Italian Comfort, Wine List to Match
Downtown · Harrisburg · Italian (pasta-focused)
Reviewed July 19, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Pastorante’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Pastorante is short, Italian-focused, and makes no apologies for it. At a place built around house-made pasta and $15-$20 entrees, that's actually the right call. You're not here for a Burgundy deep-dive — you're here for a bowl of pappardelle and something from the boot to wash it down.
The list clocks in around 20-40 bottles, leaning hard into the Italian triumvirate of Tuscany, Piedmont, and Veneto — Chianti Classico, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino, Pinot Grigio. It's a tight, regional lineup that stays in its lane. Don't expect anything adventurous: no skin-contact wines, no under-the-radar Etna Rosso, no Jura left turns. What you get is a focused, predictably Italian card that pairs honestly with the food without demanding you do homework.
Six to ten options by the glass is a reasonable pour program for a spot this size. Given the Italian regional focus, you're likely looking at Pinot Grigio anchoring the white side and Chianti Classico holding it down in red. Rotation doesn't appear to be a priority here, but what's on offer is functional and priced for the room.
Chianti Classico — $12
At a restaurant where entrees top out around $20, a Chianti Classico by the glass in the $10-$14 range is the sweet spot — honest Sangiovese that earns its keep without punishing your bill.
Brunello di Montalcino
Most people at a casual pasta joint aren't scanning the list for Brunello, and that's a shame. If Pastorante is carrying it at a markup that reflects their modest price point, ordering it here costs a fraction of what you'd pay at a white-tablecloth Italian downtown. Worth the ask.
Pinot Grigio
Pinot Grigio by the glass at a casual Italian spot is almost always the path of least resistance and least excitement. It gets the job done, but there's almost certainly something more interesting on the same list for the same money or close to it.
Barolo + Pappardelle with Oxtail Ragu
Barolo's tannin structure and earthy backbone were practically engineered for slow-braised red meat. The oxtail ragu is rich, collagen-heavy, and deeply savory — exactly the kind of dish that needs a wine with some authority behind it. This is the order.
The Bottom Line
Pastorante isn't trying to win a wine award and doesn't need to — it's a neighborhood pasta spot with a short, honest Italian list that does its job without embarrassing anyone. If you're eating here regularly, you're probably drinking well enough.
· Harrisburg · Italian
Mangia Qui is a genuinely appealing spot — the food, the room, and the service cadence all point toward a place that takes the dining experience seriously. The Italian wine focus is the right instinct for this kitchen, and duck confit with a solid Tuscan red is exactly what this kind of room should be delivering. We just don't have enough confirmed wine list detail yet to tell you whether to come for the bottle or stick to the food. Worth a visit — ask your server what's good on the wine list and see what happens.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Harrisburg · Italian
Zia's isn't a wine destination, but it's a reliable, fairly priced list that respects the room it's in and won't leave you feeling ripped off. If you're here for a nice Italian dinner and a couple of honest glasses of wine, it delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Harrisburg · American/Gastropub
Federal Taphouse is a beer bar that happens to serve wine, and the list reflects exactly that priority order. If you're with a group split between pint-drinkers and wine-drinkers, it works — just don't expect anyone to geek out over the bottle selection with you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Harrisburg · New American
Home 231 is a solid neighborhood dinner spot where the wine list does its job without any drama — which is fine, as long as you're not expecting it to be the reason you showed up. Come for the food, order something simple off the list, and enjoy the room.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hershey · Harrisburg · Seafood/Steakhouse
Devon isn't breaking new ground, but for a chain steakhouse in Hershey, this wine list punches above its weight — especially if you gravitate toward Rieslings or Pinot Noir. We'd send a friend here knowing they won't get gouged and won't have to settle.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Harrisburg · New American/Steak
Black 'n Bleu is a perfectly fine place to eat a steak — the wine list, however, is an afterthought dressed up as a program. Skip the Woodbridge, grab the Argyle, and spend your energy on the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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