Red Sauce Done Right, Wine List Done Wrong
Downtown · Manchester · Italian
Reviewed April 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The room is warm and genuinely charming — flickering candles, red checkered tablecloths, the whole trattoria package. Then you open the wine list and the spell breaks a little. Six options, all from two producers you've probably never heard of, at prices that feel a bit optimistic for what's on offer.
The entire list leans on Ca'Brigiano and Corsi, two volume-production Italian labels that show up at casual spots exactly like this one. There's a Corsi Chianti and a Corsi Montepulciano representing the red side of Italian heritage, which is fine, but that's about as adventurous as it gets. No Barolo, no Brunello, no Amarone — nothing that makes you feel like the restaurant is taking the Italian wine identity seriously. The markup data tells the rest of the story: comparable bottles in the neighborhood are running 80-90% over retail, which is hard to justify when the list itself isn't doing much heavy lifting.
Six pours total, which at least means you're not stuck choosing between two options. You've got both whites — Ca'Brigiano Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio — and four reds split between Ca'Brigiano and Corsi. At $6.75 a glass, the sticker price feels approachable, but the quality ceiling is low and there's no rotation happening here.
Corsi Montepulciano — $6.75/glass
Of everything on the list, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo offers the most personality for the money — it's rustic, food-friendly, and doesn't pretend to be something it's not. For a weeknight red with a bowl of pasta, it does the job without drama.
Corsi Chianti
Nobody's ordering the Chianti when the Cabernet is right there on the menu, but they should be. Even at this price point, Chianti's bright acidity and savory backbone work harder with Italian food than a generic Cab ever will. It's the correct choice and most people walk right past it.
Ca'Brigiano Cabernet
A California-leaning Cabernet on an Italian list is a red flag by itself, and this one earns its keep mainly by being familiar. It's the wine people order when they're not paying attention, and at these markups, that comfort costs more than it should. There are better calls on this short list.
Corsi Chianti + Veal Marsala
Chianti's earthy, cherry-driven character and natural acidity cut right through the richness of a Marsala sauce without overwhelming the delicate veal. It's a classic Italian logic move — regional wine with regional cooking — and it actually works here even at the entry level.
❌ The Bottom Line
Piccola Italia is a genuinely lovely neighborhood spot for dinner, but the wine list is an afterthought bolted onto an otherwise warm experience. Order the Chianti, enjoy the Eggplant Parm, and don't spend too much time staring at the wine menu.
Manchester · Manchester · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Vine Thirty Two is doing the most credible wine program in Manchester, and by a comfortable margin. Send a friend here — just tell them to skip the Whispering Angel and ask questions.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manchester · Manchester · Mexican
Margaritas Manchester is a fun night out, and the bar program clearly gets the attention. The wine list is not the reason to come here — order the cocktails, enjoy the room, and don't overthink the glass pours.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Millyard · Manchester · Casual American
Come here for the burgers and maybe a beer — the wine list is an obligation, not an attraction. If wine matters to your night out, this isn't your spot.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Manchester · Manchester · Modern American Grill
110 Grill Manchester is the wine equivalent of a reliable friend — not the most exciting person in the room, but they always show up and they never let you down. Send your friends here if they want a decent glass with dinner and zero stress; just don't send the Burgundy nerds.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Willow · Manchester · Mexican
Shorty's is a margarita bar that happens to have wine on the menu — and the wine knows it. Come for the frozen drinks and the fajitas; leave the wine list to collect dust.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Willow · Manchester · Tex-Mex
Cactus Jack's is a fun place to eat Tex-Mex and throw back a margarita, and that's exactly the order of operations we'd recommend. The wine list is an afterthought dressed up as a menu section — don't send a friend here for wine unless the friend truly doesn't care about wine.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Provo · Provo · Italian
La Dolce Vita earns its stripes as a dependable neighborhood Italian with a wine list that actually respects the cuisine it's serving. It's not a destination wine program, but in Provo, it's one of the better options on the table — and that house pour at $4 a glass is almost disarmingly honest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Odessa Retail Corridor · Odessa · Italian
The wine list at Olive Garden Odessa does exactly what Olive Garden's wine list is supposed to do — it's inoffensive, familiar, and gets out of the way of the breadsticks. If you're here for a serious glass of wine, you're in the wrong zip code.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Lakeland · Lakeland · Italian
Carrabba's isn't where you go to discover wine, but it's where you go to drink something decent without getting ripped off. Send a friend here if they want a familiar Italian night with a glass that makes sense — just steer them toward the Italian side of the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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