Stanza Italian Bistro & Wine Bar
Italy-obsessed in the middle of Utah
Central City · Salt Lake City · Italian
Reviewed April 5, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
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.
Selection Deep Dive
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.
By the Glass
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.
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