White Tablecloths, Italian Roots, Serious Bottles
South Lakeland · Lakeland · Italian Chef's Table · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 6, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Scarpa's Italian Chef's Table’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Scarpa's arrives with some real ambition — this isn't the laminated two-pager you get at most strip-mall Italian spots. There's a clear Italian backbone here, with Tuscany and the north leading the charge, and a few international detours that keep things honest.
Italy does the heavy lifting, as it should at a place called Scarpa's. Tuscany shows up strong with a house-selected Brunello di Montalcino at $82 and the Tignanello 2021 at $270 for those ready to spend. Lombardy gets a nod via the Ferghettina Franciacorta Brut Milledi 2018 — a serious sparkling wine that most Floridians will walk right past. The Veneto entry, Cantina di Gambellara's 'iBalsalti' Soave, is a smart inclusion that hints at someone on staff who's paying attention. A Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough rounds out the international reach, though it feels a little like an obligation pick.
Glass pour data is limited, but the Saracco Moscato d'Asti is available by the glass at $11.50 — a reasonable entry point for something sweet and sessionable. We'd love to see more by-the-glass options rotating through the Italian regions the bottle list explores, but what's there is at least priced accessibly.
Scarpa's Special Selection Brunello di Montalcino — $82
A properly sourced Brunello at $82 is genuinely hard to find at a restaurant. This is the pick — it matches the menu, it matches the room, and it won't leave you doing painful math on the drive home.
Ferghettina Franciacorta Brut Milledi 2018
Franciacorta is Italy's answer to Champagne and most diners still don't know it exists. The Ferghettina is a serious producer, the 2018 is a great vintage for the region, and it will almost certainly be the least-ordered bottle on the table — which means your server will probably love you for asking.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
At $140 a bottle, you're paying a significant premium for a wine that's become every steakhouse's default crowd-pleaser. You're at an Italian restaurant with a Brunello on the list for $82. There's no world in which this is the right call.
Cantina di Gambellara 'iBalsalti' Soave + Lobster Ravioli
Soave's lean mineral edge and quiet stone fruit cut right through the richness of a butter-sauced lobster ravioli without bullying the delicate filling. It's a classic Veneto move and it works every time.
The Bottom Line
Scarpa's is doing more with wine than most of Lakeland, and the Italian selections show genuine care. Markups on the prestige bottles get steep fast, but lean toward the house Brunello and the overlooked Italian producers and you'll eat and drink well.
· Lakeland · Italian
The Macaroni Grill Lakeland wine list is functional the way a vending machine is functional — it dispenses what you ask for without fuss or personality. The by-the-glass breadth gives casual drinkers options, but the markups on several bottles and the complete absence of anything interesting or Italian-forward make this a list you tolerate rather than enjoy. Order the Lambrusco or the Trapiche Malbec and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Steakhouse
Texas Cattle Company isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list doesn't pretend otherwise — but fair pricing across 17 glass pours and a genuine quality tier anchored by Halter Ranch Cab make this a reliable place to drink reasonably well with your steak. If you're with a group that just wants something cold and red without a lecture, this list does its job.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Lakeland · Bistro / European
Bay Street Bistro earns its reputation as Lakeland's go-to for a romantic, upscale dinner — the food clearly punches above the city's weight class. The wine program, however, doesn't match that ambition: pricing skews steep relative to what's on offer, and there's no evidence of the curation or deals you'd want alongside a $40 entrée. Go for the Beef Wellington, but do your homework on the wine list before you commit to a bottle.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Italian
Carrabba's Lakeland is a place you drink wine at, not a place you go to drink wine. If you're here, order the cheapest bottle that sounds like Italy and focus on the food.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Seafood / New Orleans-inspired
Harry's Lakeland is a dependable pit stop — fair prices, an absurdly generous by-the-glass program, and a list that won't intimidate anyone. It's not a destination for wine, but it's also not going to ruin your dinner.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lakeland · Food Hall (Multi-Concept)
The Joinery is a Wild Card in the best sense: a food hall that actually thought about its wine program, priced it fairly, and threw in a Greek white and some non-alcoholic options for good measure. Don't come here expecting a deep list, but do come expecting to drink something decent without getting gouged.
Small but Thoughtful
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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