Tampa's Italian Michelin Star Drinks Like Italy
Tampa Heights · Tampa · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed February 21, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Rocca’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine cellar is visible from the dining room, which tells you everything you need to know about Rocca's priorities. This is a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant that takes wine as seriously as its tableside mozzarella cart, and the list reads like a sommelier's personal stash — deep Piedmont cuts, aged verticals, and obscure Italian regions most Americans can't pronounce. Markups are fair for the caliber, which is shocking given the star and the location.
The list is almost entirely Italian with a modest Champagne selection, but the Italian depth is staggering. Piedmont dominates with serious Barolo and Barbaresco producers like G.B. Burlotto, alongside unexpected gems from Colli Orientali del Friuli and rare finds like Petit Rouge from Valle d'Aosta's Grosjean. You'll find decade-old sparkling Sangiovese from Tuscany, white Trebbiano d'Abruzzo from Tiberio that drinks way above its weight, and a 1999 Ronchi di Cialli Ciallabianco that shows they're not just chasing trophy bottles. The 2011 Ridge Monte Bello is the token California nod, but everything else screams regional Italian dedication.
We don't have exact counts on glass pours, but given the restaurant's overall commitment and somm-driven program, expect a thoughtful rotation that mirrors the bottle list's Italian focus. Likely varietal-specific stems for each pour, and the staff knowledge suggests they're pouring wines that actually match the food, not just the usual Pinot Grigio safety nets. If they're putting this much effort into the cellar, the glass program isn't an afterthought.
2021 Tiberio Trebbiano d'Abruzzo Fonte Canale — $95
Cristiana Tiberio makes some of Italy's most structured, age-worthy Trebbiano — this drinks like white Burgundy at half the price, and pairs perfectly with the crudo and mozzarella program
Grosjean Petit Rouge
Valle d'Aosta is Italy's smallest wine region, and Petit Rouge is its hidden red grape — light, Alpine, savory, and basically unknown outside the region. Perfect with lighter Italian fare when you want red but not power
2011 Ridge Monte Bello
It's a fantastic wine, but you're in a Michelin-starred Italian restaurant with one of Tampa's deepest Italian cellars — save the Napa Cab blend for literally anywhere else and go full Italy here
2017 G.B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero + Bistecca (Akaushi Wagyu Striploin)
Burlotto makes classic, structured Barolo that can handle serious beef — the Monvigliero cru has the tannin and acidity to cut through Wagyu fat while the wine's rose petal aromatics elevate the char
The Bottom Line
Rocca is doing what every Michelin-starred restaurant should but most don't — building a wine program that's as thoughtful and regionally focused as the food. Fair markups, deep Italian selection, knowledgeable staff, and a cellar you can actually see. Send your wine-nerd friends here and watch them geek out.
Water Street · Tampa · Seafood, Steakhouse
Driftlight is doing something real here — a dedicated sommelier, a properly sized list, and a Wine Spectator credential earned in its first year of eligibility. Pricing will run hotel-restaurant steep, but if you're eating on Tampa's Water Street and want a bottle that was actually chosen by someone who cares, this is your best bet in the neighborhood.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Tampa · Steakhouse
Bern's is a legend for a reason, and even this sparkling-focused slice of its list shows a house that genuinely cares about what's in the glass. The grower Champagne presence alone makes it worth a visit — just steer clear of the Korbel section and spend a few extra dollars where it counts.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Proper
Tampa · Tampa · American
The Rez Grill isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's doing the casino steakhouse thing better than it has any obligation to — a real sommelier, a Thursday half-price night, and a list that knows its lane. Come for the ribeye, order the Jordan, and leave before you hit the slots.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
SoHo · Tampa · American, Seasonal
Élevage is the kind of place that does California wine correctly without doing anything unexpected with it — the list is dependable, the setting earns it, and the Wine Spectator nod is deserved. Send a friend here if they love Napa Cab and a good steak; redirect the wine geeks to somewhere with more range.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Shore · Tampa · American, Steakhouse
Union delivers a reliable, California-heavy wine list that makes sense for a buzzy Tampa steakhouse with rooftop ambitions — just don't come looking for surprises. Send a client here; take a wine-curious friend somewhere else.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Tampa · Tampa · Seafood, Floridian
Ulele is a great restaurant that happens to have a competent wine list — not a wine destination that happens to serve great food. If you're in town for the waterfront, the smoked mullet dip, and a solid glass of California Chardonnay, you'll leave happy; just don't expect the list to keep up with the ambition of the kitchen. Wednesday's half-price wine night is genuinely worth planning around.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
SoHo · New York · Italian
A long bottle list with Italian, Burgundy and Champagne sections, fronted by a 22-wine glass page. For a glass, try the Skerk Orange Wine from Friuli at 25/95, and for a bottle on a lighter budget, the Volpaia Vermentino at 60; upstairs in the café, the labeled list pours Palistorti di Valgiano's orange Tuscan blend at Glass $22. Confirm prices before you order, because the site's Upstairs Café dinner menu and the beverage PDF do not match. This unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Locust Point · Baltimore · Italian
An Italian list that leads with Campania, then works region by region through the rest of Italy. Start with the La Passera Greco di Tufo at 50 for white or the Terredora Aglianico at 48 for red, and if you want Chianti, the Banfi Riserva is 45. Prices come from the wine list linked as "Wine List 24" and post no unit, so confirm what is available. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
· Naperville · Italian
Piccolo Buco is a Cooper's Hawk restaurant wearing Italian clothes, and the wine list makes no attempt to hide that. If you're already a Cooper's Hawk member and enjoy their wines, this is a comfortable, predictable experience with fair glass pricing and decent variety within the brand. If you came hoping for a Sicilian white or a Piedmontese red to go with your pasta, you're in the wrong place — order a cocktail.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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