The Wine List Phoned It In Tonight
Downtown · St. Paul · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Buca di Beppo St. Paul reads like it was assembled by someone who Googled 'popular Italian wines' and called it a day. You'll recognize every name on here from a grocery store endcap, which is either comforting or depressing depending on your mood. It matches the restaurant perfectly — loud, crowd-pleasing, and not trying to surprise anyone.
The list leans on Italian stalwarts and California crowd-pleasers with zero deviation from the script. Ruffino Chianti, Antinori Santa Cristina, and Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio cover the Italian side, while Meiomi Pinot Noir represents California in the most predictable way possible. There's no real depth here — no regional exploration, no small producers, no interesting appellations. If you've been to an Olive Garden, you've essentially seen this list.
Six pours by the glass, ranging $9-$13, which sounds reasonable until you realize these are largely wines that retail for $12-$18 a bottle. The La Marca Prosecco is the most defensible pour if you're just looking to get something bubbly in your hand before the garlic bread arrives. Rotation appears nonexistent — this list has the energy of something that hasn't changed since the Obama administration.
Antinori Santa Cristina — $30
It's the most honest bottle on this list — a solid Sangiovese-based red from a legitimate Tuscan producer that at least has some regional credibility. At the low end of the bottle range, it's the least painful option here.
La Marca Prosecco
Nobody comes to Buca di Beppo hunting for Prosecco, but ordering a glass at the start of a big family-style meal is genuinely the right call. It's light, it's bubbly, and it won't fight with garlic bread. Sometimes the obvious play is the right one.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
Santa Margherita is one of the most marked-up wines in the American restaurant industry, full stop. You're paying a premium for a brand that was cool in 1995 and has been coasting ever since. There are better ways to spend your money, even on this list.
Ruffino Chianti + Chicken Parmigiana
Chianti and red sauce is one of the least controversial wine pairings in existence, and that's not a bad thing. The Ruffino has enough acidity to cut through the tomato and cheese without asking you to think too hard about it — which feels appropriate for the setting.
❌ The Bottom Line
Buca di Beppo's wine list is exactly what you'd expect from a corporate Italian chain: safe, familiar, and overpriced for what you get. Order the Chianti, enjoy the meatballs, and don't overthink it — but don't come here expecting the wine to be part of the experience.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.