An Italian grocer that actually knows wine
Buckhead · Atlanta · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Storico Fresco’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Storico Fresco reads like it was curated by someone who actually spent time in Emilia-Romagna and didn't just order from a distributor catalog. Forty-six labels isn't a lot, but the commitment to a single Italian producer — Enio Ottaviani Winery — as the backbone of the program tells you this place has a point of view. That's rarer than it should be in Buckhead.
The list leans heavily on Enio Ottaviani, a small winery out of Rimini on the Adriatic coast, and that focus pays off — you get real range within that single producer, from the Passo Bianco white to the Clemente Primo red, plus a Riesling that most Italian-leaning lists wouldn't touch. Beyond the Ottaviani anchor, there are smart supporting players: Fontanabianca Barbaresco, a Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo, Cafaggio Chianti Classico, and Planeta's Cerasuolo di Vittoria rounding out the southern Italy slot. The 'Almost Zero Proof Wine' section is a genuine nod to a real need, not just a trend grab. Gaps exist — no Soave, no Vermentino, limited Tuscany whites — but what's here is intentional.
Thirty-three by-the-glass options on a 46-bottle list is an unusually high ratio, which means almost everything is available by the glass — a serious win if you want to explore the Ottaviani lineup without committing to a bottle. Prices run $11–$29 per glass, which is reasonable for Buckhead. The rotation appears static rather than dynamic, but the sheer breadth of the glass program softens that.
Enio Ottaviani Winery Passo Rosso — $13/glass (est.)
A Sangiovese-based red from Rimini that drinks with more character than anything at this price point in the Atlanta market. You're essentially getting an obscure Adriatic coast red that most Atlanta restaurants don't stock at all, let alone by the glass.
Enio Ottaviani Winery Riesling
An Italian Riesling from a producer most people haven't heard of is exactly the kind of oddball that gets passed over for the Chianti. Don't let it. Riesling from Emilia-Romagna is a minor regional tradition and worth the curiosity order.
Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo
At the top of the price range on a list like this, the Barolo feels like a crowd-pleaser safety pick more than a considered choice. Cordero di Montezemolo is perfectly respectable, but it's the kind of name that gets ordered by people who want to say they had Barolo. The Ottaviani bottles offer more interesting drinking per dollar.
Cafaggio Chianti Classico + House-made pasta with ragù
Cafaggio's Chianti Classico has the acid and earthy cherry character that cuts through a meat-heavy ragù without fighting it. It's a textbook central Italian match, and on a list this Italian-focused, it's the call that actually makes sense.
The Bottom Line
Storico Fresco earns its Wild Card badge by building a coherent, Italy-first wine program around a single under-the-radar producer and making almost all of it available by the glass. It's not deep, but it's honest — and in Buckhead, that's genuinely surprising.
· Atlanta · Italian bakery and cafe
Rosetta Bakery has no business having a wine list this considered. Eight labels, nearly all pourable by the glass, priced so fairly it almost seems like a mistake — and anchored by producers like Monchiero Carbone and Antica Fratta that would look at home on a dedicated wine bar menu. If you're nearby and want a glass of something genuinely Italian and genuinely good without paying downtown wine bar prices, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Smyrna · Atlanta · New American
Muss & Turner's isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and that honesty is oddly refreshing. If you're in Smyrna on a Tuesday, the reported wine-focused night is reason enough to show up early, grab a seat, and let the shrimp and grits do the heavy lifting while you figure out what's on the list.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American
Soho's wine list is built for people who already know what they like — California reds, recognizable labels, no curveballs. The markup is real (Faust at $132/bottle and Moët at $138 are tough to justify), but the by-the-glass depth gives you flexibility to stay in a reasonable range. If you're here for the food and want a no-drama pour, you'll find it — just don't come expecting discovery.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · French
St. John's is running a lean, all-by-the-glass program that's more considered than it looks at first glance — a Vouvray, a Barolo, and an aged Languedoc Syrah on a 14-bottle list isn't an accident. The lack of bottle service is a real limitation for a French dinner, but if you're grazing through courses and glasses, the pricing stays honest. Worth a visit if you want something beyond the usual steakhouse pour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Buckhead · Atlanta · French-American
St. John has the bones of a place worth drinking well at — a thoughtful regional spread, a dining room that takes itself seriously, and a menu built for wine-friendly food. But without confirmed list details or pricing, we can't promise the experience lives up to the setup. Go for the Welsh Rarebit and the mood, and ask your server what they're excited about on the list — that answer alone will tell you what kind of night you're in for.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Southern breakfast and lunch
Bantam + Biddy is a perfectly decent brunch spot that simply has no interest in wine — and that's fine, but you should know going in. If your table is splitting Mimosas and splitting biscuits, great. If you want an actual glass of wine with your eggs, eat somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Johns Creek · Italian
Pasta Vino isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a neighborhood Italian with a list that actually makes sense for the room. Pricing is fair across the board, the by-the-glass program gives you real options, and the Italian selections (especially the Chianti duo and the Lugana) show some genuine thought. Send a friend here for dinner knowing they'll drink well without overpaying.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Arlington · Italian
Piccolo Mondo punches above its Arlington zip code with a genuinely Italy-forward wine list that includes some names worth ordering. We'd love to see pricing and by-the-glass details more clearly published — and without knowing the markups, we can't fully endorse the value play — but the producer selection alone puts this ahead of most neighborhood Italian spots in the DFW suburbs. If you're going, head straight for the Tuscan reds and don't look back.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· 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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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