Lombardino's
Madison's Italian Neighborhood Joint Nails the Markup
University Avenue · Madison · Italian-American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 31, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Lombardino's reads like a love letter to Italy — and that's mostly a good thing. It's not trying to impress you with obscure natural producers or a cellar full of aged Barolo; it's just a honest, well-priced Italian list for a restaurant that takes its food seriously. What immediately stands out is how little they're marking things up.
Selection Deep Dive
The 75-120 bottle list stays firmly in Italian territory, covering the reliable hits: Soave, Gavi, Barbera d'Asti, Morellino di Scansano, Prosecco. Producers like Inama, Guido Berta, and Moris Farms are legitimate — these aren't supermarket fillers dressed up with Italian flags. The gaps show up when you look for depth outside of Northern and Central Italy, and there's little here for someone hunting an aged wine or something from the south. It plays a predictable game, but it plays it honestly.
By the Glass
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is a solid number for a neighborhood Italian, and the selection tracks the bottle list — expect a Soave, a Gavi, a Barbera, maybe a Prosecco to start. Prices by the glass run reasonable, consistent with how fair the bottle markups are. Don't expect a rotating seasonal program; what's on the menu tonight is probably what was on it last month.
Guido Berta Barbera d'Asti 2021 — $24
At $24 a bottle with a retail of around $28, this is nearly cost pricing. Barbera d'Asti is the kind of food-friendly red — bright acidity, dark fruit, low tannin — that was made to sit across from a plate of housemade pasta, and Lombardino's is basically giving it away.
Moris Farms Morellino di Scansano 2022
Most tables at a place like this reach for Chianti on autopilot. Morellino di Scansano is Sangiovese from the Maremma coast — earthier, a little wilder, and often more interesting than the Chianti you were about to order. Most people skip right past it.
Bosca di Gica DOCG Prosecco
Prosecco by the bottle at a sit-down dinner rarely makes sense value-wise, and this one doesn't change the math. If you want bubbles at the start, get a glass. Adami NV is the better Prosecco name in the data anyway — if that's available, go there instead.
Inama Soave 2022 + Housemade pasta with a light cream or butter sauce
Inama makes one of the benchmark Soaves in the Veneto — it's got enough texture and minerality to stand up to a cream sauce without getting lost in it. At $16 a bottle, you can order two courses and not flinch at the check.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Lombardino's isn't going to win any awards for a daring or deep wine list, but the markups are genuinely rare for a sit-down restaurant — nearly at retail on several bottles — and the Italian focus makes sense for the food. If you're a neighbor, this is your place; if you're driving across town just for the wine list, temper your expectations.
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