Downtown Lexington's Italian anchor with honest pours
Downtown · Lexington · Italian and American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Portofino, the old brick walls and wood floors tell you this place has been around long enough to take itself seriously. The wine list backs that up — 60 bottles, Italy and California sharing the spotlight, nothing wildly adventurous but nothing embarrassing either. It reads like a restaurant that wants wine to work hard for the food without making you do homework to order.
The list leans predictably Italian and Californian, which makes sense given the menu, but don't expect any deep dives into Piedmont or obscure Sicilian producers. You'll find the familiar faces — Ruffino, Danzante, Hacienda — doing their expected jobs. The more interesting moves are in the California whites: Massican Annia and Far Niente Chardonnay show up, suggesting someone here has at least mild ambition. Gaps exist in the Southern hemisphere and anything from Spain or the Rhône, but for Lexington, this is a respectable showing.
Twelve pours by the glass is a solid number for a restaurant this size, and the Italian whites make a strong showing — you'll find multiple Pinot Grigio options to navigate depending on how much you want to spend. The glass program feels a bit static without a clear rotation or seasonal update, but the options cover enough ground that most tables will land somewhere comfortable.
Lake Chalice Sauvignon Blanc — $32
At a 60% markup over a $20 retail bottle, this is actually playing by fair restaurant rules — and it's a clean, food-friendly pour that won't fight the pasta or the pizza. Order it without guilt.
Massican Annia
Most people scroll past anything that isn't Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio, but Massican's Annia — a California white built on Tocai Friulano, Ribolla Gialla, and Pinot Grigio — is genuinely interesting. It's the most intellectually curious bottle on the list and it belongs with the pasta menu more than anything else here.
Far Niente Chardonnay
At $149, you're paying for a name that costs $100 at retail. Far Niente is a fine wine, but a 49% markup on a bottle this visible just to signal luxury isn't where your money goes farthest on this list.
Massican Annia + Chicken Marsala
The herbal, slightly saline edge of the Annia cuts through the sweetness of the Marsala sauce in a way that a basic Chardonnay simply doesn't. It's the most thoughtful pairing on the menu if you're willing to go off-script.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Portofino is a solid downtown Lexington bet — fair pricing, a list that takes Italy seriously enough, and enough range to keep a table happy without requiring a wine degree. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, as long as they skip the Far Niente and order a second glass of the Annia.
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