Tuscany Comes to Portsmouth, No Passport Needed
Downtown · Portsmouth · Upscale Italian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 24, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Toscana Italian Chop House & Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Toscana announces its intentions immediately — this is a Tuscan-forward room and it's not apologizing for it. Super Tuscans, Brunello, Barolo, and a house estate bottling all land above the fold. The setting, a polished steakhouse in historic downtown Portsmouth, makes the wine program feel like it belongs rather than like an afterthought.
The Italian spine here is genuine. Brancaia 'Il Blu' and Banfi 'Askia' represent the Super Tuscan category with real credibility — these aren't filler bottles, they're serious Sangiovese-forward blends with bottle age potential. Unnamed Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino round out the northern and central Italian pillars, though without producer specificity on those two it's hard to know exactly what you're getting. Jordan Cabernet holds down the California flag almost singlehandedly, which tells you this list is Italy-or-bust by design. The house 'Toscana' estate Super Tuscan — 70% Sangiovese, 15% Cabernet, 15% Syrah from organic estate fruit — is a smart anchor for guests who want to stay on theme without committing to a triple-digit bottle.
The by-the-glass program is estimated at 12–20 options, which is solid for a room this size and focus. Glass pours in the $14–$22 range are honest for Portsmouth's market, though there's no evidence of active rotation or a curated 'tonight's picks' approach that would elevate it. You'll find something good here, but don't expect the kind of rotating slate that keeps regulars surprised.
Toscana Estate Super Tuscan — $55–$70 (estimated bottle)
Organic estate fruit, a legitimate Sangiovese-led blend, and the house's own name on the label — if this is priced anywhere near the low end of the bottle range, it's the move. Purpose-built for the menu and probably the most fairly marked-up wine on the list.
Banfi 'Askia' Super Tuscan
Banfi's Askia doesn't get the attention of their Brunello but it punches above its price point in quality. Most guests reach for the familiar California names — the Askia rewards anyone willing to stay Italian and go a level deeper.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon
Jordan is a perfectly fine wine. It's also the kind of bottle that gets marked up to maximum on every steakhouse list in America. At restaurant pricing in a room like this, you're paying a premium for name recognition you could skip entirely by staying on the Italian side of the list, where the value is actually hiding.
Brancaia 'Il Blu' + Dry-aged steak
Il Blu is a Sangiovese-Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend with enough structure and dark fruit to go toe-to-toe with dry-aged beef. The wine's acidity cuts through the fat, the tannins are present but not aggressive, and the whole combination tastes like the reason this place exists.
The Bottom Line
Toscana is a reliable bet for Italian wine in a steakhouse format — the Tuscan focus is genuine, a few bottles are genuinely exciting, and the room earns its positioning. Pricing leans steep across the board, so come with a strategy: go Italian, skip the California crowd-pleasers, and you'll eat and drink well.
· Portsmouth · Upscale New American
Salt Kitchen & Bar has the bones of a resort wine list built to move recognizable bottles at comfortable margins — not to educate, excite, or reward the curious drinker. If you're staying at Wentworth by the Sea and want a glass of wine with dinner, you'll find something drinkable here, but we wouldn't plan a night around the list. Order the Red Newt Riesling, tip your server well, and save the wine exploration for somewhere that's actually trying.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Seafood & American
The Oar House wine list is a workmanlike effort — short, safe, and priced fairly for what it is. If you're coming for the seafood and want a glass of Albariño or a crisp Sauvignon Blanc to go with it, you'll be well served. Just don't come here expecting to be wowed by the wine program.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Portsmouth · New American / Tapas-Style
Moxy earns its Wild Card badge not because we can confirm every pour, but because the bones of the wine program — an intentional regional focus, a menu built for wine-friendly snacking, and a room that draws people back — suggest genuine effort. If you're in Portsmouth and want something more interesting than a safe Napa Cab next to your tapas, this is worth the reservation. Come in curious, ask the staff what they're excited about, and let the list surprise you.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Japanese / Sushi
Nichinan's wine list is short but earns its keep — the presence of Pieropan, Grüner Veltliner, and Henri Bourgeois Sancerre tells you someone on staff understands that sushi and Chardonnay is not the only answer. Markups are fair across the board, and the by-the-glass selection is wide enough to keep the table happy without forcing a bottle. If you're in Portsmouth and want something better than the default wine-at-a-sushi-restaurant experience, this delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Italian-American
The Rosa isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to serve its room well, and largely succeeds. Twenty-five by-the-glass options with Italian producers mixed alongside California staples makes this one of the more thoughtful pours in Portsmouth. If you're after wine-bar ambition, look elsewhere; if you want a reliable glass with your gnocchi without any drama, The Rosa delivers.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Portsmouth · Steakhouse
The Library Restaurant is a Wine Spectator award holder that plays it very, very safe — heavy California Chardonnay, a prestige Champagne tower, and markups that favor the house. If you're here for a special occasion and want to pop a Pol Roger at $125 or a Veuve at $155, it's a fine room for that. But if you're hoping to find something unexpected or feel like the wine program is working hard for you, this list isn't going to surprise you.
Plays It Safe
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
