Il Nido
Italy's Greatest Hits, Priced Like Adults
null · Seattle · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Il Nido reads like someone actually loves Italian wine and wanted to share that love without gouging you for it. It's not trying to be encyclopedic — it's trying to be right. That's a different, better ambition.
Selection Deep Dive
The list leans hard into the Italian canon: Tuscany dominates with Super Tuscans from Antinori, Sassicaia, Ornellaia, and Fontodi's Flaccianello anchoring the reds, while Piedmont shows up with Barolo and Gaja's Darmagi for the deep-pockets crowd. Southern Italy and Sicily get their due with Fiano di Avellino and Vermentino adding some lighter, food-friendly texture that a lot of Italian-American spots skip entirely. Gaps exist — there's no real Champagne or sparkling program worth mentioning, and natural wine is nowhere near this list — but the core Italian identity is coherent and well-executed. If you came here for Brunello or a bold Tuscan red with your osso buco, this list has your back.
By the Glass
With 10-16 options by the glass and a sommelier on staff, the pours here aren't an afterthought. We'd expect the BTG program to rotate through the lighter whites and approachable reds rather than the prestige bottles, which is smart — keep the Sassicaia on the bottle list where it belongs. If Vermentino or Fiano di Avellino makes it to the glass list, grab it immediately.
Brancaia Vigna Montevrain 2018 — $78
At $78, this is the sleeper on the list. Retail sits around $52, so the markup is on the higher end relative to the prestige bottles, but in absolute dollars you're getting a serious Tuscan red — structured, age-worthy, from a Chianti Classico producer that earns its reputation — for under $80. Next to the Sassicaia and Ornellaia, most people walk right past it. Don't.
Fiano di Avellino
Southern Italian whites are chronically underordered at Italian restaurants in the US, and Fiano di Avellino is one of the best — nutty, textured, genuinely interesting. While everyone's reaching for a Pinot Grigio reflex or loading up on Barolo, this is the bottle doing quiet, excellent work. Ask what producer they're pouring.
Antinori Guado al Tasso 2020
At $125 against a $85 retail price, the 47% markup makes this the least friendly deal on the list. It's also the most recognizable label in the Antinori portfolio after Tignanello, which means you're paying a recognition premium. The wine itself is fine — Bolgheri coastal blend, reliable — but relative to everything else here, the value math doesn't work in your favor.
Fontodi Flaccianello 2020 + Osso buco
Flaccianello is a pure Sangiovese from one of Chianti Classico's best estates — savory, structured, with the kind of acidity that cuts through braised veal and leans into the gremolata without fighting it. At $235 it's a commitment, but osso buco is the occasion that earns it.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Il Nido doesn't reinvent the wine list — it executes the Italian playbook with fair pricing, a sommelier who clearly did the work, and just enough range to reward the curious. Send your friends here. They'll drink well.
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