Italian Comfort With a Surprisingly Decent Cellar
· Glendale · Italian, pizza, and seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · October 12, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Pizzicata’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Pizzicata is longer than you'd expect from a neighborhood Italian spot in Glendale, and it's organized with a little personality — Bollicine, Rossi, Bianchi, and a section called Federico's Selection, which at least suggests someone thought about this. Forty-nine labels with 26 by-the-glass options is genuinely ambitious for this category. First read: pleasantly surprised.
The list leans Italian, as it should, and the bones are solid: Chianti Classico, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, La Barbera Barbera, Mirafiori Nebbiolo, and a Mazzei Poggio Badiola give you a proper tour through the Italian peninsula without getting pretentious about it. There's also a San Marzano Zinfandel (Primitivo) that bridges the gap for guests who think Sangiovese is a city. The American side — Josh Cab, Forestville House, Westmount Pinot Noir — feels a bit like filler, the kind of safety net you throw in for guests who panic at Italian labels. The Bella Vista Franciacorta is the outlier that earns the list some real credibility; most places this size wouldn't bother.
Twenty-six by-the-glass options is a genuinely strong program for a casual Italian restaurant — most neighborhood spots give you six and call it a day. Prices run $10–$20/glass, which is reasonable, and the range covers bubbles through reds without leaving you stranded. The Bella Vista Franciacorta at $20/glass is the ceiling, and the Forestville House pours at $10/glass are the floor — there's room to drink well at almost any budget.
The Bottom Line
Pizzicata is doing more with its wine list than the format demands, and the Italian-focused selection with fair pricing makes it a genuinely good option when you want something better than house red with your pizza. The Mazzei and the Nebbiolo alone put this list ahead of most competitors in the neighborhood. Send a friend here if they want honest Italian wine without the markup headache.
· Glendale · Italian and wine bar
Dolce Vino earns a Wild Card badge not for a documented deep cellar, but for being the kind of owner-run, food-forward wine bar that punches well above its strip mall address. Pricing on food runs $20–$32 for entrees, and the overall vibe suggests a kitchen and front-of-house that actually cares. We'd send a friend here for a low-key date night with the clear instruction: ask the staff what to drink, order the Osso Buco, and let the room do its thing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Prime steakhouse
Fleming's Glendale is a reliable steakhouse wine program that earns its keep on the strength of an unusually deep by-the-glass selection and a few smart international picks. Pricing is on the steeper side across the board — this is a chain steakhouse, so no surprises there — but if you know where to look (start with the Loosen Bros.), you can drink well without regret. Send a friend here if they want options; just don't expect to be surprised.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Italian
Lil' Capo isn't a wine destination — it's a pizza destination with wine available, which is exactly what it should be. If you're grabbing a pie before a Westgate event and want something in a glass that won't embarrass the food, the Italian-leaning list does its job without asking too much of you or your wallet.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Market / Bottle Shop with Food
AJ's is not a restaurant, but if you're eating in the Glendale area and want to drink well on the cheap, their wine section punches hard for a market format. The selection is thoughtful, the prices are genuinely fair, and finding Pieropan next to the prepared foods is the kind of pleasant surprise that makes us want to keep coming back.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Entertainment Restaurant
Dave & Buster's wine list exists because a liquor license requires one, not because anyone here cares. Order a cocktail, grab tokens, and save the wine night for literally anywhere else.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Gastropub
Bar Louie is a perfectly fine place to drink a beer or a cocktail, but the wine list is an afterthought dressed up in column formatting. If wine is why you're going out, go somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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