BoccaLupo

At 17 labels — all of which are also available by the glass — BoccaLupo is playing a tight, deliberate game. This isn't a list trying to impress with volume; it's trying to impress with intention. And mostly, it works.

The list leans Italian at its core — Barbaresco from Demarie, Foradori's Teroldego from the Dolomites, Antinori's Brunello, and Gaja's Sito Moresco — but it earns its Wild Card badge by genuinely going off-script. A Georgian Khikhvi from Nine Oaks, a Croatian Plavac Mali from Basina, a Txakoli rosé from Rezabal, and a Loire Chenin Blanc from Vignobles Denis make this feel like someone actually cares about what's in the book. There's also a Pet-Nat from Alexis Hudon and Eyrie's Chasselas Doré from the Willamette Valley, which is the kind of nerdy flex most Italian restaurants wouldn't dare attempt. The house pours (red, white, sparkling) round out the approachable end without padding the list with filler.

Every bottle on the list is available by the glass, which is genuinely rare and genuinely appreciated — you can explore the whole menu without committing to a bottle. Prices run $12–$28 per glass, which is fair for the quality on offer, especially when you're pouring Vilmart Grand Cellier or a Brunello by the glass. The Oddbird Blanc de Blancs earns points just for being a non-alcoholic option that isn't an afterthought.