A neighborhood Italian joint that gets wine
Westridge / Holden Road · Greensboro · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 25, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Positano Italian Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Positano is short — one page, maybe two — but whoever put it together clearly knows their Italian regions. This isn't a list that was assembled by someone clicking through a distributor catalog on autopilot. There's actual intention here.
The Italian backbone is strong and geographically honest: you've got Lugana from Lombardia, Fiano and Chardonnay from Puglia, Pecorino from Abruzzo, Nebbiolo and Roero from Piemonte, Chianti from Toscana, and Amarone from Valpolicella — real regional representation that most Italian-American restaurants completely ignore. The non-Italian picks are minimal and functional: a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for the unadventurous, a California Chardonnay for the same crowd, and a French Pinot Noir to round things out. The Super Tuscan from Casalone and the Roero from Marchisio are the list's personality — they signal that someone here is paying attention. The gap is anything approaching a premium tier; there's no serious aged Italian, no Barolo, no deep cellar play.
Glass pours land between $10 and $15, which is refreshingly honest for this kind of neighborhood Italian spot. With roughly 12-16 options available by the glass across whites, sparkling/rosato, and reds, you've got real choice — not just the usual Pinot Grigio-and-Chianti dead end. The Radise Prosecco DOC and the Vignefolli Pinot Grigio as glass pours are exactly what a pre-dinner table deserves.
Roero, Marchisio, Piemonte — $58
Roero is Barolo's less famous neighbor — same Nebbiolo grape, lighter touch, earlier drinking, and a fraction of the price. Marchisio making it in Piemonte means you're getting the real thing, not a label slap. At this price point in a restaurant context, it's a genuine steal for anyone who knows what they're holding.
Lugana, Roveglia, Lombardia
Lugana is one of northern Italy's best-kept secrets — a white from Lake Garda made from Turbiana that drinks with real texture and longevity. Roveglia is a legitimate producer in the appellation. Most people at this table will order the Pinot Grigio. Don't be most people.
Chardonnay, Notes, California
A generic California Chardonnay on a list with this much Italian personality is essentially a placeholder. It's here for guests who won't budge, and that's fine — but you're at an Italian restaurant with Fiano and Lugana on the menu. There's no reason to default to this.
Nebbiolo, Tintero Elvio, Piemonte + Pasta Bolognese
Tintero Elvio makes Nebbiolo that's floral and bright but with real Piemontese grip — the kind of acidity that cuts through a rich meat sauce and makes the whole table feel smarter. If Positano does a proper Bolognese, this is the move.
The Bottom Line
Positano isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its Italian-focused list punches well above its neighborhood-restaurant weight class. Fair prices, real regional variety, and a few genuinely interesting picks make this worth ordering a bottle instead of just a cocktail.
South Elm · Greensboro · Wine bar & cheese
Lewis & Elm earns the Wild Card badge because it's the kind of unexpected neighborhood wine bar that punches well above its zip code — a sommelier-curated list leaning into Tuscany, Greece, and Sicily inside a cozy South Elm storefront is not what most people expect to find in Greensboro. We'd happily send a friend here for a flight and a cheese board, and tell them to actually listen to whatever the staff recommends. Just know that our sourced pricing detail is thin right now, so go in with curiosity and ask questions — that's the right posture for a place like this anyway.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Greensboro · New American and Wine Bar
1808 Craft & Vine is doing something quietly smart: a fully by-the-glass list at prices that don't punish curiosity, with enough international range to keep things interesting. We don't know the food, we don't know the staff, and the list isn't going to wow a Burgundy collector — but if you're in Greensboro and want to drink something you'd never order at a chain steakhouse, this is the move.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Wine and Cocktail Bar
Marjae's is doing something genuinely uncommon for a mid-size Southern city: running a wine-forward space with actual expertise behind it, at prices that won't make you wince. We'd send a friend here for a low-key date night or a Thursday tasting without hesitation — just go in ready to ask questions, because the staff seems like they actually want to answer them.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Cocktail and Wine Bar
Bitters Social House isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it doesn't pretend to be — but the pricing is genuinely fair, a couple of producer picks show real effort, and the by-the-glass setup means you can drink well without committing to a bottle. If you're in Greensboro and need a glass before or after dinner, this is a perfectly honest place to have one.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Italian Steakhouse
Giovanni's is a reliable neighborhood anchor — the room is good, the food has a loyal following, and the Italian reds give you enough to work with if you dig past the Sand Point labels. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation; we'd just steer them straight toward the Barolo or Brunello and skip the California filler.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Greensboro · Steakhouse
Fleming's Greensboro is doing more than most chain steakhouses bother to do with wine — 42 by-the-glass options and actual Alsatian whites on a Greensboro wine list deserves acknowledgment. The markups are real and the list isn't going to surprise anyone who's been to a Fleming's before, but if you're eating a bone-in ribeye and want a proper glass without guesswork, this delivers.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Dacula · Italian
Antonetas isn't a wine destination, and it isn't trying to be — it's a family-friendly neighborhood Italian with a wine list that covers the basics and stays out of the way. If you're after a solid glass of something red with your Lasagna in a no-fuss setting, you won't be disappointed. Just don't show up expecting to geek out over the list.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Alpharetta · Italian
Crust is a solid neighborhood Italian spot where the wine list is a supporting player, not the headliner — and that's fine. Come for the rigatoni alla vodka and garlic knots; order a glass of whatever red they're pouring and don't overthink it. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation, just not for the wine list alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Marietta · Italian
Vespucci's isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't pretend to be — and that honesty is refreshing. The one move that earns real respect here is the Monday half-price bottle deal, which turns an ordinary weeknight into a genuinely good value. Show up on a Monday, order the Eggplant Parmigiana, grab a bottle at half price, and you've had a solid dinner without thinking too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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