Monday Nights Just Got a Lot More Italian
West Boca / Boca Grove area · Boca Raton · Classic Italian-American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Matteo's of Boca Raton’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Matteo's reads like a greatest hits album for the Italian-American restaurant genre — Caymus, Opus One, Silver Oak, Dom Pérignon. You've seen this list before, possibly at the last three Italian spots you visited in South Florida. That's not necessarily a knock, but don't come here expecting anything that'll surprise you.
The list leans heavily on California heavyweights and a handful of Italian stalwarts that every red-sauce joint in America has bookmarked. Far Niente, Duckhorn, Cade from Howell Mountain, and Tignanello from Antinori cover the prestige angle, while Brunello di Montalcino from Castello Banfi and Gavi dei Gavi from La Scolca give the Italian side some actual regional character. The Amarone from Allegrini is a legitimate selection and one of the more thoughtful picks on the list. What's missing is any real depth below the marquee names — no interesting mid-tier producers, no natural wine flirtation, nothing that suggests someone on staff is spending their weekends at a wine shop.
By-the-glass specifics aren't published, so we can't tell you exactly what's pouring or how often it rotates. Based on the bottle list and the restaurant's crowd-pleasing philosophy, expect the usual suspects — a Pinot Grigio, a Chardonnay, something red from California. Assume modest rotation and manage expectations accordingly.
Antinori 'Tignanello' Toscana IGT — $165
At 74% over retail, Tignanello is actually the least punishing markup on the list for a prestige bottle. It's a serious Super Tuscan — Sangiovese-based with Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc — that drinks well above its price point. If you're splitting it with the table, this is where your money goes.
Gavi dei Gavi, La Scolca Black Label, Piedmont
Everyone at the table is ordering Pinot Grigio on autopilot. Don't. La Scolca's Black Label Gavi is one of the best expressions of Cortese you'll find outside of Piedmont itself — crisp, mineral, and actually interesting. It's the sleeper on a list that otherwise plays it extremely safe on whites.
Marchesi Antinori 'Villa Antinori' Toscana Rosso
At $46 on a bottle that retails for $18, you're paying 156% over what any wine shop would charge you. It's a perfectly fine everyday Tuscan blend, but it is absolutely an everyday wine being sold at a special-occasion price. Hard pass.
Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico + Veal Chop Milanese
Amarone's concentrated dark fruit and dried cherry intensity can actually cut through a rich, pan-fried veal chop in a way that lighter reds can't. It's a big wine that earns its place next to a big plate — this is one of the few genuinely inspired combinations on the menu.
Monday — 50% off select bottles in the dining room. Generally applies to bottles under $100; reserve list items are excluded. Worth planning around.
The Bottom Line
Matteo's isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that clear — but Monday's half-price promotion on select bottles genuinely changes the math and turns a steep list into a decent deal. Show up on a Monday, order the Tignanello, split the Veal Chop, and you've had a good night.
· Boca Raton · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Boca Raton isn't a destination wine list, but it's a functional and fairly priced one that does its job without embarrassing the restaurant. If you're here for the steak, the wine program won't let you down — just know what you're walking into.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Boca Raton is a dependable choice if you want a proper glass of Napa Cab with your dry-aged ribeye and aren't going to sweat the markup. Just don't come here expecting discovery — this list is built for comfort, not adventure.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Boca Raton · Seafood
Send a friend here for the fish, not the wine. If you care at all about what's in your glass, pre-game at a wine bar down the street and just order water with dinner.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Boca Raton · Boca Raton · New American / Health-focused
Farmer's Table isn't a wine destination, but the by-the-glass program is genuinely strong and the pricing is fair enough that you won't feel punished for ordering a second pour. Send a friend here? Yes — especially if they're already going for the food.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Italian
Josephine's is the kind of place where the wine list exists to complement a very good meal, not to be the reason you showed up — and that's fine, because it does its job without embarrassing itself. Send a friend here for a date night, just tell them to skip the obvious Napa Cab and dig a little deeper.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Italian
Armando's has a wine list that actually reflects the food it's serving — Italian-centric, solid by the glass, and wide enough to satisfy most tables. The markups are South Florida standard (read: steep), but the selection quality keeps this squarely in reliable territory.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Side · Worcester · Classic Italian-American
Leo's is a neighborhood institution that treats wine as a supporting actor, not the main event — and for a weeknight chicken parm, that's fine. If you order smart and skip the trophy bottles, you can drink well here without wincing at the check.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Colonie · Albany · Classic Italian-American
Lombardo's wine list is the culinary equivalent of a comfortable booth — nothing revelatory, but nothing offensive, and it gets the job done alongside a plate of baked ziti. Send a friend here for the food and tell them to order the Barolo if they want to feel like they tried.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Columbus Park / Downtown Fringe · Kansas City · Classic Italian-American
Garozzo's is a Kansas City institution, and the wine list knows its lane — Italian classics, middle-of-the-road pricing, and zero pretension. Send a friend here for the Spiedini and a Chianti; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
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
