Casino fine dining that actually takes wine seriously
East Reno · Reno · Fine Dining · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Romanza, the wine list feels like the room itself — heavy, intentional, and dressed for the occasion. For a resort casino in Reno, this is not what you expect, and that surprise is genuinely welcome. The cellar is real, the selections are curated, and someone here clearly cares.
The list runs 150-250 labels deep with a clear lean into California and Italian heavyweights — Caymus, Opus One, Stag's Leap, and Far Niente anchor the domestic side, while Louis Jadot's Puligny-Montrachet gives the French contingent some credibility. The Tuscany focus makes sense given the Italian fine dining positioning, and it shows real intent rather than a random assemblage. That said, don't come looking for natural wine, obscure Rhône producers, or anything that requires explanation — this list is built for confidence buyers, not adventurers. Gaps in value-tier options and Southern Italian or Spanish representation leave some range on the table.
The by-the-glass program clocks in at 15-25 options, which is respectable for a resort property and gives you room to explore without committing to a bottle. Quality skews toward recognizable names rather than interesting pours, so you're more likely to find a safe Chardonnay than anything that makes you lean forward. Rotation appears minimal — this reads like a list that changes with the season at best.
Louis Jadot Puligny-Montrachet — null
Puligny-Montrachet from a reliable Jadot négociant is the most interesting bottle on this list relative to what you'd pay elsewhere. In a lineup dominated by California cult bottles with casino markups, this is where the real drinking is.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
Stag's Leap gets overshadowed by Opus One and Caymus in conversations like this, but it's arguably the most historically interesting Cab on the list — the producer that put Napa on the map in 1976. Most tables walk past it for the flashier names and miss the point entirely.
Opus One
Opus One is always a markup magnet, and a resort casino is the last place you want to buy it. You're paying a premium on a premium — whatever they're charging here, you can find it closer to retail elsewhere. Order it at home, not here.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon + Prime Beef Tenderloin
Caymus is built for exactly this moment — it's rich, ripe, and forgiving, and it meets the tenderloin's buttery weight without either one flinching. Not the most cerebral pairing on paper, but it works every time and the table will be happy.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Romanza punches above its casino-floor weight class with a real wine program, proper storage, and staff that can actually talk through the list. Just know you're paying resort prices, so pick your spots carefully and let the Puligny do the work.
Downtown / Casino Row · Reno · Upscale American Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Reno is a reliable, well-run steakhouse wine program inside a casino resort — competent glassware, proper storage, and a sommelier who knows the list cold. Just don't come here looking for discovery; come here knowing exactly what you want and prepared to pay full freight for it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Reno · American small plates, tapas-style, steakhouse-influenced
Sierra St. Kitchen punches above its weight for downtown Reno — the list has real producers, genuine range, and a sommelier keeping it honest. Just know the markups are real, and steer toward the Old World and Pacific Northwest bottles where the value hides.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Reno · Italian – Tuscan & Coastal
Calafuria isn't trying to be a destination wine list — it's trying to be the right wine list for this restaurant, and it mostly succeeds. Send your friends here if they want something Italian that doesn't feel phoned in; just don't expect fireworks beyond the bottle.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Northwest Reno · Reno · Health-focused American café with organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free and paleo options
Great Full Gardens isn't a wine destination and it doesn't pretend to be — but for a health-focused café in Northwest Reno, the glass prices are honest and the pours are solid enough to enjoy alongside the food. Send a friend here for lunch, just don't tell them to order the Chardonnay.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · Reno · New American / Fine Dining
LuLou's wine list won't win any awards, but it won't ruin your dinner either — and in a city where restaurant wine programs often feel like an afterthought, that counts for something. Send a friend here for a solid meal with a bottle of Jordan; just don't expect to discover anything new.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Eldorado Resort Casino · Reno · Californian / Steakhouse
Roxy isn't a destination wine program — it's a competent casino steakhouse list with the right bottles for the room. Show up on a Wednesday, order the Jordan at half price, and you'll leave happy.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · El Paso · Fine Dining
Cafe Central is running a world-class wine program in a city that most wine people wouldn't put on their radar — and the pricing is fair enough that you can actually drink at the level this list deserves. If you're passing through El Paso, this is a genuine destination worth building a trip around.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Duke West Campus · Durham · Fine Dining
Fairview is a reliable, well-run hotel wine program that does its job — it won't embarrass you on a date night or a client dinner, but it's not the reason to make the drive. Come for the occasion, drink the Jordan, and leave the exploration for another night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Hartford · Hartford · Fine Dining
The Foundry is doing something rare in Connecticut: running a genuinely ambitious, globally curious wine list in a room that looks the part and has the staff to back it up. Send your friends here without hesitation — and tell them to skip the safe choices.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.