Classic Italian Dining, Wine List Stays Safe
Las Olas · Fort Lauderdale · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed February 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Timpano's wine list reads like an Italian-American greatest hits compilation. You'll find all the names you recognize from your local wine shop, presented without much fanfare. This is a list built for people who want Chianti with their chicken parm, not wine geeks hunting for obscure Etna producers.
The selection leans heavily on the Italian standards—Tuscany, Piedmont, and Veneto dominate—with a predictable supporting cast of California cabs and Napa chards. You'll find plenty of Antinori, Ruffino, and Banfi, which isn't terrible but shows zero interest in diving deeper into Italy's 20 regions. The list plays it safe enough that you could probably recite half of it without ever seeing it. Missing: any natural wines, orange wines, or anything from Southern Italy that isn't a basic Primitivo.
The by-the-glass program is functional but uninspired. Expect the usual suspects: a Pinot Grigio, a Chianti, maybe a Montepulciano. Pour sizes are generous, but rotation seems minimal—these bottles are workhorses that stay on the list year-round. Perfect if you want something drinkable without thinking too hard, less perfect if you're hoping for anything seasonal or surprising.
Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico — $48
Historic producer, reliable quality, and at least it's not marked up to oblivion like some of the Super Tuscans lurking further down
Zenato Valpolicella Superiore
Everyone orders the Amarone, but this baby brother delivers concentrated cherry fruit and spice at a quarter of the price—proof that Valpolicella doesn't need to be dried to be delicious
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Marked up to $120+ for a wine you can grab at Total Wine for $80, and it's not even what you'd pair with Italian food—this is pure wine list laziness
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre + Osso Buco
This Veronese blend has the dark fruit and structure to stand up to braised veal shank, with just enough ripasso richness to match the marrow without overwhelming the dish
✔️ The Bottom Line
Timpano delivers exactly what you'd expect: safe, recognizable Italian wines at standard restaurant markups. Nothing offensive, nothing exciting. If you're meeting your parents for Sunday dinner and want a bottle that won't spark debate, you're covered.
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Mediterranean
The Terrace Grill isn't where you go to chase down rare bottles or get your mind blown by an unexpected producer — it's where you go to drink well without overthinking it. For waterfront Mediterranean dining in Fort Lauderdale, that's a perfectly respectable offer.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian, Floridian
La Fuga earns its Wine Spectator hardware with a focused Italian-California list that does right by the food — just be prepared for steep markups on the prestige bottles. Send a friend here when they want serious Italian wine with their pasta and a view.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · Italian
Anthony's Runway 84 is a Fort Lauderdale institution that knows its audience and delivers exactly what it promises: big Napa names, old-school Italian comfort, and no surprises. Wine-forward diners may find the list a little safe, but the Italian highlights and the fresh Wine Spectator Award of Excellence signal that someone here is paying attention — even if the list isn't ready to take risks.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Ft. Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · Steak House
Steak 954 is a legitimately strong wine program for a beach hotel steakhouse — deep on the producers that matter, proper storage, and a by-the-glass count that punches above its weight. Markups are what they are at this address, but if you pick smart, this is a great place to drink wine with a serious piece of beef.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale Beach · Fort Lauderdale · French, Japanese
MAASS is the real thing — a sommelier-driven program with genuine depth, proper glassware, and staff that actually knows what's in the cellar. Markups run steep at the top end, but this is a Best of Award of Excellence list for a reason, and it earns every bit of the credential.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Fort Lauderdale · Fort Lauderdale · American, Farm to Table
Daniel's is a legitimate Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence earner — the list is deep, the heavy hitters are all here, and the room is built for serious wine drinking. The markups sting and there's no sommelier pushing you toward discovery, but if you know what you're looking for, this is one of Fort Lauderdale's best bottles-over-dinner experiences.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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