All-Italian lineup for downtown lunch deals
Downtown Asheville · Asheville · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed February 21, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Modesto Trattoria’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list at Modesto is straightforward: Italian wines for an Italian trattoria, served in a casual downtown setting where businesspeople close deals over pasta. No sommelier, no surprises, just a functional selection that gets the job done. It's the kind of place where wine supports the meal without trying to steal the show.
The all-Italian focus is a smart move for a trattoria — authenticity over variety. We're seeing classic regions represented: Tuscany, Piedmont, Veneto, probably some southern Italian reds from Campania or Puglia. The selection leans toward crowd-pleasers like Chianti, Pinot Grigio, and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo rather than deep cuts from Alto Adige or obscure Sicilian producers. It's a safe play that works for the lunch crowd and tourists wandering Asheville's downtown, but wine geeks hoping for natural Etna rosso or skin-contact Friulano should look elsewhere. The list does what it needs to do: match red sauce, support the vibe, avoid alienating anyone.
The glass program likely mirrors the bottle list — functional Italian staples at accessible price points. Expect a Prosecco, a Pinot Grigio, maybe a Chianti and a Super Tuscan-style blend. Rotation seems minimal based on the 'set and forget' vibe, so you're probably seeing the same lineup month after month. Pours are likely generous enough for a casual lunch spot, but don't expect esoteric picks or seasonal changes.
Barbera d'Alba — $42
Bright acidity cuts through rich tomato dishes, drinks above its price point, classic Piedmont without the Barolo markup
Nero d'Avola from Sicily
Most people skip southern Italian reds, but this dark-fruited bruiser handles bold flavors and offers serious value
Generic Pinot Grigio
Unless it's from a specific producer in Friuli or Alto Adige, you're paying restaurant markup for grocery store juice
Chianti Classico Riserva + Pasta Bolognese
The Sangiovese's cherry notes and savory tannins are built for slow-cooked meat sauce — it's the pairing textbooks write about
The Bottom Line
Modesto delivers exactly what it promises: honest Italian wines in a casual downtown setting. It won't change your life, but it won't disappoint your lunch meeting either.
Downtown Asheville · Asheville · Farm to Table
The Blackbird is doing wine right in a town that's more known for craft beer — there's a real sommelier (Sarah Reder) behind this list and it shows. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Asheville · Asheville · American
Vue 1913 is a reliable wine destination for guests who know what they like and want to drink it with a jaw-dropping view — just don't expect the list to push you anywhere new. Send your California Cab-loving friends here without hesitation; send your natural wine friends somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Asheville · Asheville · American, Farm to Table
Jargon is doing something real with wine in a neighborhood that doesn't demand it, and that's exactly why it deserves your attention. Send a friend here — just tell them to skip the Napa Cab and ask about the Minervois.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Asheville · Asheville · American
The Dining Room is genuinely worth the trip, and not just because of the mansion backdrop — the sommelier team is real, the cellar is serious, and Wednesday half-price wine night turns a splurge into a steal. Markups on the prestige bottles are steep, but the overall program earns its Best of Award of Excellence.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Asheville · Asheville · Middle Eastern
Jerusalem Garden Cafe does Middle Eastern food well, but the wine program is non-existent. Stick to the Turkish coffee or mint tea and save your wine budget for literally anywhere else in Asheville.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Red Flag
MIA
Set & Forget
Hot Mess
Downtown · Asheville · Southern
Husk isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine—it's a solid supporting cast to excellent Southern cooking. The list is fair, approachable, and won't leave you feeling gouged or bored.
Solid Range
Fair
Stemless Casual
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Dacula · Italian
Antonetas isn't a wine destination, and it isn't trying to be — it's a family-friendly neighborhood Italian with a wine list that covers the basics and stays out of the way. If you're after a solid glass of something red with your Lasagna in a no-fuss setting, you won't be disappointed. Just don't show up expecting to geek out over the list.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Alpharetta · Italian
Crust is a solid neighborhood Italian spot where the wine list is a supporting player, not the headliner — and that's fine. Come for the rigatoni alla vodka and garlic knots; order a glass of whatever red they're pouring and don't overthink it. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation, just not for the wine list alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Marietta · Italian
Vespucci's isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't pretend to be — and that honesty is refreshing. The one move that earns real respect here is the Monday half-price bottle deal, which turns an ordinary weeknight into a genuinely good value. Show up on a Monday, order the Eggplant Parmigiana, grab a bottle at half price, and you've had a solid dinner without thinking too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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