Casino Italian That Actually Knows Wine
Casino District · Reno · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 29, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Romanza’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Romanza, the wine list lands with some real weight — 150-plus bottles in a casino hotel restaurant is not a given, and they've clearly put thought into leaning Italian. The room is opulent in that Vegas-adjacent way, which usually signals a list more interested in trophy bottles than actual value, and that instinct isn't entirely wrong here.
The Italian anchor is genuine: Tuscany gets proper attention, and the presence of Antinori's Tignanello signals someone with actual taste made at least a few selections. That said, the California section leans on familiar names — Caymus and Stag's Leap aren't exactly adventurous picks, though they'll keep the table happy. The list has breadth but not a lot of depth outside the expected regions, and you won't find much in the way of Southern Italian, Piedmontese, or anything that requires explanation. It's a wine list that respects Italian cuisine without fully committing to exploring it.
The by-the-glass program runs 15 to 25 options, which is a reasonable spread for a restaurant of this size and setting. Meiomi Pinot Noir showing up on the glass list tells you the program is calibrated for casual casino diners more than wine enthusiasts — it's approachable, but it's not inspiring. Rotation appears minimal; this feels like a list that gets reviewed annually, not seasonally.
Antinori Tignanello — null
If you're going to spend money at a casino Italian spot, spend it here. Tignanello is a Super Tuscan benchmark — Sangiovese-led with Cabernet in the blend — and it's one of the few bottles on this list that actually belongs in a serious cellar. Worth every dollar if priced within reason.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay
Most people at a table like this will reach for red, which means the Stag's Leap Chardonnay gets overlooked. It's a restrained, well-made California white from a house with real credibility — much better than the usual Chardonnay suspects at this price tier.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Grocery store Pinot at restaurant markup inside a casino resort. The math doesn't work. You can grab this at any Total Wine on the way home for under $20 — no reason to pay three times that here.
Antinori Tignanello + Osso Buco
Tignanello's Sangiovese backbone and firm tannins are built for braised meat. The Osso Buco's rich, slow-cooked veal and gremolata hold up against the wine's structure without either one bulldozing the other — classic Tuscan table logic.
The Bottom Line
Romanza is the best wine list you're likely to find inside a Reno casino, which is a real compliment even if it's a narrow category. The markups will sting and the by-the-glass program won't blow your mind, but order the Tignanello, get the Osso Buco, and you've had a genuinely good night.
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
· Jersey City · Italian
Porto by Antonio delivers a credible Italian-forward wine list with genuine high points — Promis, Barbaresco, Brunello — and a by-the-glass program that actually gives people choices. Markups get aggressive at the top, and the Caymus pricing is frankly embarrassing, but if you stick to the Italian core and the smart mid-range picks, you'll drink well here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Toledo · Italian
Zia's isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it's trying harder than most Italian spots in Toledo — fair prices, a mostly by-the-glass program, and enough Italian producers to keep things honest. Go for the Antinori, order the Riesling to impress your date, and leave Castle Rock for the grocery run.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· McKinney · Italian
Bravo! is a competent chain wine program — wide by-the-glass selection, a few Italian producers worth noting, and prices that are steep but not insulting. You're not coming here for the wine list, but you won't regret ordering either.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp