Milwaukee's All-Italian Wine List Done Right
East Town · Milwaukee · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Zarletti does exactly what it says on the tin: it's all Italian, all the time, and it commits to that identity without apology. You open it and immediately feel like someone actually thought about this, not just grabbed a distributor sheet and called it a day. It's focused, it has a point of view, and that already puts it ahead of half the Italian spots in the Midwest.
The list runs 150-250 bottles deep, anchored heavily in Piedmont and Tuscany with genuine forays into the south. Barolo shows up with real intent — this isn't a token Nebbiolo situation — and the Amarone della Valpolicella selection signals that they're not afraid of the big, chewy stuff. Vermentino di Sardegna is a smart inclusion that hints at someone on the floor who's been paying attention to what's happening in Southern Italy. The gaps are the new-school stuff: natural, orange, and pét-nat are nowhere to be found, which is fine for this room but worth knowing if that's your lane.
Fifteen to twenty by-the-glass options is a respectable count for a trattoria of this size, and the all-Italian constraint actually makes the pours more interesting — you're not wading through generic California Cab to find something worth drinking. Rotation appears limited, which is the one knock; the program feels like it was set and isn't getting shaken up much seasonally.
Vermentino di Sardegna — N/A
Pricing wasn't confirmed in our data, but Vermentino di Sardegna is almost always the underdog value on any Italian list — bright, saline, and built for food. If it's on by the glass, order it before the table debate starts.
Vermentino di Sardegna
Most tables at an Italian trattoria default to Chianti or Pinot Grigio and never look back. Vermentino di Sardegna is the move — aromatic, slightly herbal, and textured enough to hold up to a buttery gnocchi or a braised dish. It's the kind of wine that makes you feel like you discovered something.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone is always tempting on an Italian list, but it's also where restaurants tend to charge the most for the privilege. At a $$$ price point with steep markups, you're likely paying a significant premium for the label recognition alone. Unless it's a special occasion bottle you've been eyeing specifically, the value math rarely works in your favor here.
Barolo + Veal Saltimbocca
Barolo's tannic backbone and dried cherry core cut right through the richness of the prosciutto and sage butter on the saltimbocca. It's a classic Piedmontese match — Nebbiolo and veal have been doing this together for a reason — and it's the kind of pairing that makes the whole table stop talking.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Zarletti's all-Italian wine list is one of the more committed and coherent programs in Milwaukee — a sommelier on staff, genuine regional depth, and a clear identity. The markups keep it from being a steal, but if you're eating Italian and want to drink Italian done properly, this is your room.
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Steep
Basic Stemmed
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Acceptable
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Varietal Specific
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Small but Thoughtful
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Basic Stemmed
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Crowd Pleasers
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Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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