Marietta's Italian anchor earns its stripes
Marietta · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 13, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Piastra’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Piastra lands exactly where you'd hope for an upscale Italian spot on Marietta Square — focused, Italian-forward, and not trying to be everything at once. It's the kind of list where you can find something serious without needing a decoder ring. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence they've held since 2018 isn't just window dressing; the list earns it.
Piastra leans hard into the Italian classics and does it well. You've got Antinori Tignanello anchoring the Tuscan end, Gaja Barbaresco flying the Piedmont flag, and solid Brunello representation from Banfi — that's real range across Northern and Central Italy. Barolo shows up via Prunotto or Ceretto, Amarone comes from either Masi or Bertani, and Chianti Classico is covered by Ruffino or Fonterutoli. The gaps are in new-world and non-Italian options, but honestly, that's a feature not a bug — stay in your lane and own it.
The by-the-glass program runs 10 to 16 options in the $10–$18 range, which is a respectable spread for a neighborhood Italian. Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio and La Marca Prosecco will be the crowd favorites at this price point, but the smarter play is hunting the glass list for whatever Chianti Classico or lighter red is rotating through. There's no sign of serious glass rotation here — it reads more like a curated standing roster than a dynamic program.
Chianti Classico (Fonterutoli) — $45
Fonterutoli is a serious Chianti Classico producer often overshadowed by flashier names — you're getting a Castello di Fonterutoli DOCG at a price that doesn't punish you for ordering a second glass.
Barolo (Prunotto)
Prunotto is a Barolo producer with serious Antinori backing and a track record that punches above its price point. Most guests will default to Tignanello or Amarone; the Barolo quietly delivers more complexity for your money.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita is a fine wine, but it's a $20 retail bottle that shows up on every Italian restaurant list in America. At restaurant markup, you're paying a premium for the comfort of a recognizable label — spend those dollars somewhere else on this list.
Amarone della Valpolicella (Masi) + Baked Rigatoni with Sausage
Masi Amarone is rich, concentrated, and built on dried Corvina grapes — it has the weight and dark fruit intensity to stand up to the braised depth of sausage-loaded rigatoni without bulldozing the dish.
The Bottom Line
Piastra is the kind of reliable Italian wine program that Marietta Square deserves — focused, fairly priced, and anchored by serious Italian producers. Send your parents here on their anniversary; they won't be disappointed.
Marietta · Marietta · Italian
Modena is the neighborhood Italian that actually earned the wine credentials to back up its ambitions — Jill Pipes is running a thoughtful program in a place that could have easily phoned it in. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Pieropan, and let someone else have the Silver Oak.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Marietta · Marietta · American, Steakhouse
Mac's Chophouse is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program that does California Cabernet better than most places in the Atlanta suburbs — it's not trying to be a wine destination, but it earns its Wine Spectator nod and won't let you down if big red meat and big Napa reds are the plan.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Atlanta · Italian
Nino's wine list is exactly what it looks like: a dependable, crowd-pleasing selection built for guests who want something familiar with their chicken piccata. The pricing runs steep in places — Korbel at $50 is hard to defend — but the Italian whites, especially the Gavi options, show that someone put at least some thought into this. Send a friend here if they want a comfortable, no-surprises dinner; don't send them if they're hunting for value or discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Inman Park · Atlanta · Italian
Amore e Amore earns its stripes as a reliable neighborhood Italian spot where the atmosphere is the main event. If you're coming for a celebration dinner, you'll likely have a great time — just go in knowing the wine list hasn't been independently confirmed to be anything exceptional. Check the menu online before you go if wine is a priority, and when in doubt, ask your server what's Italian and under $60.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Italian
An Italian list dated 06.17.26 with 18 glass pours at 15 to 19 and full bottles from 60 to 970. Start with the Barbera d’Alba La Gemella at 15 a glass, or the Fontanavecchia Aglianico del Taburno from the chef’s Campania hometown at 17, and confirm prices because the list says they are subject to change. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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Markup
Glassware
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Specials & Deals
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