Candlelit Italian Charm With a Respectable Cellar
Lark Street · Albany · Authentic Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 9, 2026
RagingWine reviewed La Perla’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk into La Perla and the four candlelit dining rooms do most of the heavy lifting — this is clearly a place that takes the atmosphere seriously. The wine list follows suit: 29+ labels spanning four continents, with enough range to signal genuine effort without veering into obsessive territory. It's not trying to be a wine bar, but it's not ignoring the bottle program either.
The list leans predictably European — France, Italy, and Spain anchor it — but there are nods to South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, and Chile that keep things from feeling stale. The Amarone della Valpolicella Le Vigne is the standout heavy hitter, and the Marqués de Cáceres Gran Reserva adds some Old World Spanish credibility. Simonnet-Febvre Chablis is a solid, reputable Burgundy producer choice that shows someone was paying attention when building the white wine side. The gaps are real though: no deep Italian regional exploration, no grower Champagne, and the list probably hasn't changed much in the last year.
By-the-glass details are unclear from the available data, which is itself a mild red flag — a program worth bragging about should be front and center on the menu. If you're ordering by the glass, proceed cautiously until the server clarifies what's open and how long it's been open.
Amarone della Valpolicella Le Vigne — $38
Amarone at $38 is genuinely surprising — this style of wine typically gets marked up hard. If this price is accurate, it's the best deal on the list by a wide margin and worth ordering almost regardless of what you're eating.
Simonnet-Febvre Chablis
Most tables at an Italian restaurant will reach for red, but Simonnet-Febvre is a serious Chablis producer with real Burgundy roots. The mineral edge and restrained fruit cut through rich pasta dishes better than you'd expect.
Laurent Perrier Rosé NV
At $95, Laurent Perrier Rosé is the most expensive bottle on the list and a luxury item that's already widely available at retail. You're paying a steep premium for the pink prestige factor — there are better value plays here.
Marqués de Cáceres Gran Reserva + Braised or roasted meat entrée
A Rioja Gran Reserva has the structure and earthy depth to stand up to anything slow-cooked or roasted — the dried fruit and leather notes in the wine mirror the richness of braised meats without overwhelming them.
The Bottom Line
La Perla is a reliable wine stop for a romantic dinner in the Albany area — nothing on the list will blow your mind, but the Amarone value and solid European range mean you won't be stuck drinking something forgettable. Send a friend here if they want candlelight and a decent bottle; just don't send a wine nerd expecting discovery.
· Albany · Italian, Steakhouse, Seafood
Choose by budget, check bottle size, and confirm the current menu. We haven't independently assessed service, glassware or storage.
Downtown Albany · Albany · Steakhouse
Order by the glass and explore: the posted menu gives you Riesling, Chablis, Cahors and Rioja without a bottle commitment. Pentimento at $16 is our price-conscious red starting point. Check the current list before ordering; the complete cellar, service and storage haven't been independently verified.
West Albany · Albany · Italian
Grappa ’72 gives you several ways into Italian wine without committing to a prestige bottle. Our move is Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva at $47/bottle for the table, or Bigi Orvietto at $9/glass if you want your own white. Confirm the current vintage and price when ordering.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown/Clinton Square · Albany · Modern Mexican / Latin-inspired
Ama Cocina isn't a destination wine bar, but it's a Wild Card worth respecting — a food-forward Latin spot that actually thought about its wine list instead of phoning it in. Come for the tacos, order the Albariño, and be pleasantly surprised.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Warehouse District/Riverfront · Albany · Wine Bar / American Small Plates
The Shaker & Vine is Albany's best argument for the self-pour wine bar format — the markup is shockingly fair, the riverside setting earns its keep, and the list is approachable without being embarrassing. Don't come hunting for rare producers, but do come for a relaxed pour with a view.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Colonie · Albany · Classic Italian-American
Lombardo's wine list is the culinary equivalent of a comfortable booth — nothing revelatory, but nothing offensive, and it gets the job done alongside a plate of baked ziti. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to order the Barolo if they want to feel like they tried.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Union Avenue Historic District · Pueblo · Authentic Italian
La Forchetta da Massi is exactly the kind of place the Wild Card badge was made for — a quiet, chef-driven Italian spot in a mid-sized Colorado city that's built an all-Italian wine list with genuine intention. It's not a deep cellar, but it's honest, focused, and worth seeking out if you're anywhere near Pueblo.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East End · Portland · Authentic Italian
Solo Italiano isn't building the deepest Italian list in New England, but it's one of the most purposeful — and in a market full of lazy, overpriced wine cards, that counts for a lot. Go for the Etna Rosso, order the branzino, and don't let anyone talk you into the Brunello unless they're buying.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Wauwatosa · Milwaukee · Authentic Italian
Bartolotta is the best Italian wine list in Milwaukee and it's not particularly close — a sommelier-driven, Italy-only program with genuine depth in all the right regions. Markups keep it from being a steal, but if you're sitting down for the four-course Un Viaggio in Italia, spending real money on a Barolo or Brunello is exactly what this room was built for.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
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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