Tuscany and Piedmont, Done Right in Plano
· Plano · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Lombardi Cucina Italiana’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
Walk into Lombardi and the room signals 'special occasion' before you even open the menu — white tablecloths, polished service, the kind of energy that says someone's about to order a bottle they'll regret at checkout. The wine list leans into that same energy: Italian-forward, with California filling the gaps, and price points that match the vibe more than the value.
The list anchors itself in Tuscany and Piedmont, which is the right call for a kitchen turning out handmade pasta, veal chop, and branzino. You're looking at the usual suspects from these regions — Chianti Classico, Barolo territory, maybe a Brunello for the spendy table — alongside California reds that feel more like crowd management than curation. It's not a bad list, but it's not a brave one either; the gaps in southern Italy and anything even adjacent to natural wine are noticeable. If you want something off the beaten path, this list isn't going to help you find it.
By-the-glass specifics aren't confirmed, but a room at this price point typically runs six to ten options — expect a Pinot Grigio, a Chianti, a California Cab, and a token white Burgundy at the top end. Whether there's any rotation or seasonal thinking behind the pours isn't clear, but the overall list energy suggests these slots are more about convenience than discovery.
The Bottom Line
Lombardi is a reliable dinner destination where the wine list does its job without embarrassing itself — or impressing you. Come for the handmade pasta and the room; just don't expect the list to steal the show.
· Plano · Wine Bar
Corner Wines is a small list doing big things, especially if Greek varietals are your thing or you've been wanting to get into them. The value is real, the curation is genuine, and in Plano of all places, that earns some serious points.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Granite Park · Plano · European Bistro
Flamant is a genuinely nice place to drink wine in Plano — the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting, and the Iberian-French focus is a smart identity to build around. The list just needs more courage and more transparency to fully match the room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Legacy West · Plano · Wine Bar
Vinotopia earns its wildcard badge by doing something genuinely different in a food hall context — wine sampling with a tech-forward, no-pretense attitude. It's not the place to obsess over a list, but it's a solid detour if you want a glass (or three) while figuring out dinner.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Plano · New American Gastropub
Whiskey Cake Plano's wine list won't earn any awards, but it's fairly priced, decently curated for the format, and has a couple of genuinely interesting picks hiding in plain sight. If you're here for the food, the wine will do its job — and that's a reasonable ask.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Plano · Steakhouse
Steve Fields clearly puts its energy into the kitchen, not the cellar — and at these price points, that imbalance is hard to ignore. Order the Evesham Wood if it's still there, and otherwise come for the steak, not the wine list.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Plano · Plano · Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Fleming's Plano is a chain steakhouse that takes its wine program more seriously than most — 43 by-the-glass options and some genuinely interesting white wine picks earn it a pass. Markup is real and the list won't blow anyone away, but if you know where to look you can drink well here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New Haven · Italian
Strega is the kind of spot where the wine list is doing real work to serve the food, not just fill a binder — and for a small Italian in New Haven, that earns genuine respect. We'd send a friend here for a date night without hesitation, with the caveat that the bill will climb fast if you're not watching the glass.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Stamford · Italian
Ernie's has no business being this interesting about wine, and that's exactly why you should go. It's a tight, weird, well-priced list in a format nobody expects — and that's the whole point of a Wild Card.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Baltimore · Italian
Facci's wine list is a quiet overachiever: all-Italian, regionally adventurous, and priced without greed. If you want to drink something you've never heard of and pay a fair price for it, this is your spot.
Surprising Depth
Fair
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
