Lakeland's Little Italy Pours Bigger Than Expected
South Lakeland · Lakeland · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 6, 2026
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.
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Steep
Varietal Specific
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
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Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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