Ann Arbor's Italian Wine Anchor, Done Right
Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Italian
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 16, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Paesano Restaurant And Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Paesano reads like a love letter to the Italian peninsula — and it means it. You open it expecting the usual Pinot Grigio-and-Chianti combo platter, and instead find yourself staring down Barolo, Brunello, and Amarone sitting comfortably within a $30–$120 range. For Ann Arbor, that's a genuine statement.
The list runs 150 to 250 bottles deep and stays firmly planted in Italian terroir — which is exactly the right call for a kitchen built around housemade pasta and osso buco. The heavy hitters are all present: Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino anchor the reds, Amarone della Valpolicella adds some drama, and Chianti Classico covers the everyday-drinking middle ground. Pinot Grigio delle Venezie handles the white side of things, though the list could use more depth beyond the northeastern Italy classics — a Vermentino or Fiano wouldn't hurt. Wine Spectator has recognized this program with an Award of Excellence since 2020, and the Italian focus earns that credential.
Twelve to twenty options by the glass is a solid spread for a neighborhood Italian spot, and the $10–$18 price range keeps things approachable. We'd expect a rotating mix of the crowd-pleasing Pinot Grigio and Chianti alongside at least one or two of the more serious bottles — though without confirmed rotation, it's hard to say how often the pours get refreshed.
Chianti Classico — $30
At the low end of the bottle range, a solid Chianti Classico at Paesano gives you everything you want with the pasta and the pizza — bright acidity, Sangiovese structure, food-friendly all the way through — without denting the dinner budget.
Pinot Grigio delle Venezie
Most people order it out of reflex and move on, but a well-sourced Pinot Grigio delle Venezie is a seriously underrated food wine — crisp, mineral-driven, and a natural match for the branzino. Don't sleep on it just because it sounds like an airport order.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone is a special-occasion wine that demands time and attention — and at a busy dinner service in a neighborhood Italian spot, you're probably not getting the full experience. At the top of the price range here, the value math gets harder to justify unless you're planning to linger.
Barolo + Osso buco
Barolo is basically engineered for braised meat — the tannin structure and dried cherry depth cut right through the richness of a slow-braised veal shank and make each bite taste better than the last. This is the move at Paesano.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Paesano is doing the right things with wine in a city that doesn't always demand it — a focused Italian list at fair prices, anchored by serious bottles and served in a room that actually cares about the food. Send a friend here on a date night and tell them to order the Barolo with the osso buco.
Downtown / Campus · Ann Arbor · New American / Hotel Restaurant
Eve is a dependable, well-kept hotel wine list that earns its place as Ann Arbor's go-to for faculty dinners and anniversary meals — just don't come expecting to be surprised. Order the Merry Edwards, skip the Stag's Leap markup, and let someone else handle the tab.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Upscale-casual Italian
Bravo! is a chain doing chain things with its wine list — predictable, approachable, and not particularly exciting. But the markup is fairer than most chains, the by-the-glass range is functional, and if you show up on a Wednesday, $7 Provençal rosé on the patio is a genuinely good time.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · American Gastropub
The Ravens Club isn't a wine destination — it's a late-night Ann Arbor institution that happens to have a functional wine list. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Gruet for $6, and let the spirits program do its real job.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Japanese-inspired ramen, noodle dishes, and izakaya-style small plates
Slurping Turtle is a genuinely fun spot to eat, and the ramen deserves your full attention — but the wine list is on cruise control and nobody seems to mind. Stick to a glass of Riesling or grab a beer, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that reciprocates it.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor · Sushi / Japanese
Nagomi is the rare sushi spot that made an actual choice with its wine program instead of just phoning it in with grocery store staples — a focused BC lineup at fair prices is exactly the kind of unexpected that earns a second look. If you're curious about Canadian wine and want a low-stakes way to explore it, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Ann Arbor · Korean BBQ
Tomukun is a great place to eat Korean BBQ and drink soju with friends — the wine list is just not the reason to come here. Order the Riesling if you must, or do yourself a favor and let the soju do the work.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Overlake / SE Redmond · Redmond · Italian
Tropea is the kind of neighborhood Italian spot where the wine list does its job without breaking any new ground — reliable, Italian-focused, and slightly overpriced in spots. Send a friend here who wants a solid Brunello with their pasta, not a friend who wants to be surprised.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Italian
Sugo's all-by-the-glass format is a genuine differentiator in Atlanta's Italian dining scene — fair prices, thoughtful Italian regionality, and enough variety to reward the curious without overwhelming the table. Send a friend here if they want to explore Italian wine without the commitment of a bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Historic Magnolia Avenue · Daytona Beach · Italian
The Cellar is one of Florida's most surprising wine lists — serious depth, marquee producers, and a genuine commitment to Italian and classic French selections that punches way above Daytona's weight class. Markup is aggressive across the board, but if you navigate toward the mid-tier Italian bottles, you'll drink very well.
Deep & Eclectic
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.