Long Island's Italian Night Done Right
Huntington · Huntington · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Jonathan's Ristorante’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The list arrives looking like a love letter to the Italian peninsula, with California playing a supporting role that earns its spot. White tablecloths, warm lighting, and a 150-plus bottle list that takes itself seriously — this is a neighborhood Italian joint that actually respects the wine side of the equation. Wine Spectator has handed out their Award of Excellence here since 2020, and it's not hard to see why.
Piedmont and Tuscany anchor the list the way they should at a place like this — Barolo from the likes of Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa, Brunello from Biondi-Santi and Banfi, Super Tuscans including Sassicaia and Tignanello, and Amarone from Allegrini and Masi. California holds its own with Jordan and Stag's Leap on the Cab side and Rombauer and Sonoma-Cutrer carrying the Chardonnay flag. The range tops out with prestige bottles like Gaja Barbaresco and Opus One for those looking to spend. What's missing is any real adventure outside these two regions — no Friuli, no skin-contact, nothing from southern Italy — but for its target audience, this list delivers exactly what it promises.
With 10 to 16 options by the glass, there's enough rotation to keep regulars from ordering the same Chianti every Tuesday. The program isn't flashy — you're not going to find a grower Champagne or a Jura Chardonnay up there — but the quality floor is solid. Alex Vergara on staff means someone is actually paying attention to what's in those bottles.
Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 2018 — $165
Brunello at this price point at a white-tablecloth restaurant is genuinely reasonable. Banfi is a reliable, well-distributed producer and the 2018 vintage in Montalcino was excellent — you're getting a serious wine without the ego pricing that usually comes with it.
Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021
In a room full of Italian heavyweights, this one gets overlooked. Flowers works a rugged stretch of the Sonoma Coast where the fog actually matters, and at $92 on a restaurant list it's a lighter touch that earns its place next to pasta without bullying it.
Opus One 2019
At $595 you're paying almost entirely for the label. Opus One is a Napa icon, sure, but it's also one of the most allocated, most marked-up bottles in American dining. The wine is good — it's not $595 good. Put that money toward two bottles of something that will actually surprise you.
Vietti Barolo Castiglione 2019 + Short Rib Agnolotti
Barolo and braised short rib pasta is not a revelation — it's a classic for a reason. The Vietti Castiglione is a more approachable entry point into Barolo's tar-and-roses universe, and at $195 it's one of the more defensible luxury calls on the list alongside a dish that can take the weight.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — the single best reason to plan your week around dinner here.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Jonathan's is the kind of neighborhood Italian spot that actually earns its white tablecloths on the wine side — knowledgeable staff, a serious Italian backbone, and Wednesday half-price nights that make the steep markups more palatable. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if they're skipping the Opus One.
Huntington · Huntington · Italian
Piccolo is a dependable, well-stocked Italian list that leans into its California-Italy strengths without much risk-taking. If you know what you want and order with intention, you'll drink well — just don't expect surprises.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Huntington · Huntington · Seafood, Steakhouse
IMC is a reliable wine destination for the California-focused crowd — not a place to discover anything new, but a solid bet if you want a well-stored bottle of familiar juice with a serious steak. Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence feels right: this list earns it, even if it doesn't push it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Huntington · Huntington · Italian
La Parma II has built one of the most credible Italian wine lists on Long Island — the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence since 2019 is earned, not decorative. If you're coming in for a celebration and want to drink real Barolo or a proper Super Tuscan with your dinner, this is your room.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Rainbow Curve / I-49 Corridor · Bentonville · Italian
The Bertani Amarone and Col d'Orcia Brunello sitting on this list are like finding a Rolex in a vending machine — impressive that they exist, but the surrounding context makes the whole thing feel absurd. Come for the pasta, drink the Chianti Classico, and lower your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Square · Bentonville · Italian
Tavola Trattoria isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it has enough going on — solid Italian depth, fair pricing, reasonable glass options — to earn your business on a date night in Bentonville. Stick to the classics and let the balcony do the rest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Central Ave · Bentonville · Italian
Sestina is doing something genuinely interesting for Bentonville — an Italian-focused, bubble-forward list with real producers and regional ambition tucked into a small but considered 26-bottle program. The red wine gap and unknown by-the-glass program hold it back from greatness, but if you're in Northwest Arkansas and want to drink better than average, this is the spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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