Dependable Italian pours, no surprises needed
· Princeton · Italian / Pizza · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 18, 2026
RagingWine reviewed LaScala's Fire Princeton’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at LaScala's Fire reads like a greatest-hits compilation of recognizable names — Kim Crawford, Santa Margherita, Veuve Clicquot — assembled for the guest who wants something familiar without having to think too hard. Thirty-four labels across the full list keeps things manageable, but don't come expecting to be surprised. This is a pizza and Italian spot that treats wine as a supporting act, not a headliner.
The list leans heavily Italian in spirit — Ruffino Chianti, Mezzacorona, Santa Margherita, Barone Fini — but the whites venture into California (Napa Cellars, Benziger Running Wild) and New Zealand (Kim Crawford) to keep the crowd happy. There's a Tenuta Campo al Mare Vermentino that actually shows some regional curiosity, and the sparkling section earns a nod for covering Prosecco, sparkling rosé, and Champagne bases. Reds, though, are thin — Ruffino Chianti and house Cab and Pinot are doing most of the heavy lifting, and anything adventurous in that category simply doesn't exist here. If you're hunting for a Barolo or even a solid Montepulciano, this list isn't your friend.
Twenty by-the-glass options is genuinely strong for a restaurant of this type, and running $10–$15 per glass keeps it accessible. The house pours anchor everything at $10, and options like the Fleurs de Prairie Rosé ($14/glass) and Benziger Running Wild Chardonnay ($14/glass) give you a step up without a painful price jump. The rotation doesn't appear to change frequently, so what you see is what you get — reliably.
The Bottom Line
LaScala's Fire Princeton offers a functional, crowd-friendly wine list that does the job without making any bold moves. The by-the-glass selection is genuinely broad and pricing stays reasonable at the lower end, but markups on recognizable names like Kim Crawford and Veuve Clicquot are steep enough to notice. Send a friend here for a casual pizza night — just point them toward the Vermentino or the Prosecco and away from the big-name bottles.
· Princeton · Italian / Pizza
Nino's is almost certainly a solid neighborhood pizza spot, but the 'Wine Bar' tag is doing a lot of heavy lifting on a list this thin and this anonymous. If you're here for a slice and something to wash it down, you'll survive — but don't come expecting anything beyond the basics. Order the Lambrusco if you're feeling Italian, or just get a beer.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Route 1 / MarketFair area · Princeton · Seafood / Steakhouse
Eddie V's Princeton is a reliable, well-run wine program that excels on its own terms — California-focused, sommelier-staffed, and properly stored — but it won't challenge your palate or your loyalty to the coasts. Send your California Cab-loving friends here without hesitation; send the natural wine crowd somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Greater Princeton Area / Hamilton · Princeton · French-Inspired Contemporary American
Rat's is a destination restaurant that takes its wine program seriously — 900 bottles, a sommelier on staff, and a reserve list with actual depth earn it that much. The markups are real and you'll feel them, but if you time it right with happy hour, this is one of the better wine experiences in the Princeton orbit.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Witherspoon Corridor · Princeton · Artisanal wood-fired pizza, Italian
Nomad Princeton earns its reputation on the pizza, not the pour — and that's fine, but know what you're walking into. If the wine matters to you, bring a bottle and pay the corkage, or stick to whatever Thomas Henry has on tap.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Princeton · Princeton · Italian
La Mezzaluna isn't where you go to discover wine — it's where you go to drink something Italian and not think too hard about it. That's a perfectly valid reason to visit, as long as you know what you're signing up for.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Forrestal Village / Route 1 · Princeton · Steakhouse, American, Seafood
Salt Creek Grille isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't need to be — it's a reliable steakhouse with a California-heavy list that gets the job done at a slight premium. Send a friend here if they want a comfortable, familiar bottle with a solid meal; don't send them if they're hoping for something to talk about on the drive home.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Anaheim · Italian / Pizza
Marri's punches above its weight for a pizza spot — the Italian selections are genuine, the prices are honest, and the list doesn't insult you. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially if they order the Valpolicella.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Avery Ranch · Round Rock · Italian / Pizza
Tony C's Avery Ranch earns its place as a reliable neighborhood wine option with a thoughtful Italian core and fair pricing that won't make you regret ordering a bottle. It's not a wine destination, but it's genuinely better than it has to be, and that counts for something.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bellevue · Bellevue · Italian / Pizza
Mercato Stellina is a pizza spot that accidentally built a wine list worth talking about — the Italian backbone is legit, the Washington State picks are well-chosen, and the pricing is honest. If you're expecting a deep white or sparkling program you'll be disappointed, but for a Nebbiolo or a Syrah with your Neapolitan, this place delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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