Nesso Italian Kitchen
Indy's Italian Wine Secret Nobody Told You About
Indianapolis · Indianapolis · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You open the wine list at a modern Italian spot in Indianapolis and suddenly you're looking at Friulano, Alto Adige Pinot Bianco, and Vermentino from Terenzuolo — this is not your average red-or-white situation. The list signals immediately that someone here has done their homework and is not interested in playing it safe with Pinot Grigio from nowhere. For Indiana, this thing is a genuine surprise.
Selection Deep Dive
The regional specificity here is real: Alto Adige, Friuli, Tuscany, Piedmont, Sicily, and Basilicata all show up, and the picks within each region are considered rather than obvious. Borgoluce representing Prosecco, Bindi Sergardi in Chianti, Elena Walch flying the flag for South Tyrol — these are producers worth knowing, not filler brands. The list also dips into Champagne (Delamotte Brut, no less) without overcommitting to France, keeping the Italian identity intact. If there's a gap, it's that bottle pricing data is limited, so you're somewhat flying blind on the full cellar depth — but what's visible earns respect.
By the Glass
Fifteen-plus options by the glass is serious business, especially with a three-sparkling opener that includes both a Prosecco Rosé and a legitimate grower Champagne. The spread across whites and reds covers real Italian ground without redundancy — you're not choosing between three Chiantis, you're choosing between Chianti, Friulano, Vermentino, and Pinot Bianco. That's a by-the-glass program with an actual point of view.
Bindi Sergardi 'La Boncia' Chianti — $13
Thirteen dollars for a Chianti from a producer with centuries of history in the Siena hills? On a Thursday, that's $6.50. This is the kind of pour that makes the whole trip worthwhile — proper Sangiovese at a price that makes you order a second glass without guilt.
A & M Mauri Friulano
Friulano is one of Italy's most underrated white grapes — nutty, textural, nothing like the Pinot Grigios that dominate Italian-American lists — and most people at this restaurant will walk right past it. At $17 a glass, it's the move for anyone willing to try something they've probably never had before.
Champagne Delamotte Brut
Delamotte is a genuinely excellent house and the wine is good — but at $25 a glass, you're paying a steep per-ounce premium when the Italian sparkling options around it are delivering serious quality for nearly half the price. Save the Champagne splurge for a bottle elsewhere and put that money toward exploring the Italian side of this list.
Terenzuolo 'Vignébasse' Vermentino + Ask the kitchen for their lightest pasta or seafood preparation
Vermentino's bright acidity and herby coastal character is built for anything light and briny — it cuts through richness and lifts delicate flavors rather than competing with them. At $14 a glass, it's an easy yes.
Thursday — Half off all bottles under $100; $50 off premium bottles over $100. One of the better standing wine deals in Indianapolis.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Nesso is doing something genuinely rare in the Midwest: building a wine list that treats Italian regional wines with the same seriousness the cuisine deserves. Add Thursday half-price bottles and a sommelier on staff, and this is the kind of place you text a friend about before you've even finished dinner.
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