Zocca Cuisine d'Italia

The wine list at this scenic Riverwalk Italian spot reads like a greatest hits compilation from a corporate wine distributor's catalog. Eighteen by-the-glass options sounds promising until you realize they're the same selections you'd find at any hotel restaurant in America, marked up like you're buying them at the airport.

The 80-100 bottle list plays it safe with recognizable names like Silver Oak, Chateau Montelena, and Veuve Clicquot alongside Italian standards like Alto Vento Pinot Grigio. There's minimal regional depth despite the Italian concept — no Barolo, Barbaresco, or serious Super Tuscans to speak of. The California-heavy selection feels like someone ordered from a wine club rather than curating for an Italian kitchen. Even the Argentine and New Zealand picks (Felino Malbec, The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc) are safe, mass-market choices that suggest zero interest in discovery.

All 18 glass pours sit in the $11-20 range, which sounds reasonable until you see the 286-375% markups. Villa Sandi Prosecco at $14 when it retails for $65 wholesale? That's a 364% markup on a $15 retail bottle. Every single glass option follows this pattern — Decoy Brut, AIX Rosé, Simi Chardonnay — all marked up three to four times their retail value. The pours don't rotate seasonally and there's no indication anyone is thinking beyond what moves fast.