Old-World Soul, Wednesday Nights Earn Their Keep
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 11, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walk in and the list feels exactly like the room — warm, Italian, and proudly traditional. The Italian anchor is real: Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, and Sicily all get their due, and that focus keeps things cohesive rather than scattered. The issue is the non-Italian bottles lurking on the edges, where the pricing gets uncomfortable fast.
The Italian spine is the genuine strength here — Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva, Banfi Brunello di Montalcino, Masi Amarone della Valpolicella, and Planeta Nero d'Avola give you a proper tour of the peninsula without feeling like a wine class syllabus. The range from a food-friendly Sicilian Nero d'Avola all the way up to a Brunello shows real intent. Where it stumbles is the crowd-pleaser imports: Josh Cellars, Meiomi, and Kim Crawford are fine wines, but at 130–160% over retail, they're doing a lot of heavy lifting for the restaurant's bottom line. Stick to the Italian section and you're in a much better place.
Ten to sixteen options by the glass is a respectable spread for a neighborhood Italian spot, and if the Italian producers make it onto the pour list, there's legitimate value here. Wednesday changes everything — half-price bottles means the math on even the steeper markups starts to feel reasonable, and that's the night to explore rather than default to a glass pour.
Planeta Nero d'Avola — $52
Sicily's workhorse grape done right by one of the island's best producers — plummy, earthy, and built for a menu like this one. On a Wednesday, this becomes a genuinely great deal.
Masi Amarone della Valpolicella
Most tables at an Italian-American spot like this gravitate toward Chianti or Pinot Noir and never look up. Amarone is a different conversation entirely — concentrated, dried-fruit intensity that demands attention. Most diners skip it without realizing what they're walking past.
Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
A $14 retail bottle sitting at $36 on the menu is a 157% markup on wine you could grab at any Publix on the drive over. There is no version of this that makes sense when the Italian producers on the same list are far better values.
Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva + Osso Buco
Chianti Classico Riserva and braised veal shank is one of the most classically Italian combinations on the planet — the wine's Sangiovese-driven acidity and earthy tannins cut through the richness of the marrow and gremolata without bullying the dish. This is the order.
Wednesday — Half-price on all bottles of wine every Wednesday night
✔️ The Bottom Line
La Fontanella earns its stripes on the Italian side of the list, where the producers are legit and the food-wine alignment is genuinely good — but veer into the import section and you're paying tourist rates for grocery store bottles. Come on a Wednesday, stay in your lane, and this place delivers.
Downtown River District · Fort Myers · Japanese, Sushi
Blu Sushi Downtown isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly functional place to have a decent glass while eating good rolls in a fun room. Send your friend here for a night out — just tell them to skip the Rombauer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fort Myers / Daniels Parkway · Fort Myers · Japanese, Sushi
Mori Sushi & Grill isn't the place you go for a wine adventure, but the list is priced fairly and the Sauvignon Blancs do real work alongside the food. Grab a glass of Nobilo, order the sashimi, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fort Myers / Daniels Parkway · Fort Myers · Italian-American, family-style
Two Meatballs isn't a wine destination, but the Italian backbone of the list is honest and the pricing is fair enough that you won't feel robbed. Order the Barbera, get the baked ziti, and let the chaos of the dining room do the rest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fort Myers / US-41 · Fort Myers · Wine Bar, New American
Non Chalance has all the right intentions — a chill wine bar vibe with small plates in a neighborhood that needed it — but the list leans hard on low-cost, high-markup retail staples that don't hold up under scrutiny. Come for the atmosphere, but go easy on the bottle orders.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Fort Myers River District · Fort Myers · Rooftop Bar / Tapas & Small Plates
Beacon Social Drinkery is a genuinely fun place to watch the sun go down — just don't come here expecting the wine list to match the altitude. Order a cocktail, enjoy the view, and if you must have wine, the Crios Rosé is your move.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Fort Myers River District · Fort Myers · Upscale Contemporary Seafood and American
The Silver King won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you either — and for a hotel restaurant in Fort Myers, that's a genuine win. Take the Leflaive, skip the Rombauer, and enjoy the river view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.