Classic Italian bones, dependable wine to match
Northeast · El Paso · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 15, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Monteleone's Ristorante Italiano’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
Monteleone's arrives with the confidence of a place that's been doing this a long time — and the wine list reflects that same energy. It's Italy top to bottom, no detours, no apologies. That's fine. In El Paso, a focused Italian list with real Tuscan names on it is already punching above its weight class.
The list leans heavily on Tuscany and Piedmont, which is exactly where it should lean. You'll find Antinori's Tignanello here, which is a legitimate signal that someone made intentional choices. Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva and Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio also appear — both reliable crowd-pleasers that anchor the accessible end of the list. The Veneto and Sicily get some representation, giving the list breadth without getting weird. What's missing is any real adventurousness — no skin-contact wines, no southern Italian deep cuts, nothing from Campania or Friuli to reward the curious drinker.
The by-the-glass program runs 8-12 options, which is solid for a neighborhood Italian spot. Expect the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio to make an appearance here alongside a Chianti-adjacent red. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority — this reads more like a fixed list that gets refreshed when bottles run out, not a program someone is actively curating.
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva — null
Pricing data wasn't available, but Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva is the smart order at a place like this — widely available retail around $20-25, so even with a restaurant markup it tends to stay in a reasonable zone. It's the kind of wine that works across the whole menu and rarely disappoints.
Antinori Tignanello
Most tables here are going to order the Chianti or the Pinot Grigio and call it a night. Tignanello is a Super Tuscan that belongs in a different conversation entirely — Sangiovese-forward with Cabernet in the blend, aged in barriques, one of the benchmark bottles of modern Italian wine. If you're splitting a special occasion bottle, this is the one to reach for.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita is the Pinot Grigio that taught a generation of diners to drink Pinot Grigio, and that's not entirely a compliment. At restaurant prices it's almost always overpriced relative to what's in the glass — a fine, clean, inoffensive white that costs a lot for its pedigree. You can do better for the money.
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva + Osso buco
Braised veal shank wants a wine with structure and acid to cut through the richness, and Sangiovese-based Chianti Classico Riserva is essentially engineered for this. The earthy, cherry-forward character of the Ruffino locks in with the slow-cooked meat and gremolata without stepping on anything.
The Bottom Line
Monteleone's is the kind of Italian restaurant El Paso is lucky to have — the wine list isn't going to win any awards, but it's thoughtful enough to elevate dinner without requiring a research project. Go for the Tignanello if you're celebrating, default to the Chianti if you're not, and skip the Santa Margherita.
Downtown · El Paso · French / European
Pot Au Feu is the kind of place that takes its food seriously and gives the wine list a passing grade — not an A, but enough to hold up its end of the evening. If you're eating French in El Paso, you could do a lot worse; just order smart and don't default to the Jadot.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Westside / Northwest (The Canyons at Cimarron) · El Paso · Steakhouse
Oak & Antler isn't reinventing the steakhouse wine list, but the Wednesday half-price promotion turns a merely adequate program into a legitimately smart evening out. Come on a Wednesday, order the Jordan, eat a ribeye, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · El Paso · Fine Dining
Cafe Central is running a world-class wine program in a city that most wine people wouldn't put on their radar — and the pricing is fair enough that you can actually drink at the level this list deserves. If you're passing through El Paso, this is a genuine destination worth building a trip around.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · El Paso · American
Anson11 is a reliable destination for a well-executed California wine experience in a city where that kind of list isn't guaranteed — just don't expect to be surprised. Send your Caymus-loving friends here without hesitation; send your adventurous wine nerd somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
El Paso · El Paso · Regional, Southwestern American
Mesa Street Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it delivers a competent, fairly priced California list that holds up to the food without embarrassing anyone. Send a friend here for a solid dinner — just don't expect to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East El Paso · El Paso · Seafood, Steakhouse
Landry's wine list does exactly what a mid-tier chain seafood house needs it to do — keeps the table happy without embarrassing anyone. Just don't show up expecting inspiration; show up expecting a cold glass of Vermentino and a solid piece of fish.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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
