All-Italian lineup for downtown lunch deals
Downtown Asheville · Asheville · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed February 21, 2026
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
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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