All-Italian lineup for downtown lunch deals
Downtown Asheville · Asheville · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Modesto Trattoria’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
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
Grove Park · Asheville · Regional
Sunset Terrace isn't a wine destination — it's a destination where wine happens to be available and handled competently. Come for the mountains and the steak, order the Ridge or the Sonoma-Cutrer, and enjoy the fact that at least nobody's pouring you something terrible.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
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
· Atlanta · Italian
Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway / Elks Plaza · Gatlinburg · Italian
The Best Italian's wine list does exactly what it needs to do: keep casual diners happy, not drain wallets, and get out of the way of the garlic knots. We wouldn't drive to Gatlinburg for the wine, but if you're already there and want something decent with dinner, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Italian
La Nonna brings a legitimately serious Italian cellar to a town where most restaurants are content to coast on their ski-town captive audience — and that deserves real credit. The markups are steep across the board, but the bones of the list are strong enough that the right bottle makes the whole evening.
Solid Range
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
