Osteria Cicchetti

The wine list at Osteria Cicchetti feels like the restaurant itself — warm, unpretentious, and doing the right thing without making a big deal about it. It leans Italian the way you'd hope a place called 'osteria' would, with a supporting cast of international bottles that don't overstay their welcome. Nothing here is going to make you gasp, but nothing is going to make you groan either.

The list holds steady at an estimated 80-150 bottles with a clear Italian backbone — think Montepulciano, Pinot Grigio, and the familiar appellations that make sense alongside housemade pasta and wood-fired dishes. There's a nod to Germany with the Dr. Loosen Riesling making an appearance, which shows someone was paying attention when they built this list. What's missing is any real depth in Piedmont, Tuscany, or southern Italy — you get the geography right but not the granularity. For a neighborhood spot in Raleigh at this price point, though, it's a respectable effort.

The by-the-glass program runs an estimated 10-18 options, which is a solid spread for a casual osteria. You'll find the Ilauri Tavo Pinot Grigio and the Vigneti del Sole Montepulciano holding down the Italian flanks, and the Ancient Peaks Chardonnay covering anyone who wanders off the peninsula. The rotation doesn't appear to be especially dynamic, but the core pours are well-matched to the menu.