Rena's Italian Fishery and Grill
Italy-first wine list done right in Alpharetta
Alpharetta · Alpharetta · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 17, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Rena's reads like someone actually cares about Italy — not just the tourist-trap Pinot Grigio version of it, but the real stuff. You're greeted with names like Gaja, Antinori, and Banfi before you've even looked at the food menu, which sets a certain expectation. For a relatively new restaurant in downtown Alpharetta, this is a confident opening move.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 80-120 bottles and stays firmly planted in Italian territory, which is exactly the right call given the kitchen concept. You've got serious representation across the north — Barbaresco from Gaja, Barolo from Marchesi di Barolo, Amarone from Masi — alongside Tuscan heavyweights like Tignanello and Banfi's Brunello. The gaps show up when you push beyond Italy: the rest of the world feels like an afterthought, which is fine if you're here for the pasta and fish. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence in 2024, and the Italian depth earns it.
By the Glass
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass at $10-$18 is a respectable range for suburban Atlanta, and the pricing doesn't feel punitive. Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is the crowd-pleaser anchor you'd expect, but the list has enough range to give you options beyond the obvious. We'd like to see more rotation here — right now it reads more like a permanent fixture than a living program.
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva — $45
Chianti Classico Riserva from Ruffino punches above its weight at this price point — Sangiovese-driven, food-friendly, and capable of standing up to the bolder dishes on the menu without costing you a second mortgage.
Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio
Most tables reflexively order Santa Margherita, but Livio Felluga's Pinot Grigio from Friuli is a cut above — more texture, more complexity, and it actually tastes like a wine someone thought about rather than a brand someone recognized.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Look, it's not bad wine — it's just $22 at Costco and whatever they're charging here isn't the revelation it was in 1985. With Livio Felluga on the same list, there's no reason to default to the marketing budget.
Masi Amarone della Valpolicella + Fregola with Seared Scallops
Amarone's richness and dried-fruit depth against the nutty, toasted fregola and the caramelized crust on seared scallops is a genuinely compelling contrast — big wine, big flavors, and the dish has enough body to hold its own.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Rena's is a reliable Italian wine destination for Alpharetta — focused, fairly priced, and serious enough about Italy to earn its Wine Spectator credential. If you're in the neighborhood and want a bottle that actually matches the food, this is your spot.
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