Italian Comfort With Serious Wine Ambitions
· White Plains · Italian & Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nonna Carola’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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 · Italian wine bar
Mima Vinoteca is doing something genuinely useful: a tight, all-Italian list with fair prices and nearly everything available by the glass, in a suburb that rarely rewards this kind of effort. If you're in White Plains and you want to drink well without a spreadsheet, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pocantico Hills · White Plains · Farm-driven tasting menu
Blue Hill's wine list is not trying to impress you with volume — it's trying to match a kitchen that farms its own food with bottles that hold the same values. If you're in, you're really in.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Main Street / Downtown · White Plains · Mediterranean / Rooftop Lounge
Mediterraneo is a solid rooftop spot where the vibe does a lot of heavy lifting and the wine list mostly keeps pace — just don't come looking for discovery or deals. Order the Assyrtiko, enjoy the view, and leave Whispering Angel for the table next to you.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Court Street / Downtown · White Plains · Italian / Private Dining
Mulino's wine program does its job without embarrassing itself — it's the reliable Italian uncle of wine lists, never exciting but never a disaster. If someone else is paying, reach for the Brunello; if you're on your own dime, manage expectations and order accordingly.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown White Plains · White Plains · Italian
Mulino's is a reliable restaurant wine list doing its job without embarrassing itself — fair prices, decent Italian representation, and enough by-the-glass options to find something that works. Don't come here expecting a deep cellar moment, but you won't be stuck drinking bad wine either.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
City Center · White Plains · Asian, Chinese-inspired chain
P.F. Chang's White Plains is not a wine destination, but it's not a disaster either — come on a Wednesday when everything is half off and suddenly a $40 Coppola Pinot at $20 feels like a reasonable night out. Any other night, manage your expectations and stick to the glass pours.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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