Pignetti's
Central Texas hiding a serious wine program
Temple · Temple · American, Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 9, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You don't expect to open a wine list in Temple, Texas and find Sassicaia and Gaja sitting next to Stag's Leap and Opus One — but here we are. Pignetti's wears its Best of Award of Excellence credentials quietly, which somehow makes the discovery feel even better. This is a list built for people who actually drink wine, not just for optics.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 200-plus bottles deep with a clear focus on California, Italy, and France — exactly what you want under a menu of house-made pasta and filet. California gets heavy representation with the big names: Caymus, Silver Oak, Stag's Leap, and Opus One anchor the American side. Italy punches hard too, with Antinori Tignanello, Sassicaia, and serious Barolo representation from Ceretto and Gaja. France and Champagne round things out with Louis Jadot Burgundy and the expected Château producers from Bordeaux, plus Moët and Veuve Clicquot for the celebratory crowd. The gaps are minor — this is a list that earns its Wine Spectator badge year after year.
By the Glass
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass is a genuine commitment for a Central Texas restaurant of this size. Sommelier Clinton Harwell oversees the program, and the range reportedly reflects the breadth of the bottle list rather than just defaulting to grocery-store staples. Rotation details are limited, but the presence of a dedicated sommelier means the glass program isn't just an afterthought.
Louis Jadot Burgundy — $35
Jadot is reliable, widely recognized, and often the smartest buy at restaurants that over-charge for California. If Pignetti's is pricing this near retail entry, it's the move for Pinot lovers who don't want to gamble.
Ceretto Barolo
Most tables in a Texas steakhouse are reaching for the Caymus. Ceretto's Barolo is the smarter call — structured, food-friendly, and built for the veal and pasta dishes on this menu. It gets overlooked next to the flashier names, which means it's often the best deal on the list.
Moët & Chandon Champagne
Moët is fine, but it's everywhere and almost always marked up aggressively at restaurants. Unless you're popping bottles for a celebration, the value-per-dollar on Moët at a sit-down restaurant rarely makes sense when there's real wine on the list.
Antinori Tignanello + Veal Piccata
Tignanello is a Super Tuscan built on Sangiovese and Cabernet — it has the acidity to cut through the lemon-butter piccata sauce and enough structure to stand up to the veal without overwhelming it. This is the pairing that makes the meal memorable.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Pignetti's is the kind of wine program that makes you do a double-take when you remember you're in Central Texas. With a dedicated sommelier, a deep Italian and California-forward list, and a decade-plus of Wine Spectator recognition, this is an easy recommendation — wine-first.
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