Old Boca Dependable, No Surprises Necessary
· Boca Raton · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 3, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Josephine's Italian Restaurant’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
White tablecloths, a loyal crowd, and the kind of room that tells you the wine list is going to lean Italian and classic before you even open it. There's nothing adventurous about the setup, but that's clearly the point — Josephine's is playing to a Boca audience that knows what it wants. The list fits the room: familiar, polished, and priced accordingly.
The regional spread hints at some genuine ambition — Italy anchors the list as you'd expect, but there are nods to California, New Zealand, Mendoza, and even Willamette Valley and Friuli, which is more than most white-tablecloth Italian spots bother with. That Friuli corner in particular suggests someone on staff has at least a passing interest in doing something interesting with white wines, which is the right call given the seafood-heavy menu. The California and Napa presence will comfort the old-guard regulars who want a Cab with their rack of lamb, and Paso Robles and Mendoza suggest there's some mid-range depth beyond the obvious trophy bottles. Where the list likely falls short is differentiation at the value tier — this is a room where the safe picks dominate and the interesting stuff is easy to miss.
We don't have a confirmed count or specific pours, but the program's regional breadth suggests the glass list probably covers the basics — an Italian white, a Californian red, maybe something from the Southern Hemisphere for the crowd that wants Sauvignon Blanc with their seafood. Don't expect a rotating by-the-glass program built around discovery; this reads more like a reliable standing roster that doesn't change much. It'll do the job, but bring a friend and split a bottle instead.
The Bottom Line
Josephine's is the kind of place where the wine list exists to complement a very good meal, not to be the reason you showed up — and that's fine, because it does its job without embarrassing itself. Send a friend here for a date night, just tell them to skip the obvious Napa Cab and dig a little deeper.
· Boca Raton · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Boca Raton is a dependable choice if you want a proper glass of Napa Cab with your dry-aged ribeye and aren't going to sweat the markup. Just don't come here expecting discovery — this list is built for comfort, not adventure.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Boca Raton · Seafood
Send a friend here for the fish, not the wine. If you care at all about what's in your glass, pre-game at a wine bar down the street and just order water with dinner.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Boca Raton · Boca Raton · New American / Health-focused
Farmer's Table isn't a wine destination, but the by-the-glass program is genuinely strong and the pricing is fair enough that you won't feel punished for ordering a second pour. Send a friend here? Yes — especially if they're already going for the food.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Italian
Armando's has a wine list that actually reflects the food it's serving — Italian-centric, solid by the glass, and wide enough to satisfy most tables. The markups are South Florida standard (read: steep), but the selection quality keeps this squarely in reliable territory.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Unknown · Boca Raton · Upscale Casual Grill
Madison's wine list is the restaurant equivalent of a firm handshake — reliable, familiar, and unlikely to disappoint or impress. Send a friend here if they want a safe, solid bottle with a good steak; steer them elsewhere if they're looking for something to talk about.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Boca Raton · Boca Raton · Italian Fine Dining
Novello is the best Italian wine list in Boca Raton you're likely to find, and the BTG program alone is worth the trip. Just go in knowing the markups reflect the zip code, not a bargain hunter's paradise.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Lakeland · Italian
Carrabba's Lakeland is a place you drink wine at, not a place you go to drink wine. If you're here, order the cheapest bottle that sounds like Italy and focus on the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lansing · Italian
Carrabba's Lansing isn't a wine destination — it's a chain with a four-bottle list that skews heavily toward one California region and ignores everything Italian about the menu. Come for the pasta, skip the wine program, or catch one of their Paso Robles wine dinners if the timing works out.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Las Cruces · Italian
La Bella Vita's wine list won't make a wine geek's heart race, but it's fairly priced, almost entirely available by the glass, and leans into its Italian identity in the right places. Send a friend here if they want a solid glass of Chianti without a lesson.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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