Granita Enoteca
Serious Italian Wine List, Small Town Surprise
Keene · Keene · Italian, Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You're in Keene, New Hampshire — not exactly the first place you'd expect to find Giacomo Conterno and Sassicaia on the same list. The wine program here punches so far above its zip code that it earns a double-take. This is a real enoteca doing real enoteca things in a town of 23,000 people.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 200-350 bottles deep with a clear editorial point of view: Italy first, France close behind, California as a reliable supporting cast. Piedmont is the crown jewel — Barolo from Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa is not a casual commitment, and Barbaresco and Barbera d'Asti round out the region properly. Burgundy gets the Jadot and Drouhin treatment (approachable negociant entries that don't require a second mortgage), while Bordeaux classified growths and Super Tuscans like Ornellaia and Sassicaia cover the power-collector corner. The gaps are real — New World beyond California is thin, and there's no obvious natural wine thread — but the depth where it counts is genuinely impressive for a restaurant at this scale.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five pours by the glass is a serious commitment and suggests someone is actually thinking about turnover and freshness. The price range of $12-$22 is honest for this tier of wine. We'd zero in on the Italian pours — a Barbera d'Asti or Barbaresco by the glass at this level is the kind of thing you just don't find at most neighborhood Italian spots.
Barbera d'Asti — $12-$15 by the glass
Barbera is one of Italy's most food-friendly grapes and it's consistently underpriced relative to what it delivers. At a restaurant with this level of sourcing, a well-chosen Barbera d'Asti by the glass is a steal alongside the house-made pasta — no argument needed.
Barbaresco
Everyone reaches for the Barolo (Conterno and Giacosa are marquee names), but the Barbaresco selections here deserve equal attention. Nebbiolo from Barbaresco tends to be more approachable on release, often better priced, and in the right vintage can be just as arresting. Most tables walk right past it.
Bordeaux Classified Growths
Classified Bordeaux is trophy wine that restaurants mark up aggressively because they can. Unless you're specifically hunting a specific château and vintage, the money goes further in the Italian and Burgundy sections of this list — that's clearly where the team's passion lives anyway.
Brunello di Montalcino + Braised Short Rib or Osso Buco
Brunello and a long-braised, collagen-rich meat dish is one of those combinations that feels inevitable. The acidity cuts through the fat, the tannins find something to grip, and the earthy Sangiovese character mirrors the savory depth of the braise. It's the whole point of this restaurant in one order.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Granita Enoteca is a genuine wild card — a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence recipient doing serious Piedmontese and Burgundian work in a small New Hampshire city where the competition is basically nonexistent. If you're driving through or near Keene, this list alone is reason to stop.
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