Felina
Jersey's Italian Wine Anchor, No Passport Needed
Ridgewood · Ridgewood · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 18, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walk into Felina and the list feels like someone actually cared — Italy front and center, no apologies, no filler Malbec padding the pages. The price range stays honest, with bottles starting around $45 and the upper end topping out at a reasonable $150+, which tells you this place isn't trying to squeeze the table. For a neighborhood Italian in Ridgewood, NJ, that's already a small victory.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 150 to 250 bottles deep and stays locked on Italy, which is exactly the right call for a kitchen turning out house-made pasta and wood-fired dishes. Piedmont shows up strong with Barolo producers anchoring the reds, and Tuscany covers the rest of the bases — Brunello di Montalcino, Super Tuscans, and Chianti Classico Riserva give you real range within the region. For whites, Alto Adige Pinot Grigio is a smart inclusion — it's the kind of lean, mineral-driven pour that actually works at the table, not the flabby stuff. Amarone della Valpolicella rounds things out for anyone who wants to go big and bold. Wine Spectator handed Felina their Award of Excellence in 2025, citing Italy as the clear strength — and the list backs that up.
By the Glass
Somewhere between 12 and 20 pours available by the glass, priced $12 to $18, which is fair for northern Jersey without being a bargain-bin situation. The range likely mirrors the bottle list — Italian-focused with a few crowd-pleasers — but don't expect aggressive rotation or anything too adventurous off the beaten path. What's here should do the job for most tables without a lot of deliberation.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $45–$65
Chianti Classico Riserva at the entry-level price point is one of the most reliable value plays on an Italian list — it's structured enough to stand up to braised short rib but won't blow up your bill the way a Brunello will.
Pinot Grigio from Alto Adige
Most people hear Pinot Grigio and expect something forgettable. Alto Adige changes that math — these are crisp, food-driven whites with actual personality. It's the glass most tables walk past, and they're wrong to.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone is a showstopper wine, but it's often the most aggressively marked-up bottle on Italian lists, and without a dedicated sommelier to guide you toward the right producer, you're taking a $100+ gamble. Unless you know exactly what you're ordering, it's a risk that doesn't always pay off here.
Barolo (Piedmont) + Braised Short Rib
Barolo's tannic backbone and tar-and-roses character are built for long-braised meat. The short rib's richness softens the wine's edges; the wine cuts through the fat. This is the combination you're here for.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Felina earns its Wine Spectator stripes with a focused, Italy-first list that respects both the cuisine and the customer's wallet. It's not the most adventurous room in Jersey, but it's exactly the kind of reliable neighborhood anchor you'd actually want to bring your parents — or a first date — without overthinking it.
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