Serious Italian wine in small-town Wisconsin
Oconomowoc · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · May 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Lago Su Bella’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
You don't expect to find Sassicaia and Brunello di Montalcino on a wine list in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin — and yet here we are. The list reads like someone actually cares, which is exactly what Wine Spectator recognized when they handed out that Award of Excellence back in 2020. For a cozy downtown Italian spot an hour west of Milwaukee, this thing punches well above its weight class.
The Italian spine is where this list earns its keep — Barolo from Piedmont, Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico Riserva, Amarone della Valpolicella, and marquee Super Tuscans like Tignanello and Sassicaia all make appearances. California gets a respectable supporting role with Napa Cabernet and Sonoma/Russian River Valley Pinot Noir rounding things out. The Friuli Pinot Grigio is a smart nod to food-friendly northern Italian whites that most places ignore in favor of the safe Pinzimonio crowd-pleasers. At 150-250 bottles, it's not an encyclopedia, but it's focused in all the right ways.
With 12-20 options by the glass, there's enough to explore without overwhelming the table on a Tuesday night. Sommelier Lani Bertrand shapes a program where the pours feel curated rather than just whatever's open. We'd push for a few more rotating whites, but what's here gets the job done.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $45
Chianti Classico Riserva is one of the most food-versatile reds on earth and tends to be priced fairly here. At a restaurant topping out most bottles under $150, this is the sweet spot — real Italian character without the Barolo premium.
Pinot Grigio (Friuli)
Everyone sleeps on Friulian Pinot Grigio because they've been burned by the watery northern Italian stuff. This isn't that — Friuli produces textured, mineral-driven whites that actually stand up to food. Most diners walk past it and order another Cab. Don't be most diners.
Sassicaia
Look, Sassicaia is a great wine — but it's also one of the most recognizable Super Tuscans on the planet, which means restaurants mark it up knowing people will order it by name. If you're here for value and exploration, there are better stories on this list for less money.
Amarone della Valpolicella + Gnocchi
A rich, concentrated Amarone needs something to push back against it. Gnocchi — especially in a hearty braised or brown butter preparation — provides the density and weight to match without getting bulldozed. It's the kind of pairing that makes the wine taste better and the dish taste better simultaneously.
The Bottom Line
Lago Su Bella is a genuine wine surprise for Wisconsin — an Italian-focused list with real depth, a credentialed sommelier on staff, and pricing that doesn't make you feel robbed. If you're anywhere near Oconomowoc and like Italian wine with your Italian food, this one belongs on your radar.
· Laredo · Italian
Johnny Carino's Laredo isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that abundantly clear. If you're here, go on a Sunday or Wednesday, grab that half-price Albertoni, and keep your expectations parked firmly at 'Italian chain in Laredo.'
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
· Toledo · Italian
Rosie's is doing what a neighborhood Italian restaurant should do with its wine list — keeping prices honest, leaning into Italian varietals, and giving you enough by-the-glass options that everyone at the table finds something. It's not pushing any boundaries, but it's not trying to either, and that's perfectly fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Gilbert · Gilbert · Italian
North Italia Gilbert is a chain that does the bare minimum of interesting things — and sometimes that's exactly what you need on a Tuesday in Gilbert. The Italian regional whites are the real reason to open this list; everything else is serviceable.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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