Italy's Greatest Hits, Done Right
Little Italy · Baltimore · Italian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Updated July 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Tagliata’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Tagliata reads like a love letter to the Italian boot — Tuscany, Piedmont, Campania, Friuli all represented, no detours into Napa or New Zealand. It's focused and confident, which is exactly what you want from a restaurant that's serious about Italian food. At 100-150 bottles deep, it's not trying to be everything to everyone.
The regional backbone here is strong: Tuscany and Piedmont carry the weight, as they should in an Italian steakhouse context, but there's genuine range pulling from Northern Italy and down into Campania. The list doesn't venture much outside Italy's borders, which is a deliberate choice — and it mostly works. What's less clear is producer depth at the upper end; the entry-level pours lean on reliable workhorses like Spinelli, while bottles like the Buglioni 'Musa' Lugana show flashes of something more interesting. We'd love to see a few more off-the-beaten-path Italian regions represented — a Nerello Mascalese or a Vermentino from Sardinia would go a long way.
Twelve by-the-glass options is a respectable number for this format, spanning the $14–$28 range on the current program. The happy hour pricing on pours like the Spinelli lineup drops things down significantly, making it genuinely easy to explore without committing to a bottle. The rotation doesn't appear to change much — this is a set-it list, not a chalkboard-special situation.
Buglioni 'Musa' Lugana 2019 — $13
Lugana is one of Northern Italy's most underrated whites — made from Turbiana on the southern shores of Lake Garda — and at $13 a glass, this is a legitimate steal for a wine that retails around $25. Order it before the pasta arrives.
Colutta Friuli Venezie Giulia Sauvignon 2017
Most people walk past Friulian Sauvignon because they think they want Sancerre or New Zealand. They're wrong. Colutta's version is savory, herbal, and has actual structure — worth the $14 glass price, especially next to the crudo.
Paladin Prosecco Brut
At $6 a glass during happy hour it's fine, but at a 300% markup on a $15 retail bottle, you're paying restaurant premium for a wine that's basically a commodity. If you want bubbles, push the staff on what else is available.
Colutta Friuli Venezie Giulia Sauvignon 2017 + Crudo
The Friulian Sauvignon's bright acidity and savory herbal notes cut right through the richness of raw fish without overwhelming it — this is the pairing the list was quietly built for, even if nobody's saying it out loud.
The Bottom Line
Tagliata isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to serve Baltimore's Little Italy with an honest, Italy-first selection at prices that don't insult you. For a steakhouse dinner with a serious Italian bottle, this is a reliable call.
Clipper Mill · Baltimore · American, Farm to Table
True Chesapeake is a Wild Card in the best possible sense — a working waterfront oyster spot with a Wine Spectator-recognized list helmed by a sommelier who clearly cares. Go for the oysters, stay for the Weinbach, and don't skip the Muscadet.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Horseshoe Casino · Baltimore · Steak house, European
Gordon Ramsay Steak isn't going to surprise you, but it delivers a solid, award-backed California-and-France wine list in a setting where you'd half-expect to be handed a laminated card with three options. For a casino steakhouse in Baltimore, that's genuinely worth something.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Harbor East · Baltimore · Steak House
The Ruxton is the rare steakhouse where the wine list is a genuine reason to show up, not just a formality next to the beef. Send a friend here, tell them to skip the Caymus, and let Patrick Owens point them somewhere better.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Baltimore · Baltimore · American
Bygone is the kind of wine list that makes Baltimore dinner reservations worth planning around. The markups are real, but the depth, the sommelier, and the setting make this one of the better places to spend money on a serious bottle on the East Coast.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Little Italy · Baltimore · Italian
La Tavola isn't a wine destination, but it earns its keep as a solid neighborhood Italian with a list that at least respects where the kitchen is coming from. Order the Vermentino, enjoy the Shrimp & Calamari, and don't overthink it.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mount Vernon · Baltimore · Afghan
The Helmand isn't a wine destination, but it's a Wild Card worth betting on — a 30-year-old Afghan institution that's put enough thought into its list to make the right bottle genuinely accessible. Go for the Cigare Volant, order the lamb, and enjoy the fact that this place still exists.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Liberty/Belmont Corridor · Youngstown · Italian Steakhouse
Station Square Ristorante is the wine list Youngstown doesn't know it has — deep Italian selections, prestige California anchors, and 450+ bottles that would turn heads in any city. The markups are real and there's no dynamic specials program to soften them, but if you're willing to invest in a bottle of Barolo or a Super Tuscan, this place delivers.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Owen Ayres Court · Eau Claire · Italian Steakhouse
Johnny's is doing the most with a crowd-pleasing formula — 160 bottles, a Wine Spectator nod, and a list that won't offend anyone. Markups on the trophy bottles are hard to defend, but if you know where to look, there's a solid night of wine here for a reasonable bill.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / Cabrillo Blvd · Santa Barbara · Italian Steakhouse
Ca' Dario Steakhouse is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants serious Italian bottles with their steak without having to navigate a 300-label monster list. The markups trend steep, especially on the celebrity bottles, but the Santa Barbara Syrah and Sicilian options give value-hunters a legitimate path.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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