Tampa's Italian Michelin Star Drinks Like Italy
Tampa Heights · Tampa · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 21, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Rocca’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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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.
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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
Water Street · Tampa · American, French
Boulon is a reliable wine stop in Tampa's growing Water Street corridor — the list is curated enough to respect, even if it rarely surprises. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink well; just don't send the friend who's hoping to find something they've never heard of.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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The Bertani Amarone and Col d'Orcia Brunello sitting on this list are like finding a Rolex in a vending machine — impressive that they exist, but the surrounding context makes the whole thing feel absurd. Come for the pasta, drink the Chianti Classico, and lower your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Square · Bentonville · Italian
Tavola Trattoria isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it has enough going on — solid Italian depth, fair pricing, reasonable glass options — to earn your business on a date night in Bentonville. Stick to the classics and let the balcony do the rest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Central Ave · Bentonville · Italian
Sestina is doing something genuinely interesting for Bentonville — an Italian-focused, bubble-forward list with real producers and regional ambition tucked into a small but considered 26-bottle program. The red wine gap and unknown by-the-glass program hold it back from greatness, but if you're in Northwest Arkansas and want to drink better than average, this is the spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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