Italy in a bottle, Boca on the bill
North Boca Raton · Boca Raton · Italian Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Novello Ristorante Italiano & Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Novello lands with some real authority — this isn't a restaurant that bolted a few Italian bottles onto a generic list and called it a wine bar. You get a focused, Italy-centric book that signals someone here actually cares. The bottle range and a sommelier on the floor confirm this is a serious operation, even if Boca Raton pricing means your wallet will feel it.
Novello leans hard into the Italian classics: Tuscany and Piedmont anchor the list, with strong showings from Veneto, Sicily, and Campania rounding things out. The prestige names are present — Sassicaia, Gaja Barbaresco, Antinori Tignanello — which gives the list genuine gravitas. What's less clear is whether there's depth below the marquee bottles, but with 150-250 selections and a sommelier steering the ship, the bones are solid. Gaps likely exist in French and New World options, but if you came to an Italian wine bar for Napa Cab, that's on you.
A BTG program running 20-35 options is genuinely impressive and rare — most restaurants top out at 10-12 and call it a day. At $14-$24 a glass, you're paying Boca prices, but the range means you can actually explore: a Sicilian Nero d'Avola one round, something from the Collio the next. Rotation isn't confirmed, so don't assume the list reinvents itself seasonally.
Planeta Nero d'Avola — $55
Planeta is one of Sicily's most reliable producers and Nero d'Avola at this price point is a genuine steal compared to the trophy bottles dominating the list. It's food-friendly, approachable, and won't require a second mortgage.
Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio Collio
Most people see Pinot Grigio on an Italian list and assume it's filler. Livio Felluga's Collio expression is the counter-argument — structured, mineral, and nothing like the bland stuff poured at airport bars. It gets overlooked because it doesn't have a famous name, but it punches well above its category.
Gaja Barbaresco
Gaja is world-class and nobody disputes that. But Gaja Barbaresco at a South Florida restaurant markup is going to land somewhere that makes you wince. Unless you're celebrating something that genuinely warrants it, the bottle-to-value ratio here is a tough sell — you're paying a premium on top of a premium.
Antinori Tignanello + House-made pasta with braised meat
Tignanello — Sangiovese and Cabernet — has the structure to stand up to rich, slow-cooked meat and the acidity to cut through a heavy pasta sauce. It's a classic Italian pairing that actually earns the word classic.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Novello is the best Italian wine list in Boca Raton you're likely to find, and the BTG program alone is worth the trip. Just go in knowing the markups reflect the zip code, not a bargain hunter's paradise.
Unknown · Boca Raton · Upscale Casual Grill
Madison's wine list is the restaurant equivalent of a firm handshake — reliable, familiar, and unlikely to disappoint or impress. Send a friend here if they want a safe, solid bottle with a good steak; steer them elsewhere if they're looking for something to talk about.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Boca Raton · Boca Raton · Italian, Sicilian
Savia is doing something genuinely uncommon in Boca Raton: building a wine list around a single region with real intention and credible producers. The markup stings and the list won't satisfy everyone, but if you care about Sicilian wine at all, this is the most interesting glass you'll find in the city.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Boca Raton · Boca Raton · Modern American Steakhouse
Meat Market Boca is a reliable wine destination for steakhouse standards — the list is deep enough to be interesting, the by-the-glass program is stronger than average, and Wine Mondays turn a steep list into a genuinely smart night out. Show up Tuesday through Sunday expecting to pay for the room; show up Monday and actually enjoy the wine.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Boca Raton · Boca Raton · Modern Italian Steakhouse
Dorsia's wine list is exactly what it wants to be — polished, crowd-pleasing, and priced for a room that's spending freely. If you're after discovery or value, you'll have to work for it; if you're here for the scene and a great steak, Caymus and a Super Tuscan have you covered.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown/Mizner Park · Boca Raton · Classic Italian
Louie Bossi's isn't going to win any awards for wine curation, but that daily half-price bottle program is a legitimate reason to show up. Order an entrée, pick strategically, and you'll drink better than the list price would ever suggest.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Boca · Boca Raton · Japanese and Thai
Bluefin is a solid spot for sushi and Thai food, but the wine list is an afterthought — overpriced commodity wines with no connection to the cuisine they're supposed to accompany. If you're coming here, order a sake or a cocktail and save the wine night for somewhere that cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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