Italy in a bowl, neighborhood price tag
Southwest Minneapolis (Fulton) · Minneapolis · Italian, fresh housemade pasta · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Broders' Pasta Bar doesn't try to be anything it's not — and that's exactly the point. You're here for the pasta, and the list knows it, staying squarely in Italian territory to match. It's concise, focused, and honest about what this place is: a neighborhood spot that takes food seriously and asks the wine to keep up.
The list runs 50–100 bottles deep and doesn't stray far from the boot — which is the right call when your kitchen is this dialed in on regional Italian cooking. You'll find Barbera d'Asti and Vermentino representing the north, Chianti holding down the Tuscan middle ground, and Montepulciano d'Abruzzo anchoring the south. The range covers both everyday drinkers and a handful of bottles worth lingering over. What's missing is any real adventure outside Italy — no French country wines, no Spanish ringers — but given the context, that's a feature, not a bug.
With 10–16 pours available, the glass program is one of the better reasons to sit at the bar here. It rotates enough to feel considered without being precious about it. Expect Italian stalwarts by the glass that actually match what's on the plate in front of you — a rare and underrated quality in a neighborhood restaurant.
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo — $12
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo punches well above its price point anywhere — at a neighborhood Italian spot in Fulton running fair markups, it's usually the smartest glass on the list. Dark fruit, soft tannins, good acid. It works with everything on this menu.
Vermentino
Most people at an Italian pasta bar reach for red without thinking. That's a mistake when Vermentino is on the list. Bright, saline, slightly herbal — it's the wine that makes the lighter pastas and anything with seafood or lemon butter sing. Most tables walk right past it.
Chianti
Chianti is the safe play, and at most casual Italian spots it's the one most likely to be a generic, unremarkable pour that's seen better days. Unless the specific producer caught your attention, your money goes further on the Barbera or the Montepulciano.
Barbera d'Asti + Tagliatelle Bolognese
Barbera's high natural acidity cuts straight through the richness of a long-cooked meat ragù, and its dark cherry fruit plays off the depth of the sauce without fighting it. Classic pairing for a reason — and one that actually shows up on this menu and list at the same time.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Broders' Pasta Bar isn't a wine destination, but it's exactly the kind of neighborhood spot that gets the wine list right by staying in its lane. Fair prices, Italian focus, solid glass pours — bring a friend who orders by the bottle and you're in good shape.
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