Marcellino Ristorante
Old World soul with a serious Italian cellar
Old Town Scottsdale · Phoenix · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 20, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Marcellino arrives with the same confident energy as the room — exposed brick, candlelight, someone singing in the corner. It's Italian through and through, with over 100 selections that lean hard into the Boot. Wine Spectator has handed them awards here, and you can tell someone actually curated this thing.
Selection Deep Dive
The list is anchored by Italy's heavyweights — Amarone, Barolo, Brunello, and Super Tuscans form the backbone, with a solid nod to Campania for good measure. It's not a deep-cellar rabbit hole, but it covers the Italian regions that matter without padding the list with filler. France gets a seat at the table too, mostly Champagne, which makes sense for a room that attracts anniversaries and proposals. Gaps show up if you're hunting for anything outside Europe — this is not the spot for a Napa Cab night.
By the Glass
Ten to sixteen options by the glass puts them in a decent spot, priced $14–$22, which is par for Scottsdale's dinner-out economy. The range tracks with the bottle list — Italian-forward, a few French pours mixed in. Don't expect the list to rotate aggressively; what's on there feels settled in.
Campania Red — $14
Southern Italian reds are chronically underpriced relative to their quality, and the entry point here gives you earthy, structured wine that holds its own against the pasta dishes without wrecking your tab.
Super Tuscan
Most tables here are ordering the Barolo or Brunello on reputation alone — but a well-chosen Super Tuscan at this price tier often drinks smoother, opens faster, and surprises people who've only heard the name without trying one.
Champagne by the glass
Champagne by the glass at a restaurant with steep markups is almost always a losing proposition — you're paying for the occasion, not the wine. Spring for a bottle or pivot to something Italian where the value story is actually there.
Amarone + Paccheri
Amarone's dried-grape intensity and dark fruit weight can handle a rich, slow-cooked ragu clinging to thick paccheri tubes — the wine has enough structure to match the pasta without steamrolling it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Marcellino is the kind of Italian restaurant where the wine list actually earns the room it's served in — it's not cheap, but it's honest about what it is. If you're going for a proper Italian red with a serious dinner, this is a reliable call in Scottsdale.
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