Italian Comfort With Serious Wine Ambitions
· White Plains · Italian & Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed September 12, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Nonna Carola’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list at Nonna Carola is compact but it earns its keep — 48 labels isn't a lot, but someone clearly put thought into the curation rather than just bulk-ordering whatever the distributor pushed that month. The Italian backbone is strong and the by-the-glass program is surprisingly generous for a neighborhood spot in White Plains.
The list leans Italian, as it should, with solid representation from Tuscany — the Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino 2014 and both Antinori entries (Il Bruciato and Guado al Tasso) give the cellar some genuine credibility. The Barbera d'Asti from La Spinetta Ca di Pian shows they're not just running Chianti and calling it a day. Outside of Italy, the list stays pretty contained — a South African Cinsault, an Argentine Malbec, a California Cab — no real New World depth, but that's not what you came here for. The Champagne section swings for the fences with Dom Pérignon 2009 and Veuve Clicquot, which feels appropriate for a spot that likely hosts a lot of celebrations.
Twelve pours by the glass is a genuinely strong number, and the range covers all the bases — sparkling, white, red, and rosé — with prices running $11 to $15, which is very fair for Westchester. The Otello Lambrusco by the glass is a fun call, and the La Spinetta Barbera at $15 is the kind of pick that makes you trust whoever built this list.
La Spinetta Ca Di Pian Barbera D'Asti 2018 — $15/glass
La Spinetta is a serious Piedmontese producer and their Barbera is structured, food-friendly, and genuinely interesting. Getting it by the glass at $15 is a deal — this wine retails well above what this pour price implies.
Otello Lambrusco
Most people see Lambrusco and picture the fizzy sweet stuff from the grocery store. Otello is the real thing — dry, earthy, slightly sparkling red that's a perfect foil for rich Italian food. A lot of tables will walk right past this and order another Pinot Noir. Don't be that table.
Veuve Clicquot Brut
At $105 a bottle, you're paying a solid 3-4x markup on a Champagne that retails around $55-60. It's not egregious for a restaurant, but the Dom Pérignon 2009 at $310 is at least a special occasion bottle with a story. The Veuve is just the safe order for people who don't want to think about it.
San Crispino Chianti Classico 2017 + Pasta with braised meat or Sunday ragù
Chianti Classico and Italian red sauce cooking is a cliché for a reason — it works. The Sangiovese-driven acidity cuts through the fat of a slow-braised ragù and keeps every bite tasting fresh. At $12 a glass, this is exactly what you want in front of you when the pasta arrives.
The Bottom Line
Nonna Carola won't blow your mind, but it will take care of you — the list is focused, the by-the-glass prices are honest, and there are a few genuinely smart picks hiding in there if you know where to look. For White Plains, this is a reliable move.
· White Plains · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão White Plains is not a wine destination, but it's not trying to be. The by-the-glass program is wide enough to find something that works with the meat parade, the Malbec lineup is appropriately on-theme, and the $10 entry point keeps things accessible. Markups trend steep as you climb the list, so stay in the $10–$20 glass range and you'll leave satisfied. Send a friend here for the beef; the wine is just along for the ride.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· White Plains · Steakhouse
This appears to be a Restaurant Week wine promotion rather than Benjamin Steakhouse's full list, and we'd want to see a complete menu before rendering a final verdict on the overall program. Based on what's sourced here, though, the wine offering is thin for a steakhouse of this caliber — if you're coming for a serious bottle of Cab with your dry-aged ribeye, call ahead and ask what's actually on the full list.
Grocery Store
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· White Plains · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Stamford isn't going to excite anyone who takes wine seriously, but it's not the embarrassment that many chain steakhouse lists are either. The Prüm Riesling and Substance Cab punch above their price points, and 23 BTG options gives you real flexibility. Just go in knowing the markups are aggressive and the list hasn't changed since someone in a corporate office approved it — probably over a Meiomi.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· White Plains · Italian
La Bocca is a polished, reservation-worthy Italian room in White Plains with a wine identity that leans on Italy's marquee regions — safe, serviceable, and priced for a special-occasion crowd. Until we can get eyes on the actual list and confirm what's pouring, we'd treat the wine program as a pleasant companion to the food rather than a destination in its own right. Ask the staff for their recommendation and see what happens.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Bronxville · White Plains · Wine Bar & Small Plates
Ernie's is the kind of neighborhood wine bar Westchester needs more of: unpretentious, genuinely wine-forward, and priced like they actually want you to order a second glass. If you're in the area on a weekday, hit that happy hour window and settle in.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· White Plains · Spanish tapas & wine bar
Buleria is doing the right things — an actual Spanish-leaning list at fair prices in a market that could easily get away with slapping Malbec and Pinot Grigio on a page and calling it done. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a genuinely solid one, and that's worth something.
Solid Range
Fair
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.
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