Italy in a Glass, Bethlehem on the Bill
Downtown Bethlehem · Bethlehem · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Tre Scalini Ristorante’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
You open the list and the message is clear: this is an Italian restaurant that takes its Italian wine seriously. The focus is tight — Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto — and that's not a criticism, that's a commitment. It reads like someone actually thought about it, not just grabbed a distributor sheet and called it a day.
The list runs 80 to 150 labels deep and doesn't wander far from the boot, which is exactly right for a room serving Bucatini Amatriciana and handmade pasta. You'll find Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino anchoring the cellar end, with Amarone della Valpolicella holding it down for the Veneto faithful. Super Tuscans show up for the crowd that wants something bold without committing to a proper Nebbiolo. The gaps are predictable — don't come here looking for Champagne or anything from the Southern Hemisphere — but within the Italian lane, the depth is real.
Ten to twenty options by the glass is a healthy pour program for a neighborhood Italian spot. Prices land between $11 and $18 a glass, which is honest money for what's on offer. The rotation doesn't appear to change much seasonally, but if the bottles are good, consistency isn't the worst thing.
Amarone della Valpolicella — $18
At the top of the glass price range, Amarone by the glass is a legitimately good deal — this wine retails for serious money and showing up in a pour program at all is a minor miracle. Order it.
Brunello di Montalcino
Most tables at an Italian restaurant this size drift toward the Super Tuscans and never look up. Brunello is the move — structured, age-worthy Sangiovese that most people only encounter at wine-focused restaurants. Don't sleep on it.
Super Tuscans
They're fine, they're always fine, but Super Tuscans at restaurants like this tend to be the safe middle-of-the-road pour that exists to satisfy people who've heard of Sassicaia but won't spend for it. With Barolo and Brunello on the same list, there's no reason to settle.
Barolo + Bucatini Amatriciana
The guanciale-driven richness and tomato acidity in the Amatriciana need something with backbone and tannin to cut through — Barolo's grip and its dried cherry depth do exactly that without steamrolling the dish.
The Bottom Line
Tre Scalini isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the Italian-focused list is coherent, fairly priced, and punches above its Bethlehem zip code. If you're eating pasta this good, you owe it to the meal to drink something Italian alongside it.
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Kome isn't building a destination wine program, but they're doing enough right to drink well here — especially if you dig past the familiar labels. The markups ask you to pay for the ambiance, but the Taurasi and the local Grüner are genuine finds worth the trip.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Historic Downtown · Bethlehem · Brewpub / American
Fegley's Bethlehem Brew Works is a genuinely great brewpub doing a lot of things right — wine just isn't one of them. Come for the craft beer, skip the wine list, and nobody gets hurt.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Bethlehem · Bethlehem · Gastropub
The Goosemen is a perfectly decent place to eat a burger and drink a beer — but the wine list is a cash grab dressed up as a menu. The Wednesday half-price bottle promotion is the only reason to think about wine here at all; on any other night, order something from the tap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Bethlehem Township · Bethlehem · Sports Bar / American
Copperhead Grille is a perfectly fine sports bar where you should order a beer. If it has to be wine, show up on a Monday when the by-the-glass options are half price — that's the only math here that makes sense.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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Apollo Grill won't earn a wine destination reputation, but for downtown Bethlehem, it's doing the job honestly — fair prices, more glass options than you'd expect, and a few genuinely good bottles hiding in plain sight. Send a friend here without hesitation; just steer them past the Meiomi.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Bethlehem · Bethlehem · American, Southern, Cajun & Creole
The Bayou is a genuinely fun Southern bar and kitchen — just don't come here for the wine. Order a cocktail, eat the fried chicken, and leave the wine nights for somewhere that actually wants to host them.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Round Rock · Round Rock · Italian
North Italia Round Rock doesn't break any new ground, but the Italian-leaning selection, fair bottle pricing, and massive by-the-glass count make it a reliable dinner option for anyone who wants a real wine alongside their pasta. Send your friends here — just steer them away from the Duckhorn.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Plano · Italian
Lombardi is a reliable dinner destination where the wine list does its job without embarrassing itself — or impressing you. Come for the handmade pasta and the room; just don't expect the list to steal the show.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New Haven · Italian
Strega is the kind of spot where the wine list is doing real work to serve the food, not just fill a binder — and for a small Italian in New Haven, that earns genuine respect. We'd send a friend here for a date night without hesitation, with the caveat that the bill will climb fast if you're not watching the glass.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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