Cheap pours, big plates, no complaints
Appleton · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 14, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Victoria's Italian Cuisine’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 Victoria's is exactly what you'd expect from a packed, no-fuss Italian joint in Appleton — short, familiar, and priced like it's still 2009. Thirteen labels isn't deep, but when glasses are topping out at $10, it's hard to complain too loudly.
The list leans on the reliable crowd-pleasers: Kendall Jackson, Kim Crawford, Ruffino — the kind of names your aunt orders at chain restaurants. That said, there are a few genuine Italian anchors worth noting, including the Rocca della Macie Chianti Riserva and Gran Sasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, which give the list a little regional credibility to go with the pasta. The Neprica Red Blend from Puglia is a mild surprise. Beyond that, the Australia and New Zealand presence is purely transactional — Jacob's Creek Shiraz is here to keep the Cabernet crowd from panicking.
Virtually the entire list pours by the glass, which is the right call for a casual, family-style spot where the table is sharing a lasagna the size of a welcome mat. Prices run $6–$10 across the board, making it easy to order a second glass without doing mental math. Rotation doesn't appear to happen often — this list feels like it hasn't changed much in a while, and that's both its comfort and its ceiling.
Rocca della Macie Chianti Riserva — $10
A legitimate Chianti Riserva with real Sangiovese backbone, and you're getting it for $10 a glass at a sit-down restaurant. Retail on Rocca della Macie bottles typically runs $15–$20, so the markup is almost nonexistent. Best wine on the list, best price on the list.
Gran Sasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Most people at Victoria's are reaching for the Ruffino or the Kendall Jackson out of habit. The Gran Sasso Montepulciano gets skipped, which is a mistake — it's a rustic, food-friendly red from Abruzzo that was practically born to sit next to a plate of baked ravioli. Low profile, high reward.
Jacob's Creek Shiraz
Jacob's Creek is a fine supermarket wine, and that's exactly the problem. You can grab a bottle at the grocery store for $8 on your way home. There's nothing wrong with it, but there's nothing exciting about it either, especially when the Italian options on this list offer more for roughly the same money.
Rocca della Macie Chianti Riserva + Lasagna
Chianti Riserva and meat lasagna is a pairing so obvious it's basically Italian law. The Sangiovese's acidity cuts right through the richness of the béchamel and beef, and the earthy red fruit doesn't fight the tomato — it leans into it. Order both, don't overthink it.
The Bottom Line
Victoria's isn't a wine destination, but the prices are honest, the Italian picks are legitimate, and a $10 Chianti Riserva with a massive plate of pasta is a genuinely good night out. Send your friends here if they want comfort food and an easy bottle — just don't expect anyone to geek out over the list with you.
Unknown · Appleton · Brazilian Steakhouse (Churrascaria)
Texas de Brazil is about the meat, full stop — and the wine list makes no effort to pretend otherwise. Come for the endless churrasco, but don't come here expecting the wine to keep up with the kitchen.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greater Appleton / Fox Cities · Appleton · Winery Bistro
LaBelle Winery Fox Cities is a genuine Wild Card in the Appleton dining scene — a focused, single-producer list of cold-hardy grapes you won't find anywhere else in town. Send a friend who's curious and open-minded; skip it if they need a Cabernet.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Appleton · Appleton · Italian
Carmella's is the kind of place that has no business having this good a wine list — and that's meant as a compliment. The markups on the top-shelf bottles sting, but the depth and seriousness of the Italian selection alone make it worth a visit for anyone who wants to drink well in Wisconsin.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Appleton · Appleton · Japanese
Katsu-Ya is a perfectly solid Japanese restaurant where the wine list exists as an obligation, not a feature. Come for the katsu and ramen, order sake or a Sapporo, and if you must have wine, grab the Koshu and move on.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Appleton · Brewpub / American
Stone Arch earns its reputation on craft beer, full stop — the wine list is a courtesy offering for whoever at the table doesn't drink beer, not a reason to come in thirsty for something from a bottle. Order a pint, enjoy the atmosphere, and save your wine ambitions for another night.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Appleton area · Appleton · Steakhouse
Wissota Chophouse is a reliable stop for a well-poured glass of something familiar alongside a good steak — just don't expect the wine list to be the reason you drove here. Stick to the mid-tier bottles, avoid the trophy wines, and you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· West Palm Beach · Italian
Cafe Sapori's wine list is a reliable Italian-leaning companion — not adventurous, not cheap, but curated enough that the right picks reward you. Skip the Whispering Angel, dig into the Tuscans, and you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· College Station · Italian
Amico Nave is a reliable neighborhood Italian with a wine list that's serviceable but won't knock your socks off — great for a date night when the food is the star, less great if you're there for the wine. Order something Italian, keep it simple, and enjoy the room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Hartford · Italian
Geppetto is the kind of place where the wine list actually reflects the kitchen's point of view — Italy, seriously, without apology. It's not a destination wine program, but it's a trustworthy one, and in Torrington, that earns real points.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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