Nostrana Ristorante
Jersey's Quiet Italian Wine Room Done Right
Boonton · Boonton · Farm to Table, Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 19, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Nostrana feels like it was put together by someone who actually loves Italian wine — not just someone who Googled 'Italian wine list template.' The focus is tight, the regions are real, and the bottle range of $35–$120 keeps things accessible without bottoming out into house plonk territory. Fresh off a 2025 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, this Boonton spot is signaling it takes the glass seriously.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 100 to 150 bottles deep with an all-Italy mandate that covers the greatest hits without being lazy about it. Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino anchor the reds with proper prestige, Amarone della Valpolicella adds some muscle for the table that wants to go big, and Chianti Classico fills the middle ground where most of the real drinking happens. The white side gets a nod to Pinot Grigio from Friuli — not the supermarket stuff, but the real-deal northern expression that actually has something to say. There are gaps: no Etna, no Campanian reds, no real reach into southern Italy — but what's here is curated, not random.
By the Glass
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is a healthy number for a restaurant this size, and if the list philosophy holds, expect representation across both reds and whites rather than a token Pinot Grigio and two Chiantis. We'd want to see the Friuli Pinot Grigio in the glass program — it's the kind of white that earns converts. No evidence of active rotation or a standout BTG deal, so treat the glass list as steady rather than adventurous.
Chianti Classico — $45
Chianti Classico is the sweet spot on any Italian list — real Sangiovese character, food-friendly acidity, and it rarely gets marked up to the moon. At the lower end of Nostrana's bottle range, it's the move if you want something honest and delicious without overthinking it.
Pinot Grigio from Friuli
Most people see Pinot Grigio and assume boring. Friulian Pinot Grigio is a completely different animal — textured, mineral-driven, with actual personality. Most tables will walk past it for a red and miss the best white on the list.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone is a spectacular wine, but it's also a restaurant markup magnet — and it's not the most versatile bottle for a farm-to-table Italian meal built around pasta and roasted chicken. The price ceiling here hits $120, and Amarone at that number is likely where most of that ceiling lives. Save it for a steakhouse where it has room to perform.
Brunello di Montalcino + Roasted chicken with seasonal vegetables
Brunello's Sangiovese Grosso backbone — high acid, firm tannin, earthy red fruit — cuts right through the richness of roasted chicken and plays off whatever seasonal vegetables are on the plate without dominating them. It's a classic pairing that earns its reputation every single time.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Nostrana is the kind of Italian wine list that rewards anyone willing to look past the obvious and trust the kitchen's sourcing philosophy extends to the cellar. Not flashy, not deep enough to be a destination wine room, but honest and well-considered — which is more than most New Jersey towns can say.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.