Primavista
Sky-high views, Italy-deep wine list
Price Hill · Cincinnati · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 26, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Primavista lands with authority — this is not a restaurant that threw together a few Pinot Grigios and called it Italian. The Italy-forward focus is clear from the jump, with serious Piedmont and Tuscany representation that matches the room's white-tablecloth ambition. It's the kind of list that rewards people who know what they're looking at, though the prices will make you feel the altitude before the wine does.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans hard into northern and central Italy, which is exactly right for a room this formal. Barolo from Marchesi di Barolo anchors the Piedmont section, and there's genuine Brunello di Montalcino presence alongside a Super Tuscan lineup that goes deeper than the usual suspects. What you won't find much of is anything outside Italy — if you want a French Burgundy or a California Cab, you're at the wrong restaurant, and honestly that's a feature not a bug. The depth is real, but so are the markups; expect to pay fine-dining prices across the board with limited relief in the mid-tier.
By the Glass
Twelve options by the glass is a respectable program for a restaurant at this price point, and the selection skews Italian as expected. We'd want to know more about rotation frequency — a sommelier on staff is a good sign that the glass pours aren't just warehouse leftovers sitting open for three days. If you're coming in without a reservation for a glass and the view, there's enough here to do that well.
Marchesi di Barolo Barolo — Unknown
Marchesi di Barolo is a reliable, well-distributed house that punches above its price point compared to more cult-status Barolo producers. At a restaurant where the prestige bottles carry serious markups, this is where you get genuine Nebbiolo structure without paying for a famous label.
Brunello di Montalcino
Most tables at a place like this drift toward Super Tuscans because the names are easier — Sassicaia, Tignanello. But the Brunello selections here deserve the attention. Sangiovese at this level, given proper aging, is one of Italy's most serious wines and tends to get overlooked by guests who aren't hunting for it.
Super Tuscans (entry-level tier)
The Super Tuscan category has become the safe corporate wine order at Italian fine dining restaurants everywhere, and the entry-level bottles in this style get marked up heavily on name recognition alone. You're paying for the brand story, not the glass.
Marchesi di Barolo Barolo + Veal Saltimbocca
Barolo's Nebbiolo tannins and high acidity cut through the richness of the prosciutto and sage butter in the Saltimbocca without bullying the veal. It's the classic Piedmont logic — big wine, delicate meat, the acidity does all the work.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Primavista is the right call when you want serious Italian wine with a Cincinnati skyline backdrop and someone on staff who actually knows the list. Just go in with your eyes open on pricing — the view and the sommelier both cost something.
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