Piedmont on a Logan Square back street
Logan Square · Chicago · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Osteria Langhe’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Osteria Langhe feels like someone airdropped a Barolo-obsessed trattoria from the Langhe hills into Logan Square and forgot to tell the neighbors. The wine list is compact but pointed — this is not a restaurant hedging its bets with a little Napa Cab to keep the tourists happy. They've picked a lane — Piedmont — and they're staying in it.
The roughly 150-200 bottle list reads like a love letter to northwestern Italy, anchored hard by Barolo and Barbaresco with names like Gaja, Bruno Giacosa, Vietti, and Ceretto holding down the prestige end. Below those marquee bottles, the list does solid work with Barbera d'Asti, Dolcetto d'Alba, and Nebbiolo d'Alba — the everyday wines of the region that most Italian restaurants in Chicago completely ignore. If you came looking for Burgundy or Napa, you're genuinely in the wrong place, and that's a feature, not a bug. Wine Spectator has recognized this program with an Award of Excellence since 2016, and you can feel the intentionality behind the curation.
The wine list linked from the restaurant’s menu page is dated December 18, 2025, so use it as a starting point and confirm today’s pours. It lists Paolo Scavino “Sorriso” Langhe Bianco 2024 at $16 by the glass, Ettore Germano Langhe Nascetta 2021 at $17, and Malabaila “Le Tre” Roero Arneis 2020 at $15. That gives you more to explore than a generic Pinot Grigio. The website also advertises a $30 optional wine pairing with Wednesday’s $55 four-course menu.
Malabaila “Le Tre” Roero Arneis 2020 — $15/glass; $48/bottle on the December 2025 list
An approachable way into Piedmontese whites on the posted list. Confirm the current vintage and price before ordering; the restaurant also discloses a 3.75% administrative fee on guest checks. On Thursdays, ask which selected bottles qualify for the advertised 50% discount.
Nebbiolo d'Alba
Everyone gravitates toward Barolo and Barbaresco on a list like this, but Nebbiolo d'Alba is the move if you want the same grape at a fraction of the price and none of the 'I need to cellar this for 10 years' anxiety. Order it and look like you know something.
Gaja Barolo
Gaja is an icon and the bottle is probably priced to reflect that — restaurant markup on a name this famous means you're paying a serious premium for the label. Buy it at retail and save Osteria Langhe for the underdogs on the list.
Vietti Barolo + Plin
Plin — those tiny Piedmontese pinched pasta parcels — and a structured Barolo from Vietti is basically the canonical pairing of the region. The wine's tannin and acidity cut through the richness of the filling and the two just make sense together in a way that doesn't need explaining.
The Bottom Line
Come to Osteria Langhe for a focused trip through Piedmontese wine. Thursday’s advertised half-price selection is worth asking about, and Wednesday offers a wine pairing alongside the four-course menu. The linked wine list is dated December 2025, so confirm today’s bottles and prices before choosing.
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