Pizza's Great. The Wine List Didn't Try.
Newberry Road / Oaks Mall · Gainesville · Italian / Pizza · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 30, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza – Newberry Road’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Piesanos Newberry Road reads like someone grabbed a clipboard and walked the middle aisle of a Total Wine. Everything here is a name you already know — Josh Cellars, Sterling, Caymus — and nothing on the list is going to surprise you. For a casual pizza spot, that's not a crime, but at these prices, it starts to sting.
About 17 labels make up the list, leaning heavily on California with a few Italian and New World ringers like Banfi Chianti and White Haven Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand filling in the gaps. There's no real depth here — no interesting producers, no regional curiosity, nothing that reflects the Italian roots of the menu. Caymus Napa Cab showing up on a pizza chain list is either aspirational or a markup play, and we suspect it's the latter. The Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling is probably the most thoughtful inclusion on the entire list, which tells you something.
By-the-glass options are generous in count — roughly 15 pours across 6oz and 9oz options — so at least you can graze without committing to a bottle. The range runs from around $7.50 to $14 for a 6oz and up to $21 for a 9oz, which is reasonable entry-level territory for the casual pours but climbs fast toward the premium side. Don't expect the list to rotate; what you see is what you'll see next visit too.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $8
At the lower end of the price range, this Washington State Riesling is the smartest pour on the list — bright acidity, a touch of sweetness, and it actually works with pizza in a way that a big California Cab never will.
Banfi Chianti
Most people at a pizza place will default to the Josh Cellars Cab or La Crema Pinot, but this Chianti is the one bottle that actually makes sense with the food — the bright cherry and earthy notes cut through tomato sauce and cheese without drowning it out.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
Caymus is a $70-80 retail bottle getting marked up to restaurant pricing at a casual pizza chain — you're overpaying for a wine that was never meant to sit next to a margherita pie. Save it for somewhere that can actually do it justice.
Banfi Chianti + Stone-fired pizza
Chianti and pizza is practically a textbook match — the high acidity in the Sangiovese cuts the fat from the cheese, complements the tomato base, and doesn't overpower whatever's on top. It's the one moment on this list where everything clicks.
The Bottom Line
Piesanos is a reliable pizza spot, but the wine list is phoning it in — safe labels, steep markups on the recognizable names, and zero rotation. Order the Chianti, enjoy the pizza, and keep your expectations grounded.
· Gainesville · Mediterranean / Wine Bar
Superette is the kind of place Gainesville didn't know it needed — a focused, France-leaning wine bar that takes the list seriously without taking itself too seriously. We'd send a friend here for a low-key date or a long grazing night, just don't show up expecting a 200-label deep dive.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Gainesville · Wine shop & bar
Cork It punches above its weight for a Gainesville wine bar — fair prices, a huge by-the-glass list, and at least a few genuinely interesting picks hiding among the crowd-pleasers. If you're in town and want a real glass of wine rather than a rum bucket, this is where you go.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Gainesville · Gainesville · Wine bar and bottle shop with small plates
Superette is the kind of place that shouldn't exist in a mid-sized Florida college town, and yet here it is — a genuinely thoughtful natural wine program with fair pricing and a vibe that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. Send your friends, but tell them to skip the Pinot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown Gainesville · Gainesville · French
Alpin Bistro is doing something genuinely rare in North Florida: building a focused, France-first wine list with real producers and fair pricing on the bottles that matter. The Wednesday BOGO is the best wine deal in Gainesville — show up with a friend and let the Loire Valley do its thing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Northwest Gainesville (Magnolia Parke area) · Gainesville · American café, healthy/locals-focused
One Love Café is never going to be your destination for wine, but the Wednesday half-price bottle deal at a laid-back outdoor café makes it a genuinely good call when you want something easygoing and inexpensive. Come for the vibe, stay for the deal — just don't expect anyone to talk you through the list.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Newberry Road / Oaks Mall · Gainesville · American Brewpub
BJ's is a brewhouse, full stop — the wine program is an afterthought wearing a price tag. Come for the beer, stay for the Pizookie, and save your wine curiosity for literally anywhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
· Truckee · Italian / Pizza
Zano's wine list is the restaurant equivalent of a reliable friend — it won't surprise you, but it won't let you down either. Fair prices, familiar producers, and a local wine cameo from Truckee River Winery give it just enough personality to earn a pass. If you're skiing in Truckee and need a bottle of Rombauer Chardonnay with your margherita, this is your spot.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Princeton · Italian / Pizza
LaScala's Fire Princeton offers a functional, crowd-friendly wine list that does the job without making any bold moves. The by-the-glass selection is genuinely broad and pricing stays reasonable at the lower end, but markups on recognizable names like Kim Crawford and Veuve Clicquot are steep enough to notice. Send a friend here for a casual pizza night — just point them toward the Vermentino or the Prosecco and away from the big-name bottles.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Princeton · Italian / Pizza
Nino's is almost certainly a solid neighborhood pizza spot, but the 'Wine Bar' tag is doing a lot of heavy lifting on a list this thin and this anonymous. If you're here for a slice and something to wash it down, you'll survive — but don't come expecting anything beyond the basics. Order the Lambrusco if you're feeling Italian, or just get a beer.
Grocery Store
Steep
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.