Lakeland's Little Italy Pours Bigger Than Expected
South Lakeland · Lakeland · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 6, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Scarpa's Italian’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Scarpa's, the wine list feels like it was put together by someone who actually loves Italian wine — not just someone who needed to fill a page. The Italy-first focus is immediately apparent, and for a neighborhood spot in South Lakeland, that's a genuine surprise. It's not a sprawling cellar, but there's clear intent behind every section.
The list leans hard into Tuscany, anchored by a couple of Brunello di Montalcino bottles that signal this kitchen takes wine seriously. Gaja's Ca' Marcanda from Bolgheri is the kind of name that makes you do a double-take on a menu at this price point — it's a legitimate producer with a serious reputation. Italian sparkling and whites round out the Old World presence, while a Napa Valley dessert wine provides a domestic bookend. The gaps are real — no Piedmont to speak of beyond the Brunello region, and the non-Italian world is essentially a footnote — but the focus feels earned rather than lazy.
Twenty-six by-the-glass options is a genuinely impressive number for a restaurant this size, and it suggests they're moving enough wine to keep pours fresh. The range covers sparkling through dessert, which means you can build an entire evening's progression without committing to a bottle. We'd love to see a bit more transparency on which specific pours are available on a given night, but the volume alone earns respect.
Scarpa's Special Selection Brunello di Montalcino — $82
Yes, the markup is real — but a Brunello di Montalcino at $82 in a restaurant setting, especially one with the 'Special Selection' designation, still undercuts what you'd pay at most fine dining spots. If you're going to splurge on a bottle tonight, this is the one that makes the most sense at this table.
Dolce Late Harvest Wine 375ml 2016, Napa Valley
Most people at an Italian restaurant will skip the dessert wine entirely, and that's a mistake here. The 2016 Dolce from Napa is a serious late harvest wine — made by the Far Niente team — and a half-bottle format means you're not committing to a full pour situation. It's easy to overlook at the bottom of the menu, which is exactly why you shouldn't.
Camigliano Organic Brunello di Montalcino
At $95 a bottle on a 90% markup over retail, this is the one place the list gets a little grabby. The wine is perfectly fine, but you're paying a meaningful premium over the Scarpa's Special Selection Brunello for a bottle that doesn't clearly outperform it. Save the extra $13 and stick with their house selection.
Scarpa's Special Selection Brunello di Montalcino + Sausage & Peppers
Brunello's high acidity and firm tannins cut right through the fat of the sausage while the fruit stands up to the sweetness of the peppers. It's a classic Tuscan red meeting a classic Italian-American plate — sometimes the obvious move is the right one.
The Bottom Line
Scarpa's punches well above its weight for a family-owned Italian spot in Lakeland — the Tuscany focus is genuine and the BTG count is legitimately impressive. The markups will sting if you're paying close attention, but the intent behind this list is hard to argue with.
· 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
· West Palm Beach · Italian
Sant Ambroeus Palm Beach is a reliable, if unambitious, wine experience — Italy and France, done cleanly, priced for Royal Poinciana Way. If you're here for the scene, the truffle pizza, and a glass of something Italian and uncomplicated, it delivers. Just don't come looking for value or discovery.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Newark · Italian
Five Corners has stocked four respectable Italian reds and essentially stopped there. Without pricing, pour options, or a list that can accommodate the full table, it's hard to call this a wine program — it's more like a wine shelf. Come for the Italian cooking; manage your expectations on the wine side.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Decatur · Decatur · Italian
Sotto Sotto is a genuinely Italian wine list in a city that usually settles for Italian-American approximations — the Timorasso, the Lambrusco di Sorbara, the Franciacorta all signal real intent. The glass program is accessible, markups are reasonable, and the bubbles section alone justifies a visit. If you want depth across all of Italy, you'll hit the edges fast at 68 labels, but what's here is well-chosen. Send a friend who likes to drink something they've never heard of.
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
