Italy in a Bottle, Florida on Your Plate
Fort Myers · Fort Myers · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Osteria Celli reads like a greatest hits of Italian wine — Antinori, Gaja, Mastroberardino all show up within the first few pages. It's organized, confident, and unambiguously Italian, which tracks perfectly with the osteria ethos. No distractions, no detours through Napa.
The list stays firmly planted in the Italian canon, with Tuscany and Piedmont doing most of the heavy lifting and solid representation from Southern Italy and Umbria rounding things out. You've got range here — from the crowd-pleasing Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio on the lighter end to the serious, age-worthy Gaja Barbaresco and Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco for the big-wine crowd. The Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino earns its spot as the marquee bottle, and Mastroberardino's Taurasi gives the south its due. The list is focused rather than exhaustive, but everything on it belongs.
With 10-16 options by the glass, there's enough to navigate a full meal without committing to a bottle — and for a restaurant leaning this Italian, that matters. We'd expect the Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio to anchor the white side, and hopefully something from Southern Italy or Umbria holding court on reds. Rotation and freshness of pours are the real question here; a list this tight can shine or suffer depending on how often those bottles get opened.
Mastroberardino Taurasi — null
Taurasi from Mastroberardino is one of the great underpriced categories in Italian wine — Aglianico at its most serious, from one of Campania's founding producers. If it's priced anywhere near fair on this list, it beats most of the Tuscan competition dollar for dollar on sheer complexity and cellar credibility.
Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco
Most diners at an Italian spot will default to Barolo or Brunello, but the Sagrantino di Montefalco from Arnaldo Caprai is the real conversation piece here. It's dense, tannic, and earthy in a way that demands attention — a grape that barely exists outside Umbria and a producer that basically defined the modern style. Most people walk right past it. They shouldn't.
Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
Banfi makes perfectly competent Brunello, but it's also one of the most widely distributed bottles on the market — easy to find at retail and routinely marked up steeply in restaurants. At a $$$-priced Italian spot, the markup on this one is likely doing the most work on the bill. There are better stories to tell on this list for the money.
Antinori Tignanello + Osso buco
Tignanello — Sangiovese with a backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc — has the structure and dark-fruit intensity to hold its own against the deep, braised richness of osso buco. The wine's acidity cuts through the fat, the tannins grip the meat, and the whole thing tastes like you planned it for a week.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Osteria Celli is a genuinely committed Italian wine list in a town that doesn't always demand one — focused, well-sourced, and worth exploring if you know what you're looking at. The markup keeps it from being a steal, but the selection earns the price of admission.
Downtown River District · Fort Myers · Japanese, Sushi
Blu Sushi Downtown isn't a wine destination, but it's a perfectly functional place to have a decent glass while eating good rolls in a fun room. Send your friend here for a night out — just tell them to skip the Rombauer.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fort Myers / Daniels Parkway · Fort Myers · Japanese, Sushi
Mori Sushi & Grill isn't the place you go for a wine adventure, but the list is priced fairly and the Sauvignon Blancs do real work alongside the food. Grab a glass of Nobilo, order the sashimi, and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fort Myers / Daniels Parkway · Fort Myers · Italian-American, family-style
Two Meatballs isn't a wine destination, but the Italian backbone of the list is honest and the pricing is fair enough that you won't feel robbed. Order the Barbera, get the baked ziti, and let the chaos of the dining room do the rest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fort Myers / US-41 · Fort Myers · Wine Bar, New American
Non Chalance has all the right intentions — a chill wine bar vibe with small plates in a neighborhood that needed it — but the list leans hard on low-cost, high-markup retail staples that don't hold up under scrutiny. Come for the atmosphere, but go easy on the bottle orders.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Fort Myers River District · Fort Myers · Rooftop Bar / Tapas & Small Plates
Beacon Social Drinkery is a genuinely fun place to watch the sun go down — just don't come here expecting the wine list to match the altitude. Order a cocktail, enjoy the view, and if you must have wine, the Crios Rosé is your move.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Fort Myers River District · Fort Myers · Upscale Contemporary Seafood and American
The Silver King won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you either — and for a hotel restaurant in Fort Myers, that's a genuine win. Take the Leflaive, skip the Rombauer, and enjoy the river view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
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.