After 5: Wine Lists, Part I

What makes a dining experience extraordinary? Many things, of course, including the atmosphere, service, quality of the food, and the company with which you share the meal.

For me, it takes something more to put a meal at a restaurant over the top. I also need to be able to order wine that will not only properly pair with what I’m eating, but go beyond what I can buy at a local supermarket.

Some restaurants in and around Springfield get that. Others don’t.

In a perfect world, we all could simply assume that an Italian restaurant is going to have a definitive wine list, filled with varied selections from the old country to match all of the pastas, sauces and entrees on the menu. In Italy, after all, food and wine simply go hand in hand.

In the Ozarks, we have many choices in Italian dining, and some tremendously enticing wine lists, as well. On the other side of the coin are those whose wine lists seem little more than an afterthought.

Here are my top picks for fine Italian wines at area restaurants.

Top Italian Wine Lists

1) Gilardi’s Ristorante

820 E. Walnut St., Springfield

With more than 40 Italian selections from nine of Italy’s unique wine regions, Gilardi’s has you covered no matter what your budget or preference.

From Prosecco at the start of your meal to Vin Santo with dessert, and everything imaginable in between, you may end up doing what I sometimes do and order a meal to match the wine you chose, not vice versa. The list, with more than 80 choices, is highlighted by such super Tuscans as Sassicaia and Tenuta del Ornellaia.

• Price points: $19.95 to $289.95 by the bottle and $5.95 to $7.50 by the glass

• Top-rated label: Amarone Quintarelli Giuseppe (ama-roe-nay keen-tuh-rel-lee Joo-sep-peh)

2) Avanzare

1908 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield

A close second is Avanzare’s extensive list with approximately 40 of its own Italian delights. While it may not carry the “wow” factor of Gilardi’s, with wines such as Angelo Gaja Barbaresco, Masi Amaroni and Alessi Rosso Fiorentino, be assured this an immensely impressive list.

• Price points: $20 to $245 by the bottle and $6 to $8 by the glass

• Top-rated label: Angelo Gaya (Guy-yuh) Barbaresco

3) Bruno’s

416 South Ave., Springfield

In a virtual tie in terms of scope of selection comes Bruno’s, with another list of about 40 Italian bottlings, also spanning nine regions of Italy. Kudos are given here for keeping the prices down while not sacrificing the number of choices. Only one wine, Barolo Ravera carries a three-digit price tag, and most are under $50. Bruno’s also offers a larger number of wines by the glass in a second-floor wine bar.

• Price points: $22 to $100 by the bottle and $6 to $10.50 by the glass

• Top-rated label: Barolo Ravera (Buh-ROL-oh Ruh-VAIR-uh)

Honorable Mentions

Tony Z’s Italian Ristorante

300 Terrace Road, Branson

A nice list with a good variety of Italian wines.

DiGiacinto’s Italian Restaurant

2259 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield

Sam DiGiacinto has recently updated his list to include more Italian wines, while keeping prices within the reach of nearly everyone.

Caution

A few stops where you may well enjoy the food, but the wine selection, particularly wines from Italy, leaves much to be desired include: J. Parrino’s Pasta House and Bar, The Pasta House and D’Arpino’s Italian Cafe.

When not working on his small organic farm near Republic, Brian Goodell writes The Wine Guy, a weekly column syndicated by Morris News Service.[[In-content Ad]]