Thursday nights just got a lot cheaper
West Des Moines · Des Moines · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 20, 2026
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The wine list at Biaggi's West Des Moines is exactly what you'd expect from a polished suburban Italian chain — familiar faces, safe regions, nothing that's going to make you stop mid-scroll. It's Italy and California wall to wall, which fits the room, but don't come here hunting for a funky Jura white or an obscure Sicilian producer.
Eighty to one hundred twenty bottles sounds like range until you realize most of the real estate is occupied by recognizable brand names — Santa Margherita, Meiomi, Kendall-Jackson, Ruffino, Duckhorn's Decoy — the kind of list that could exist at any TGI Fridays with a decent pasta section. The Italy focus makes sense given the concept, and the Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale is a legitimate nod to the menu's roots. California fills in the rest, leaning on label recognition rather than any particular depth of terroir. There's nothing embarrassing here, but there's also nothing that suggests anyone spent real time curating it.
Fifteen to twenty-five pours by the glass is a respectable count, and the $8–$14 range keeps things accessible. The selection mirrors the bottle list — big brands, familiar grapes — so you're not going to find anything surprising, but you're also not going to get stuck with bad wine. Just know that most of these same bottles retail for well under $20, so you're paying a premium for the poured convenience.
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale — $50 bottle / $13 glass
At 117% markup it's the least punishing option on the list, and it's actually the wine most in harmony with the menu. Sangiovese with a room full of pasta and red sauce is a no-brainer, and this one has the structure to hold up to it.
Decoy by Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon
Most people sleep on Decoy because it lives in the shadow of its parent brand, but at $58 a bottle it carries the Duckhorn pedigree at a fraction of the price and marks up cleaner than almost anything else on this list. It's the grown-up choice at a table that's otherwise ordering Meiomi.
Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay
A 200% markup on a $13.99 grocery store bottle is a hard no. This wine is everywhere, costs nothing, and Biaggi's is charging $42 for it. Order literally anything else.
Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale + Chicken Marsala
Sangiovese's bright acidity and earthy backbone cut through the richness of the Marsala sauce without bullying it — it's a classic Italian match that actually makes sense on this menu rather than just sounding good on paper.
Thursday — Chain-wide 50% off bottles under approximately $75, dine-in only. Some locations also discount select glasses. This is the single best reason to plan your visit around a specific night.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Biaggi's is a dependable suburban Italian with a wine list that plays it completely safe and prices that would sting if not for Thursday's half-price bottle deal — show up then, order the Chianti, and you'll have a genuinely solid night. Any other day, just manage your expectations.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.