Costantino's Venda Bar & Ristorante
Red Sauce Comfort, Wine List Not So Much
Federal Hill · Providence · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Federal Hill is Providence's Italian-American heartland, and Costantino's leans fully into that identity — which should set the stage for a serious Italian wine program. Instead, the list reads like a safe bet for a crowd that isn't really here for the wine. Italy shows up, but California steals the spotlight in ways that don't flatter either.
Selection Deep Dive
The list splits its attention between Italian stalwarts like the Carpineto Chianti Classico and the Dante Di Fiorenza Super Tuscan, and crowd-pleasing California bottles like Bonanza Cab and Jordan Alexander Valley. That's not inherently wrong, but there's no real depth to either lane — no Barolo, no Brunello, no Amarone, nothing that signals anyone here is really paying attention to Italy's best. The California side is even weaker on paper: Bonanza is a bulk brand, and leaning on Caymus name recognition to charge $14 a glass for what retails at the grocery store for the whole bottle is a choice. The Super Tuscan is the lone spark of personality on the list, but without pricing context it's hard to know if it's worth your time.
By the Glass
The by-the-glass program hits the expected Italian-American checkboxes — Chianti, Pinot Noir, Malbec, and Cab are all accounted for. At $11 a pour for the Sartori Pinot Noir and Trapiche Malbec, you're paying 3-4x retail for bottles that retail under $20, which is a tough sell. There's no evidence of rotation or anything poured with intention.
Jordan Cabernet Alexander Valley — $32
At 236% markup, it's the least predatory bottle on the list. Jordan is a reliable, crowd-pleasing Cab from Alexander Valley, and at $32 a bottle you're not getting ripped off the way you are everywhere else on this menu. Relatively speaking, it's the move.
Dante Di Fiorenza Super Tuscan
It's the only bottle here that suggests someone made a deliberate choice. Super Tuscans — Sangiovese blended with Cab or Merlot — can be genuinely exciting, and a lesser-known producer like Dante Di Fiorenza is more interesting than anything else on this list. If the price is fair, order it.
Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon by Caymus
Fourteen dollars a glass for a bottle that retails around $20-22 is a 400% markup on a wine that Caymus makes in enormous volumes specifically to be approachable and cheap. You're paying for the Caymus name, not the wine. Pass.
Carpineto Chianti Classico + Pasta Bolognese
Chianti Classico and a meat ragu is as close to a guaranteed outcome as wine pairing gets. The Sangiovese cuts through the richness of the sauce, the acidity keeps things lively, and Carpineto is a solid enough producer to deliver. This is the one combination on the menu where everything lines up.
❌ The Bottom Line
Costantino's is almost certainly a great place to eat Italian food in Federal Hill — but the wine list is an afterthought dressed up with recognizable labels and aggressive markups. Order the Chianti, skip the by-the-glass Cab, and don't expect to be surprised.
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