Italy's Greatest Hits, Done Right on the Island
Hilton Head Island · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed April 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Michael Anthony's Cucina Italiana’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Michael Anthony's, the wine list signals immediately that someone here takes Italy seriously — Gaja, Antinori, Ceretto, Vietti. This isn't a tourist-trap list padded with Yellow Tail and Meiomi. Twenty-plus years holding a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence means the program has earned its stripes, and the list reflects that discipline.
The Italian backbone is the real story here: Super Tuscans anchor one end with Antinori's Tignanello and Solaia, while Barolo gets proper representation from Ceretto and Vietti, and Brunello di Montalcino shows up via Banfi and Casanova di Neri. Frescobaldi rounds out the Tuscan side nicely. California gets a respectable supporting role — Caymus, Far Niente, and Stag's Leap are crowd favorites for a reason, though they won't surprise anyone. The list tops out around 150-250 bottles, which is the right size for a casually elegant Italian spot — focused enough to navigate, wide enough to explore. The main gap is anything outside Italy and California; if you're hunting Burgundy or Rhône, you're at the wrong restaurant.
Ten to twenty pours by the glass is a workable program for a room like this — enough to match a multi-course Italian dinner without committing to a full bottle. We'd expect the Antinori label family and at least one solid Brunello to anchor the red side of the glass list. Sommelier Lucy Hunter's presence means the pours should be knowledgeable and well-maintained, which matters more than sheer volume.
Marchesi de' Frescobaldi (Tuscany) — $55
Frescobaldi consistently delivers Tuscan quality at a price point that doesn't require a second mortgage. On a list where Solaia and Gaja command top dollar, this is where you spend smart.
Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino
Most tables at an Italian restaurant reach for the Caymus or grab the Tignanello because the name is familiar. Casanova di Neri is the real move — serious Brunello from one of Montalcino's most consistent producers, and most people skip right past it on the list.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine, but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles in American restaurant culture. You're paying a premium for a label that's everywhere, and you're at an Italian restaurant — there's better territory to explore on this list.
Vietti Barolo + Veal
Barolo's firm tannins and earthy depth were essentially built for braised or roasted veal. Vietti is a benchmark Barolo producer, and a slow-cooked veal dish gives the wine the richness it needs to really open up across the table.
The Bottom Line
Michael Anthony's is exactly what a long-running Wine Spectator honoree at a beach destination should be — an Italian-focused list with real producers, a knowledgeable sommelier in Lucy Hunter, and enough depth to reward the curious diner. Markups lean steep, which keeps it from Rager territory, but if you're on Hilton Head and you want to drink well with your pasta and veal, this is where you go.
· Hilton Head Island · Modern American steak & seafood
WiseGuys isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the list is thoughtful enough that you won't feel abandoned. The port selection alone is worth a nod, and the California reds give steak fans real choices rather than the usual filler. Just know that four glass pours means you're probably going bottles — budget accordingly, because markups appear to lean toward the steep side.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hilton Head Island · Wine bar & retail
Corks Wine Co. appears to be more of a winemaking kit retailer than a wine bar in the traditional sense, and the list reflects that. If you're on Hilton Head and need an actual glass of wine, keep driving.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hilton Head Island · Steakhouse
Crane's Tavern won't make any top wine lists, but for Hilton Head, the by-the-glass program is unusually honest and the pricing doesn't insult you. If you're eating steak here, you have solid options — and that Brocard Bourgogne Blanc is a legitimate surprise.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Shelter Cove · Hilton Head Island · Seafood / New American
Sea Salt isn't trying to win a wine list award and it shows, but it's not trying to rip you off on selection either — just on price. If you're already there for the scallops and the view, the wine list will serve you fine; just set your expectations to vacation mode and not discovery mode.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Harbour Town / Sea Pines · Hilton Head Island · Resort / American
The Harbour Town Clubhouse wine list is exactly what it needs to be for its audience — familiar, functional, and unlikely to offend anyone in a golf shirt. Just know going in that you're paying resort prices for resort selections, and calibrate your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South End / Forest Beach · Hilton Head Island · American pub and grill
Reilley's is a reliable beach-town bar that happens to have wine — not a wine destination that happens to serve food. Hit it during happy hour for half-off house pours, order the Rosé with your crab cakes, and keep your expectations calibrated to the vibe.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Vinings · Vinings · Italian
Cotto is doing more with a 51-bottle list than most Italian restaurants do with twice as many labels — the Italian whites alone make this worth a visit for anyone tired of the same old Pinot Grigio rut. The markup is fair, the by-the-glass program is genuinely generous, and the presence of bottles like the Bocale Trebbiano Spoletino signals real intent. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Santa Margherita and work their way through the Vermentinos instead.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Italian
Tavola Trattoria's wine program is five bottles deep and priced without apology — $101 for a Saracco Moscato is the kind of markup that makes you consider ordering water and going wine shopping after dinner. The list has no still wines at all, which is a strange call for an Italian restaurant. Order a cocktail or ask if they have a corkage policy, because this wine list isn't doing you any favors.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Italian
La Tavola is an Italian restaurant with a five-bottle wine list that stops at sparkling and rosé — no reds, no whites, no depth whatsoever. The pricing on what's there is difficult to justify. Unless you came specifically for Lambrusco or Franciacorta, you're better off calling ahead to ask about corkage.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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