Brentwood's Italian anchor delivers on the bottle
Brentwood · Los Angeles · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Toscana’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 Toscana reads like a love letter to Italy with a California postscript — and honestly, that's exactly what you want at a Brentwood trattoria that's been holding it down since the '90s. It's not trying to be clever or contrarian. It knows what it is, and it delivers.
The Italian backbone here is legitimately strong: Antinori Tignanello, Ornellaia, Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido, Gaja Barolo, Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino — this is a Super Tuscan and Piedmont greatest-hits collection that earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (held since 2017). Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Riserva rounds out the mid-tier with something approachable before you commit to the big-ticket stuff. California gets a seat at the table too — Ridge Monte Bello and Caymus Cabernet show up as nods to the local crowd, though the Italian stuff is clearly where the kitchen's heart lives. The list hovers around 200-300 bottles, which is enough to feel curated without overwhelming you.
Fifteen to twenty-five options by the glass is a respectable spread for a neighborhood Italian, and the price range of $12-$22 per pour is fair given the Brentwood zip code. We'd love to see a bit more rotation to keep regulars guessing, but what's on the list is competent and food-friendly.
Castello di Ama Chianti Classico Riserva — $60
Chianti Classico Riserva from Castello di Ama is serious Sangiovese without the Brunello price tag. It bridges the gap between the pasta course and the osso buco without asking you to rethink your mortgage.
Ridge Monte Bello
Most people come to Toscana for Italy and don't look twice at the California section — which means Ridge Monte Bello sits here quietly underordered. It's one of the great American reds, full stop, and it fits this menu better than Caymus ever will.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine in the same way an airport hotel is fine lodging. It's everywhere, it's marked up everywhere, and when you're sitting across from Sassicaia and Ornellaia on the same list, ordering Caymus is a missed opportunity you'll spend the whole meal regretting.
Antinori Tignanello + Osso buco alla milanese
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet blend has the structure to stand up to braised veal shank and the fruit to play nicely with the gremolata. It's a classic Italian pairing that doesn't need any explanation — just order both and get out of the way.
The Bottom Line
Toscana isn't reinventing the wine list, but it doesn't need to — it's a reliable, Italy-first program with enough serious bottles to reward the curious and enough by-the-glass options to keep a table happy. Just budget for the markup and skip the Caymus.
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · French-inspired, New American
Perch is a place people go for the view, the scene, and the Instagram moment — the wine list knows this and doesn't try very hard. Order something simple, enjoy the skyline, and save your serious wine drinking for a restaurant that wants to earn it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Upscale Italian, Seafood
Marino is a reliable, well-curated Italian wine list that earns its stripes on selection and staff knowledge, even if the pricing makes you wince on the everyday bottles. Send a friend here for the Guidalberto and the Franciacorta — just steer them away from anything under $60.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Hollywood · Los Angeles · Neapolitan Italian, Pizza
Da Michele's wine list is narrow by design and better for it — a focused, fairly priced tour through Southern Italy that most pizza spots in LA wouldn't dare attempt. If you're even mildly curious about Campanian wine, this is one of the better excuses in the city to start learning.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Los Angeles · Los Angeles · Seafood
Water Grill is a reliable choice for serious wine with serious seafood — the list is deep enough to reward exploration, and the sommelier presence means you can actually ask for help. The markups sting, but this is Downtown LA and you knew that walking in.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Bel-Air · Los Angeles · Modern Californian with European/Mediterranean influences
This is a serious wine list dressed in a garden party — the depth is real, the sommelier is engaged, and if you're willing to pay the Bel-Air premium, the experience delivers. Just go in knowing the bill will reflect the hedge-lined address.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Beverly Grove / West Hollywood · Los Angeles · Greek / Mediterranean
Kassi Club is a party restaurant with a wine list that punches above its vibe — if you ignore the markup and order Greek, you're going to drink well. Send a friend here specifically to work through the indigenous varietals; just tell them to skip the Chablis.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Italian
Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway / Elks Plaza · Gatlinburg · Italian
The Best Italian's wine list does exactly what it needs to do: keep casual diners happy, not drain wallets, and get out of the way of the garlic knots. We wouldn't drive to Gatlinburg for the wine, but if you're already there and want something decent with dinner, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Italian
La Nonna brings a legitimately serious Italian cellar to a town where most restaurants are content to coast on their ski-town captive audience — and that deserves real credit. The markups are steep across the board, but the bones of the list are strong enough that the right bottle makes the whole evening.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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