Chain wine done better than it should be
Lincoln Square · Bellevue · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 1, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Maggiano's Little Italy – Bellevue’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Maggiano's Bellevue lands exactly where you'd expect from a polished Italian-American chain — familiar names, safe choices, nothing that's going to surprise you. That said, the pricing is more honest than most restaurants of this size and scope, which earns it some genuine goodwill. You're not here for a wine adventure, but you're also not getting robbed.
The list runs 80–120 bottles and leans predictably on California and Italy, which at least makes sense given the concept. You'll find Antinori's Santa Cristina Sangiovese and the Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale Gold doing the Italian heavy lifting, while Stag's Leap Artemis handles the big-ticket Napa flex for the table that wants to celebrate. The gaps are real — no meaningful exploration of Southern Italy, no natural wine, no serious Barolo or Brunello to round things out — but within the crowd-pleaser lane, the curation is competent. This is a list built for group dinners and birthdays, not for the person who wants to geek out.
Fifteen options by the glass is a respectable count for a chain, and the spread covers the basics without embarrassing anyone. Prices run $9–$18, and the markups we clocked are genuinely fair — the Ruffino Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva at $12 a glass on a $24 retail bottle is the kind of math that doesn't usually happen at restaurants like this. Rotation appears to be static rather than seasonal, so don't expect anything new next visit.
Ruffino Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva — $12/glass
A 50% markup on a wine that retails for $24 is practically charity by restaurant standards. This is a real Chianti Classico Riserva — structured, food-friendly, and leagues above what you'd expect from a chain pour.
Antinori Santa Cristina Sangiovese
Most people at Maggiano's will grab whatever Cab or Pinot they recognize. The Santa Cristina is quietly one of the better everyday Sangiovese plays on the list — approachable tannins, good acidity, and it actually matches the food.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling Columbia Valley
At $9 a glass on a wine that retails for $9 a bottle, you're paying full markup on a grocery store staple. It's fine wine, but the value math here is the worst on the list — grab the Banfi Chianti at the same price instead.
Ruffino Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva + Rigatoni 'D'
The Rigatoni 'D' is a rich, sausage-driven tomato cream dish, and the Chianti Classico's acidity and cherry fruit cut right through the fat while the earthiness keeps everything grounded. It's a natural fit.
The Bottom Line
Maggiano's Bellevue isn't going to win any awards for ambition, but the markup fairness is real and the Chianti Classico by the glass is legitimately good value. Send your family here for a birthday — just don't come expecting discovery.
Old Bellevue · Bellevue · Wine Bar
Valentina's is a genuinely pleasant neighborhood wine bar that earns its place in Old Bellevue — it's not breaking ground, but it's doing the basics with intention. Send a friend here for a date night glass; just don't expect a rabbit hole of discovery.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · American
13 Coins Bellevue earns its Wild Card badge by being a late-night diner that actually cares enough about wine to stock a geographically diverse list — not groundbreaking, but genuinely unexpected for the format. If Sunday happy hour is your move, this place becomes a legitimately fun spot to drink Washington wine over a Caesar salad at 11pm, which is a sentence we didn't think we'd be writing.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Bellevue · Bellevue · Hotel Lounge
BBellevue is the rare hotel bar that makes a real effort with wine, and it shows in the curation — Pacific Northwest producers, an orange pét-nat, and a Nebbiolo that shouldn't be this affordable. Markups are steep in places and the list won't change your life, but for a lobby bar in Bellevue, this is genuinely worth a stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · Brazilian Steakhouse
Novilhos isn't a wine destination, but it's a fair, functional list that respects your wallet and doesn't embarrass itself next to the meat. Order the Rioja, finish with Port, and let the churrasco do the heavy lifting.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Bellevue · Steakhouse
STK Bellevue is a reliable place to drink wine you already know at prices you'd rather not think about. If you're entertaining clients or celebrating something and need a list that won't confuse anyone, it gets the job done — just don't come here looking for discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
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
Sandy Springs · Sandy Springs · Italian
Pricci's wine list is the restaurant equivalent of a reliable business traveler — organized, presentable, and rarely offensive, but not the person you call for an adventure. The markup leans steep across the board, and the lack of a visible specials program means you're paying full retail every night. That said, the by-the-glass depth is real, and there are smart Italian picks hiding in the list if you ignore the Napa trophy bottles.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· San Jose · Italian
A Bellagio is doing something right: a 65-bottle Italian-leaning list with 19 glass options, fair pricing, and enough regional Italian depth to make the wine order as interesting as the food order. Staff confidence and dish data are unknowns from where we sit, but the list itself is worth showing up for — especially if you let the Montecucco Sangiovese talk you into a second glass.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Sandy Springs · Sandy Springs · Italian
Cibo e Beve has a functional, crowd-pleasing wine list that serves its room well — but the markup on some bottles is hard to ignore, and the depth of Italian regionality you'd hope for at an Italian restaurant just isn't there. Grab the Gavi or the Verdicchio by the glass and call it a solid night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
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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