Italian Staples, Wednesday Bottles Worth Planning For
Irvine Business Complex · Irvine · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 22, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Il Fornaio Irvine reads like a greatest hits album of Italian-American dining — familiar, comfortable, and leaning hard into the crowd pleasers. That's not a knock exactly; there's genuine effort here to represent the Italian peninsula, from Alto Adige Pinot Grigio to Sicilian whites to Super Tuscans. But the corporate fingerprints are visible, and you won't mistake this for a curated indie list.
The list runs roughly 45-60 labels with a sensible Italian backbone — Boscarelli's Rosso di Montepulciano, Tolaini's Valdisanti Super Tuscan, Donnafugata's Anthìlia from Sicily, and Tommasi Amarone anchor the Italian side with some real credibility. California fills out the back half with the usual suspects: Caymus, Silver Oak, Stags' Leap, and The Prisoner — solid names, but bottles you could find at any mid-range steakhouse in Orange County. The Alto Adige showing is a quiet bright spot, with St. Michael-Eppan's Pinot Grigio representing one of the best appellations for that grape on the entire list. Gaps exist in natural wine, anything beyond Italy and California, and serious Barolo or Brunello territory.
There are approximately 12-16 by-the-glass options at $14-$20 a pour, which is standard for upscale corporate Italian but leaves little room for adventure. The Villa Sandi Prosecco is a reliable opener and the Il Fornaio house Pinot Grigio from Trentino covers the casual white drinker. Don't expect frequent rotation — this is a set-and-occasionally-refresh situation rather than a dynamic glass program.
St. Michael-Eppan Pinot Grigio, Alto Adige — $50–$65 (bottle estimate based on stated range)
St. Michael-Eppan is one of Alto Adige's benchmark producers for Pinot Grigio — this is a serious, mineral-driven wine that earns its place on any list. In a sea of forgettable grocery-store Pinot Grigios, this one actually tastes like it comes from somewhere. Worth every dollar, especially on a Wednesday.
Donnafugata 'Anthìlia' Sicilia DOC
Most tables at Il Fornaio will blow right past this Sicilian white and reach for something they recognize. Don't. Donnafugata is a serious producer and Anthìlia — a Catarrato-Damaschino blend — is bright, textural, and genuinely interesting. It's the wine that makes you feel like you're actually eating somewhere in Palermo rather than Irvine.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Caymus is a perfectly decent wine being charged a perfectly indecent restaurant markup. You can buy this bottle at Costco for well under $100; here it's sitting in a price tier that requires you to really want it. There are better California Cab stories on this list for less, and better Italian reds full stop.
Tolaini 'Valdisanti' Super Tuscan, Toscana + Grilled meats
Valdisanti is a Sangiovese-led blend with the structure and dark fruit to handle something off the grill without overwhelming it. A wood-fired bistecca or grilled lamb chop gives the wine something to push against, and the Tuscan provenance keeps the whole thing on-theme.
Wednesday — Vino è Vita Wednesdays: Il Fornaio Insiders members get 50% off all bottles of wine, all day. Sign up for the loyalty program before you go — this is the move.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Il Fornaio Irvine is a reliable corporate Italian with a wine list that rewards a little digging — and if you can get there on a Wednesday as an Insider member, half-price bottles turn a steep markup into a genuinely good deal. It's not a destination wine experience, but it's a competent one that won't embarrass you in front of a client or a date.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.