A neighborhood Italian joint that gets wine
Westridge / Holden Road · Greensboro · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 25, 2026
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 & Retail
Tasting Room is the kind of wine bar Greensboro didn't know it needed — approachable enough for beginners, interesting enough for people who care, and free of the pretense that kills the fun. If you're in the area, skip the chain restaurant wine list and come here instead.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Friendly Center · Greensboro · Korean Fried Chicken and Asian Fusion
Bonchon Greensboro is a legitimately great spot for Korean fried chicken, and the wine list knows it's irrelevant. Come for the wings, drink the beer, and only touch the Canyon Road if it's $3 a glass.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Friendly Center / West Greensboro · Greensboro · Asian-inspired Chinese
P.F. Chang's Greensboro checks the box on wine the same way it checks every other corporate box — reliably, joylessly, and at a markup. If you're here for the food, stick to the Riesling and call it a night; the rest of the list isn't worth the deliberation.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Wendover / West Greensboro · Greensboro · Casual American steakhouse with Australian-inspired theme
We wouldn't send a friend here for the wine — we'd tell them to order a beer or a cocktail and save their wine calories for somewhere that gives a damn. The food can be fine; the wine program is an afterthought.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Friendly Center · Greensboro · Upscale Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Greensboro doesn't take risks with wine, and it doesn't need to — the list is professionally managed, properly stored, and staffed by someone who actually knows it. If you're celebrating a promotion, this works. Just don't expect to discover anything.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Greensboro · Steakhouse / Seafood
B. Christopher's is a dependable wine stop for a classic steakhouse experience — just go on a Wednesday when the bottle prices get cut in half and the math finally makes sense. If you're craving Caymus with a ribeye and an expense account, you'll be happy; if you want exploration, this isn't your room.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Buckhead · Atlanta · Italian
Cucina Baci earns its place as a reliable neighborhood Italian — the kind of spot where the wine list won't blow your mind but it won't embarrass you either. If you're going for the pizza, the pasta, and the warm room energy, order something Italian and red and let the evening do the work. We'd want a full look at the list before calling it anything more than that.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Healdsburg · Italian
Ciao Bruto is running one of the smallest and most coherent wine lists in wine country, which is either audacious or brilliant — probably both. If you want a 200-label deep-dive, go somewhere else. If you want eight smart picks at prices that won't make you wince, this is the move in Healdsburg.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Geyserville · Healdsburg · Italian
Diavola earns its Wild Card badge because it's a wood-fired pizza joint that punches well above its weight on wine — sommelier on staff, regional focus, and a setting that practically demands you order a second glass. We can't give you the bottle-by-bottle breakdown until we get eyes on a current list, but the bones here are good enough to say: don't just order a beer and move on.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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