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Italy-obsessed in the middle of Utah
Central City · Salt Lake City · Italian
Updated October 2026
Reviewed April 5, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Stanza Italian Bistro & Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into a multilevel Italian bistro in Salt Lake City with a dedicated wine bar isn't what you expect, and Stanza leans into that surprise. The list skews hard Italian — not just the boot's greatest hits, but producers most locals wouldn't recognize on a bet. It's a wine program with a point of view, which is rarer here than it should be.
Fifty-plus selections and nearly all roads lead to Italy, which is the right call for a place like this. The presence of Roncus Ribolla Gialla is the tell — that's a serious, skin-contact-adjacent white from Friuli that doesn't end up on many lists west of the Hudson. The Dolfo lineup covering Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Rosé suggests a relationship with a smaller importer rather than a big distributor just phoning it in. Gaps exist — we'd love to see more depth in southern Italy and a Nebbiolo or two — but what's here is curated with actual intention.
Specific by-the-glass counts weren't available during our research, but the Vosca Chardonnay DOC shows up as a pour option and it's a reasonable entry point into the list's Italian-first worldview. A program this focused on the old country should be rotating its glass pours to match — if they're not, that's the next thing to fix.
Vosca Chardonnay DOC — null
A DOC-designated Italian Chardonnay by the glass at a wine bar in SLC is punching above its weight class. Skip the California Chard reflex and let this one do its thing.
Roncus Ribolla Gialla
Ribolla Gialla from Roncus is a Friulian white that most diners will walk right past — which means more for you. It's textural, amber-leaning, and the kind of wine that makes you rethink what Italian whites can be.
Dolfo Merlot 2013
A 2013 Merlot showing up on a list without context or provenance explanation is a question mark. Without knowing storage history or why it's still sitting there, this is one to leave alone until you can ask someone who knows.
Dolfo Rosé 2016 + Rosemary Mascarpone Polenta
The richness of mascarpone polenta needs something with enough acid and structure to cut through it without fighting the herbs. The Dolfo Rosé's age gives it a little more weight than a young pink, making it a natural bridge to the dish's savory creaminess.
The Bottom Line
Stanza is doing something genuinely interesting with Italian wine in a market that doesn't always reward the effort. If you're tired of the same Pinot Grigio-and-Chianti circuit, this is your place — just come with questions and curiosity.
Unknown · Salt Lake City · Contemporary American
A bottle-only list that runs from $57 to $1,988, with no by-the-glass section posted. Start with the 2020 CVNE Crianza at $57/bottle or the 2013 López de Heredia at $145/bottle, and confirm today's list because it carries no print date. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Central City · Salt Lake City · Greek
A short, Greek-focused list (with one bottle from Cyprus) that is easy to scan from light to full. Start with the Skouras Moschofilero or the St. George Agiorgitiko at $15 a glass, then ask about the rotating glass; if you bring your own bottle, the list posts a $15 corkage fee that is waived when you buy a bottle in house. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Japanese and Sushi
A small wine list tucked behind a bigger sake list: 14 wines, most posted at $12 to $16 for the first number, with Veuve Clicquot at $130 on top. Start with the Simonet Blanc de Blancs or the Redhawk Riesling alongside nigiri, and ask which of the two numbers is the glass price. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Main Street Historic District · Salt Lake City · Contemporary American
A California-leaning list with glass pours from $17 to $55 and bottles that run from $60 to a $900 Opus One. Start with the $60 André Brunel Côtes du Rhône white, or go for the $185 Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir, and confirm prices because the restaurant says vintages, pricing and availability change. This unrated guide covers the posted drink list, not service, storage or markups.
The Avenues · Salt Lake City · New American and Italian-influenced wine bar and bistro
A long list organized by style and region, with two-number prices running from 8 | 40 to 19 | 97 and a $17 flight of any three by-the-glass wines on Sunday through Thursday. Start with the 8 | 40 Aichenberg Grüner Veltliner or the 11 | 53 Giraudon Aligoté, and ask which number is the glass price before you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Italian
A bin-numbered list with Italian reds up front and a 20-pour glass page behind it, judged only on what is posted. Start with the $15 Cascina Vèngore Arneis by the glass, or the $58 Simčič Pinot Grigio if you want a bottle, and confirm prices because the wine menu is linked as 9-16-26. This unrated guide covers the posted wine menu, not service, storage or markups.
· Dacula · Italian
Antonetas isn't a wine destination, and it isn't trying to be — it's a family-friendly neighborhood Italian with a wine list that covers the basics and stays out of the way. If you're after a solid glass of something red with your Lasagna in a no-fuss setting, you won't be disappointed. Just don't show up expecting to geek out over the list.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Alpharetta · Italian
Crust is a solid neighborhood Italian spot where the wine list is a supporting player, not the headliner — and that's fine. Come for the rigatoni alla vodka and garlic knots; order a glass of whatever red they're pouring and don't overthink it. We'd send a friend here for dinner without hesitation, just not for the wine list alone.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Marietta · Italian
Vespucci's isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't pretend to be — and that honesty is refreshing. The one move that earns real respect here is the Monday half-price bottle deal, which turns an ordinary weeknight into a genuinely good value. Show up on a Monday, order the Eggplant Parmigiana, grab a bottle at half price, and you've had a solid dinner without thinking too hard about it.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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