Felina
Jersey's Italian Wine Shrine Nobody Saw Coming
Summit · Summit · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 18, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into Felina, the fireplace and 60-seat marble bar set expectations high — and the wine list mostly keeps the promise. Italy front to back, no apologies, and a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the wall to back it up.
Selection Deep Dive
This is a serious Italian list packed into a room that feels more like a neighborhood grand café than a wine destination. Barolo heavyweights like Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa anchor the Piedmont section, while Brunello gets its due with Biondi-Santi and Casanova di Neri showing up alongside the prestige Super Tuscans — Sassicaia, Tignanello — that every Italian list needs but many can't actually source. The list doesn't wander much beyond Italy's borders, and it doesn't need to. Whites are functional rather than inspired — Pinot Grigio and Soave cover the bases — but if you're here drinking white, you might be in the wrong room.
By the Glass
A solid 12-20 glass pours keep things accessible without feeling like an afterthought. We'd expect the program to cycle through regional Italian options across the spectrum, though the by-the-glass rotation doesn't appear to change aggressively. It's enough to make a satisfying night without committing to a bottle.
Braida Barbera d'Asti — $40
Barbera rarely gets the respect it deserves, and Braida is the producer that makes the strongest case for it. At the entry end of this list's price range, it's a smart, food-friendly pour that punches well above its bracket next to the big Barolo names sitting nearby.
Castello di Ama Chianti Classico
Most people scan past Chianti Classico when Brunello and Barolo are on the same page, which is exactly the mistake. Castello di Ama is a benchmark producer and this is the kind of wine that makes the whole table look smart without destroying the bill.
Sassicaia
Sassicaia is a legitimate great wine — no argument there — but on a restaurant list it almost always carries the kind of markup that makes you feel the price tag more than the wine. You can drink better per dollar three times over on this same list.
Dal Forno Romano Amarone della Valpolicella + Lasagna
Dal Forno's Amarone is dense, concentrated, and built for exactly the kind of rich, slow-cooked meat and cheese situation that Felina's lasagna delivers. This is a full-commitment pairing — the kind you remember.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Felina is a genuine Italian wine list in a state where that's rarer than it should be — if you go in knowing to skip the trophy bottles and hunt the mid-list, you'll eat and drink very well. Send your friends who think New Jersey doesn't do wine.
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