Argentina Meets Italy, Markups Meet Reality
North Loop / Warehouse District · Minneapolis · Modern Argentinian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Porzana feels like the restaurant itself — polished, confident, and leaning hard into its Argentine identity. You open it expecting a wall of Malbec and instead find a genuinely international card with real Italian depth and a Champagne section that earns its spot. It's more thoughtful than most steakhouses in this zip code.
Argentina anchors the list as it should, with Uco Valley reds and Malbec front and center, but the real surprise is the Italian contingent — Giacomo Fenocchio's Barolo 'Bussia' from the 2021 vintage is a serious bottle that signals someone here is paying attention. Abruzzo shows up via the Castorani Montepulciano Riserva, and France gets its due with Champagne and Sancerre representation. The Laberinto 'Cenizas' Mezcla Tinta — a Merlot/Cab blend out of Maule Valley — adds an interesting Chilean wrinkle to what is otherwise a Mendoza-heavy South American section. Gaps exist: we'd love more depth in Patagonia and Chacras de Coria, and Burgundy is notably thin for a restaurant at this price point.
Glass pours run from $8.50 to $24, which is a reasonable spread for a North Loop room charging $40–$80+ for an entree. The Laberinto 'Cenizas' anchors the entry tier at $8.50 for a 3oz pour, scaling to $25.50 for 9oz — a structured pour system we respect. We'd like to see more rotation and a clearer by-the-glass identity, but what's here covers the bases.
Altocedro Cabernet Sauvignon, Uco Valley, Argentina 2022 — Unknown (bottle)
Uco Valley Cab at a wood-fire steakhouse is the play — the altitude-driven acidity and dark fruit cut through char without flinching. Altocedro is a legit producer doing serious work in Mendoza's cooler pockets, and this is the kind of bottle that earns its place on a steak menu.
Castorani Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Riserva 2020
Everyone's ordering Malbec, and that's fine, but the Castorani Riserva is the sleeper. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo at the Riserva level brings serious tannic structure and dark fruit that can stand up to a prime Argentine cut just as well as anything from Mendoza — and it'll be the most interesting thing at your table.
Laberinto 'Cenizas' Mezcla Tinta, Maule Valley 2023
At $68 a bottle for something retailing around $18, you're paying a near 4x markup on a pleasant but unremarkable Merlot/Cab blend. It's a fine pour at the glass level if you're keeping it casual, but don't let it anchor your bottle order — there's better juice on this list for the money.
Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo 'Bussia', Piedmont, Italy 2021 + Prime Argentinian steak
Nebbiolo's high tannin and laser acidity were basically engineered for beef fat. The 'Bussia' cru brings enough structure to match a prime Argentine cut but enough elegance to not steamroll it — this is the move if you're splurging on steak and want the wine to keep pace.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Porzana punches above its class for a Minneapolis steakhouse — the Italian and Argentine selections show genuine curation, and the Fenocchio Barolo alone justifies a serious wine order. Just go in with eyes open on markups and skip the entry-level bottles unless you're pouring by the glass.
Lowry Hill · Minneapolis · Steakhouse and Wood-Fired Pizza
Burch has the bones of a genuinely great wine program — knowledgeable staff, proper storage, and a list that respects the classics — but the pricing strategy on the mid-tier and entry-level bottles will test your patience. Go big or go home: the value-to-quality ratio only really clicks once you're spending $200+.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown / North Loop · Minneapolis · New American / Contemporary American
112 Eatery's wine list is punching well above its weight for a Minneapolis neighborhood bistro, with a genuinely distinctive Old World focus and producers that belong on serious lists anywhere in the country. The markups sting on a few bottles, but the curation earns enough goodwill to keep us coming back.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Uptown · Minneapolis · French Bistro
Barbette is a wine list built by someone who actually drinks wine and wants you to as well — it's small, French, and surprisingly legit for a neighborhood bistro in Uptown. If you're a natural wine fan or just someone who wants good Beaujolais with steak frites, send your friends here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Loring Park · Minneapolis · New American
Cafe Lurcat is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in one of Minneapolis's prettiest dining rooms — just know you're paying a premium for the address and the ambiance. Ask the sommelier for help navigating the list and you'll drink well; go on autopilot and order the obvious Napa Cab and you'll leave having spent more than you should have.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Southwest Minneapolis (Fulton) · Minneapolis · Italian, fresh housemade pasta
Broders' Pasta Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's exactly the kind of neighborhood spot that gets the wine list right by staying in its lane. Fair prices, Italian focus, solid glass pours — bring a friend who orders by the bottle and you're in good shape.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Linden Hills · Minneapolis · Contemporary Italian Restaurant and Wine Bar
Terzo is the best Italian wine list in Minneapolis and genuinely competes with programs in much larger cities — the depth, the pricing, and the staff all earn it. Yes, send your friends here for wine, and tell them to skip the obvious Tuscan reds and go exploring.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
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