Luca
Tuscany's Greatest Hits, Done Right
Madison · Madison · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 31, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The list lands with a clear point of view: Italy first, Italy always, with Tuscany holding court. It's not trying to be a globe-trotting wine bar — it's an Italian restaurant that actually knows its Italian wine, which puts it ahead of most of its competition in Madison before you even order a glass.
Selection Deep Dive
Tuscany dominates in the best possible way, with a Super Tuscan section that spans casual entry points like Castello Banfi's Belnero ($65) all the way up to the truly serious — a Podernuovo a Palazzone G33 at $333 and a La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016 at $246. Alto Adige gets a smart nod with the Kitz Rottensteiner Sauvignon Blend, showing someone here knows there's more to Italy than Chianti. California makes a cameo with Belle Glos Las Alturas Pinot Noir, which feels a little like a crowd-pleaser concession, but it's a good one. The gaps are real — minimal France outside the obligatory Veuve, almost no Spain or Germany — but the depth in its lane is legit.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty options by the glass is generous for Madison, and the program leans into Italian varietals rather than defaulting to the usual California suspects. The Chianti Classico Riserva from Castello Vicchiomaggio at $13 glass is a strong anchor, and the Kitz Rottensteiner blend at $15 is a genuinely interesting white pour. The markup on glass pours is reasonable — $8 entry-level pours exist, which keeps the table accessible without dumbing down the rest of the list.
Scarzello Nebbiolo Langhe VT22 — $19/glass
Langhe Nebbiolo from a serious Barolo producer at $19 a glass is the kind of pick that rewards people paying attention. Retail sits around $35, so you're not getting gouged, and this is a wine that drinks well above its price point — all the Nebbiolo character without the Barolo tariff.
Kitz Rottensteiner Sauvignon Blend Alto Adige VT24
Most people at an Italian restaurant walk past anything that isn't Pinot Grigio or Chianti. This Sauv Blanc/Pinot Blanc/Pinot Gris/Chardonnay blend from Alto Adige is the kind of Alpine Italian white that makes you rethink what Italian white wine can be — crisp, textural, and genuinely interesting at $15 a glass.
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label 375mL
Eighty dollars for a half bottle of Yellow Label is a tough sell anywhere. It's the safe, recognizable Champagne pick on a list that clearly has more imagination than this — and at that price you could be halfway into a bottle of something far more interesting.
Super Tuscan Brancaia Ilatraia VT21 + Braised short rib or lamb
The Ilatraia's Cab Sauv, Petit Verdot, and Cab Franc blend has the structure and dark fruit to stand up to rich, slow-cooked red meat without burying it. At $140 it's a splurge, but this is the bottle you open when the table is ready to commit to a real dinner.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Luca is doing more with Italian wine in Madison than most Italian restaurants do anywhere — focused, fairly priced, and staffed by people who can actually navigate the list with you. If you care about Tuscany even a little, this is where you want to be drinking.
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