Tuscany runs deep in South Florida
Boca Raton · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 7, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Trattoria Romana’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Trattoria Romana arrives with the kind of heft that makes you want to cancel your plans and stay longer. Italy is clearly the religion here — Tuscany in particular — and the list has been earning Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence since 2012, which is not something a lazy program pulls off. You know immediately this is a room that takes wine seriously.
The Italian spine is exceptional: Brunello di Montalcino from both Banfi and Biondi-Santi, Barolo from Gaja and Ceretto, Amarone from Masi and Zenato, and a Super Tuscan section anchored by Tignanello and Sassicaia. This isn't a list that just drops famous names for show — the range within each region gives you real choices at multiple price points. California gets its due with Caymus and Silver Oak holding down the American side for the guests who didn't get the Italian memo. The one gap: if you're hunting outside Italy and California, you'll find slim pickings.
With 20-35 options by the glass, Trattoria Romana is legitimately generous for a restaurant of this style — most Italian spots in this zip code pour you four reds and call it a day. The glass program skews Italian, which is exactly right for the room. We'd push staff to rotate more aggressively and feature some of the stronger producers from the bottle list.
Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella — $90
Zenato punches well above its positioning in the Amarone category — rich, structured, and cellar-worthy without the Masi price premium. At a list price that doesn't make you wince, it's the move on a table that wants something serious.
Ceretto Barolo
Everyone's eyes go straight to Gaja, which is fair — Gaja is Gaja. But Ceretto delivers classic Barolo character with less fanfare and a more approachable price point. Most tables skip right past it and that's their loss.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine, but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles in American restaurants, full stop. You're in an Italian trattoria with Sassicaia and Tignanello on the list — ordering Caymus here is like going to a great ramen shop and ordering the grilled cheese.
Antinori Tignanello + Osso Buco
Tignanello's Sangiovese-Cabernet blend has the structure to stand up to braised veal shank and the dark fruit to complement the gremolata without steamrolling it. This is the pairing you come back for.
The Bottom Line
Trattoria Romana is the real deal for Italian wine in South Florida — a 300-plus bottle list with genuine depth in Tuscany and a pedigree that's earned, not purchased. Markup runs steep and there's no dedicated sommelier to guide you through it, but the bones of this program are excellent enough that we'd send anyone here who takes Barolo and Brunello seriously.
· Boca Raton · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Boca Raton isn't a destination wine list, but it's a functional and fairly priced one that does its job without embarrassing the restaurant. If you're here for the steak, the wine program won't let you down — just know what you're walking into.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Boca Raton is a dependable choice if you want a proper glass of Napa Cab with your dry-aged ribeye and aren't going to sweat the markup. Just don't come here expecting discovery — this list is built for comfort, not adventure.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· Boca Raton · Seafood
Send a friend here for the fish, not the wine. If you care at all about what's in your glass, pre-game at a wine bar down the street and just order water with dinner.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Boca Raton · Boca Raton · New American / Health-focused
Farmer's Table isn't a wine destination, but the by-the-glass program is genuinely strong and the pricing is fair enough that you won't feel punished for ordering a second pour. Send a friend here? Yes — especially if they're already going for the food.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Italian
Josephine's is the kind of place where the wine list exists to complement a very good meal, not to be the reason you showed up — and that's fine, because it does its job without embarrassing itself. Send a friend here for a date night, just tell them to skip the obvious Napa Cab and dig a little deeper.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Boca Raton · Italian
Armando's has a wine list that actually reflects the food it's serving — Italian-centric, solid by the glass, and wide enough to satisfy most tables. The markups are South Florida standard (read: steep), but the selection quality keeps this squarely in reliable territory.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Lincoln · Italian
Lincoln Ristorante is doing something genuinely unusual: running a wine list in central Nebraska that would hold its own in most major American cities. The Italian focus is deep and well-curated, the by-the-glass program gives you real options, and the pricing — particularly on the reds — is fair enough that you won't feel punished for ordering well. If you're in Lincoln and you care about wine, this is the only room that answers that call.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Jersey City · Jersey City · Italian
Il Tavolo isn't trying to be a wine destination, and that's fine — it's a reliable Italian spot with fair pours, sensible pricing, and enough range to keep the table happy. If you're in Jersey City and want a glass of Chianti that won't cost you a car payment, this is a safe and honest bet.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · Italian
Sorellina has done something genuinely weird here — built an all-dessert-wine list and committed to it fully, with enough range and producer credibility to make it worth taking seriously. If you are coming here expecting a broad Italian bottle list to drink through dinner, adjust your expectations before you walk in. But if you want to spend an evening exploring Italian sweet wines poured by the glass at prices that do not insult you, this is one of the more interesting niche programs in the area.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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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