Italian-Leaning List That Gets the Job Done
· Atlanta · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Pasta da Pulcinella’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Thirty-nine labels isn't a lot, but Pasta da Pulcinella's list reads like someone actually thought about it — there's a clear Italian backbone with enough domestic and regional detours to keep things interesting. It's not trying to be a wine bar, but it's not phoning it in either. For a neighborhood pasta spot, that's already a win.
The list leans predictably Italian — Gavi, Soave Classico, Falanghina, Vernaccia di San Gimignano — which is exactly what you want at a place called Pasta da Pulcinella. The Inama Soave Classico and Terredora Dipaolo Irpinia Falanghina are legitimate picks, not just filler. A Chehalem Pinot Gris from Willamette and a Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Chardonnay add a Pacific Coast subplot that mostly works, though the Pinot Grigio section is a bit crowded with safe plays like Santa Margherita and Zenato. The red side of the list isn't visible in the data we have, but the sparkling and white situation here is genuinely solid for the format.
Thirteen by-the-glass options on a 39-bottle list is a healthy ratio — roughly one in three bottles makes the cut, which means you're not stuck choosing between house white and house red. The price band of $9–$17 per glass is reasonable for Atlanta, and options like the Inama Soave and the Medici Quercioli Lambrusco give you something worth ordering. No obvious rotation program, so don't expect seasonal surprises.
Inama Soave Classico — $9-$17 (glass)
Soave Classico from Inama is a serious wine — volcanic soils, Garganega grape, real texture — and seeing it on a by-the-glass list at a neighborhood Italian spot is exactly the kind of find that makes dinner better. Order it before someone else takes the last pour.
Terredora Dipaolo Irpinia Falanghina
Most people at a pasta restaurant are going to reach for the Pinot Grigio out of habit. Don't. Falanghina from Campania is a fuller, more interesting white with a saline mineral edge that most Italian whites can't match — and Terredora Dipaolo is one of the reliable producers working with the grape.
Veuve Clicquot Brut
Veuve at a restaurant is almost always a markup trap, and there's nothing here to suggest otherwise. The Gruet Brut Rosé or Piper Heidsieck on the same list will drink well for significantly less money. Save the Clicquot for somewhere that earns the premium.
Medici Quercioli Lambrusco + Fresh pasta with red sauce
Lambrusco and tomato-based pasta is one of those regional Emilian combos that just works — the wine's light fizz and dark berry acidity cut through the richness of a slow-cooked ragu or a bright marinara without fighting it. This is what the Italians have been doing for centuries and the menu at Pulcinella is the right place to let it play out.
The Bottom Line
Pasta da Pulcinella isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its list is thoughtful enough that you don't have to settle. Stick to the Italian whites, skip the Veuve, and you'll leave happy.
· Atlanta · Sushi / Omakase
Sushi By Bou is clearly here to serve great fish — and the wine list confirms that wine is very much an afterthought. Order the Dom if you're feeling flush or the Hampton Water if you're being sensible, and let the food do the heavy lifting.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean / New American
Rose & Rye isn't a destination for wine nerds, but it's a perfectly functional list for a date night where the wine is supporting the evening, not headlining it. Order the Crémant, avoid the Caymus markup, and you'll do just fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Steakhouse
Hal's delivers a competent, Napa-forward bottle list that does exactly what a steakhouse wine program is supposed to do — just without much surprise or value mercy. Send a friend here if they want a reliable big-red experience; warn them to leave the credit card breathing room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Fast Casual
Nando's is here for the chicken, and the wine list knows it — eight uninspired labels that exist to check a box, not to enhance your meal. Order the Vinho Verde, enjoy your peri-peri, and don't overthink it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Stemless Casual
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Italian
Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern
SouthernNational is doing something genuinely unusual — running a tight, Europe-forward wine list inside a Southern kitchen, and mostly pulling it off. If you're tired of the same Sonoma Pinot and overpriced Malbec at every restaurant in town, this list is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway / Elks Plaza · Gatlinburg · Italian
The Best Italian's wine list does exactly what it needs to do: keep casual diners happy, not drain wallets, and get out of the way of the garlic knots. We wouldn't drive to Gatlinburg for the wine, but if you're already there and want something decent with dinner, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Italian
La Nonna brings a legitimately serious Italian cellar to a town where most restaurants are content to coast on their ski-town captive audience — and that deserves real credit. The markups are steep across the board, but the bones of the list are strong enough that the right bottle makes the whole evening.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mountain Road · Stowe · Italian
Trattoria La Festa is not a destination for the wine list — it's a destination for the atmosphere, the pasta, and crucially, Wednesday night, when every bottle under $100 goes half-price and suddenly a $50 Antinori feels like a very smart midweek decision. Go on a Wednesday, order the Bramito, and stop overthinking it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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