Italy in a glass, pizza on the table
Naples Island · Long Beach · Italian/Pizzeria · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Michael's Pizzeria is short, focused, and unapologetically Italian — which is exactly what it should be at a Naples Island pizza spot. You're not getting a cellar tour, but what's here is chosen with some actual intention. At $10–$16 a glass and bottles topping out around $80, nobody's getting robbed.
Twenty to forty labels sounds modest, and it is, but the regional focus is tight and coherent: Tuscany, Abruzzo, Veneto, and Prosecco DOC. Chianti Classico and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo anchor the reds, which is the right call for a menu built around wood-fired pies and antipasto. The Pinot Grigio delle Venezie covers the white-wine crowd without embarrassing anyone. What's missing is any depth beyond Italian — no outliers, no surprises — but for this concept, that's a defensible choice rather than a failure of imagination.
Six to ten pours by the glass is a respectable count for a neighborhood pizzeria, and the Italian-only approach keeps things coherent rather than chaotic. The Prosecco DOC by the glass is a smart opener alongside a burrata or antipasto misto. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here — what you see is likely what you'll see next visit too.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo — $12
Montepulciano at this price point is almost always a value play, and next to a Diavola pizza it's a no-brainer — earthy, a little rustic, and built for tomato and spice.
Rosé from Italy
Most people at a pizza spot order red or grab the Prosecco and call it a night. The Italian rosé gets overlooked, but it's usually the most food-flexible wine on a list like this — light enough for burrata, structured enough for a Margherita.
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie
Not because it's bad, but because it's the path of least resistance and rarely exciting. At a place with actual Italian reds worth trying, defaulting to a generic Pinot Grigio is a wasted opportunity.
Chianti Classico + Diavola Pizza
Sangiovese's high acid and firm tannins cut right through the spiced salami fat, and the wine's earthy backbone keeps pace with the heat without amplifying it. Classic match for a reason.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Michael's Pizzeria isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't need to be — it's a solid neighborhood Italian with a short, honest list priced fairly and pointed squarely at the food. Send your friends here for pizza and a bottle of Montepulciano without hesitation.
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Boathouse on the Bay isn't a wine destination, but Wine Wednesday — 50% off bottles under $100 — turns a perfectly decent, crowd-pleasing list into a genuine reason to show up. Come for the views and the crab, grab the Eroica Riesling, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown/Shoreline Village · Long Beach · Asian Fusion
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Belmont Shore · Long Beach · Upscale American
Nick's on 2nd is a dependable neighborhood wine stop — solid list, familiar producers, nothing that'll blow your mind but nothing that'll disappoint a table of mixed drinkers. Send a friend here for a date night, just tell them to order the Duckhorn and leave the Jordan for someone else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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George's is a Wild Card because it's doing something most casual Greek spots don't bother with — actually leaning into Greek wine. Monday's half-price promotion makes it worth building a night around.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Belmont Shore · Long Beach · Seafood, American, Elevated Coastal
Roe Seafood's wine list is a crowd-pleaser in a restaurant that deserves something a little wilder, but Wine Wednesday — half-price bottles, no corkage, live jazz — is a genuine reason to show up on a Wednesday instead of a Friday. Come for the lobster roll, stay for the Sauternes.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.