Old City's Italian Wine Anchor, Earning It Since '93
Old City · Philadelphia · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed April 9, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Panorama’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Panorama lands with authority — this is not a restaurant that bolted a wine program onto an Italian menu as an afterthought. Holding a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence continuously since 1993 means they've been doing this longer than most Philly restaurants have existed. You feel that history the moment you open the list.
Piedmont and Tuscany form the twin pillars here, and both are handled seriously — we're talking Barolo from Giacomo Conterno, Barbaresco, Brunello di Montalcino, and the heavy-hitter Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Tignanello sitting alongside Chianti Classico Riserva and Amarone della Valpolicella. California gets its due with Napa Cabernet and Sonoma Pinot Noir rounding out the New World presence, while France adds classical depth to what is already a 120-150 bottle list. The gaps, if any, are minor — this is a focused, curator's list rather than a phone-book exercise in showing off.
With 18-24 pours running between $12 and $22, the by-the-glass program punches well above the average Italian restaurant in this city. That range suggests real thought went into rotation — you're not stuck choosing between a house red and a generic Pinot Grigio. If the bottle list reflects the regions it focuses on, expect at least a few Piedmont and Tuscan options available by the glass on any given night.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $45–$55 (approx.)
Chianti Classico Riserva at the entry price point on a list this serious is almost always the move — age-worthy Sangiovese with structure and savory depth, typically at the lowest markup tier. With hand-rolled pastas and veal on the menu, it earns its keep at the table without denting the card.
Amarone della Valpolicella
People walk right past Amarone on Italian lists because it sounds like a commitment — big, brooding, concentrated. But on a cold Philadelphia night with a plate of something meaty in front of you, it's one of the most rewarding bottles on this list. Most diners order the Barolo or a Super Tuscan. Let them. More Amarone for the rest of us.
Sassicaia
Sassicaia is a legend, full stop — but on restaurant lists it almost always carries a markup that puts it well north of what you'd pay at retail, and Panorama is unlikely to be the exception. Unless it's a special occasion and money isn't the conversation, the same terroir story gets told for considerably less elsewhere on this list.
Barolo (Giacomo Conterno) + Hand-rolled pasta with braised veal
Conterno's Barolo is built on Nebbiolo's signature tension — tart cherry, tar, dried roses, firm tannins that need something to work against. Braised veal with hand-rolled pasta gives it exactly that: fat and umami to soften the grip, enough weight to match the wine's structure. This is the pairing that justifies the trip.
The Bottom Line
Panorama has been one of Philadelphia's most credible Italian wine programs for three decades and the list backs that up with producer-level specificity and fair pricing. If you're eating in Old City and wine matters to you, there's no better seat in the neighborhood.
Center City · Philadelphia · Brazilian Churrascaria
Fogo de Chão isn't a wine destination, but the Monday-through-Thursday half-price South American bottle deal — covering bottles under $150 all day in the dining room and bar — makes it a legitimately smart move if you're coming in for the full churrasco experience anyway. Plan your red-meat splurge on a weeknight, lean into the South American selections, and let the wine be what it's meant to be here: a very good sidekick.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Philadelphia · Philadelphia · American
Vernick Fish is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants quality Chardonnay and Burgundy alongside serious seafood — just know you'll pay for the privilege. Send a friend here, but tell them to avoid the trophy bottles and lean into the French side of the list.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Rittenhouse Square · Philadelphia · French
Parc is a reliable, France-first wine list that fits the room perfectly — you won't discover anything new here, but you also won't go wrong. If you're eating onion soup and steak frites in a beautiful Parisian-style brasserie, this list does exactly what it should.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Rittenhouse Square · Philadelphia · American, French
a.kitchen+bar is the real deal — a deep, well-curated list run by sommeliers who actually know what's on it, earning that Wine Spectator badge honestly. The markups sting on the high end, but the depth and staff knowledge make this one of Philadelphia's best rooms to drink serious wine.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Center City · Philadelphia · Italian
Vetri Cucina is the Italian wine list Philadelphia deserves and rarely gets — stacked with producers that serious collectors chase, staffed by people who can actually talk you through it. Yes, the markup stings on the trophy bottles, but the depth here earns every bit of that Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Philadelphia · Philadelphia · Italian
Osteria is one of the best Italian wine programs in Philadelphia, full stop — the depth of producers alone earns the Rager badge. Budget for it, skip the obvious names, and let the list take you somewhere you haven't been.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Dacula · Italian
Antonetas isn't a wine destination, and it isn't trying to be — it's a family-friendly neighborhood Italian with a wine list that covers the basics and stays out of the way. If you're after a solid glass of something red with your Lasagna in a no-fuss setting, you won't be disappointed. Just don't show up expecting to geek out over the list.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Alpharetta · Italian
Crust is a solid neighborhood Italian spot where the wine list is a supporting player, not the headliner — and that's fine. Come for the rigatoni alla vodka and garlic knots; order a glass of whatever red they're pouring and don't overthink it. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation, just not for the wine list alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Marietta · Italian
Vespucci's isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't pretend to be — and that honesty is refreshing. The one move that earns real respect here is the Monday half-price bottle deal, which turns an ordinary weeknight into a genuinely good value. Show up on a Monday, order the Eggplant Parmigiana, grab a bottle at half price, and you've had a solid dinner without thinking too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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