know what you're looking for, there are smart picks buried in here; if you don't, you'll still drink fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Austin · Austin · American, Italian
Sammie's is a genuinely fun room with a wine list that's earned its Wine Spectator hardware — the Italian depth is real, the sommelier knows her stuff, and Monday half-price bottles might be the best deal in Austin. Just go in knowing the markups lean steep, and let Jenny point you toward the plays that aren't on the tourist track.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Georgetown · Washington · Italian, Seafood
A very large list that is easier to navigate than it looks, because the glass page is clearly labeled in ounces. Start with the Il Monticello Vermentino (18 for 6 oz) or the Etna Rosso (19 for 6 oz) instead of reaching for the Sancerre at 26, and skim the Sommelier Selections page before you open the 60 pages. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Anthem/Seven Hills · Henderson · Italian, Seafood
Ventano is a reliable date-night option when you want a wine that sounds impressive to your table without requiring anyone to think too hard. The list won't challenge you, but it won't embarrass you either — just watch the markups.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Italian, Seafood
Battello is a reliable destination for Italian wine done with genuine care — Carmine's Piedmont and Tuscany selections show real knowledge, even if the pricing on the prestige bottles requires deep pockets. Come for the Barbaresco and the view, skip the trophy bottles.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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