Josie & Tony's
Sandwich shop by day, Barolo temple by night
Norwalk · Norwalk · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walk in for a sub at lunch, come back at dinner and you're staring down a 200-plus bottle list that name-drops Giacomo Conterno and Dal Forno Romano like it's nothing. The dual identity — casual Italian deli by day, members-only dining room by night — makes this list feel genuinely surprising. Norwalk didn't ask for a serious Italian wine program, but here we are.
Selection Deep Dive
The Italian anchor is exactly what a place called Josie & Tony's should deliver: Barolo from Bruno Giacosa, Brunello from Biondi-Santi and Casanova di Neri, Amarone from both Allegrini and the impossibly concentrated Dal Forno Romano, and Super Tuscans like Sassicaia and Ornellaia sitting right there on the list. France shows up with Burgundy at village and premier cru levels — not just filler, actual intent. California gets its seat at the table too, with Stag's Leap and Jordan representing Napa Cab without going completely trophy-wine crazy. The range is genuinely ambitious for a Connecticut neighborhood restaurant, and Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence since 2024 backs that up.
By the Glass
Fifteen to twenty-five options by the glass is a healthy pour program for a list this size — enough to actually explore without committing to a full bottle. We'd want to know how often those pours rotate, because a static glass list undermines a dynamic bottle selection. No active specials program means what you see is what you get, every night.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley — $40s
Jordan consistently delivers polished, food-friendly Napa-adjacent Cab at a price point that doesn't require a second mortgage — on a list where bottles push north of $500, this is the play if you want California without the markup pain.
Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella
Everyone's eyes go straight to the Barolos and Super Tuscans, but Allegrini's Amarone is a serious wine from a producer who gets unfairly overshadowed by Dal Forno's cult status on the same list. Rich, structured, and far more approachable in price — most tables walk right past it.
Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido
Sassicaia is a legitimate icon, but on a restaurant list it's almost always priced at a level where you're paying for the name as much as the wine. Buy it at retail, cellar it yourself — ordering it here likely means absorbing a markup that stings even before the first pour.
Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino + Osso buco
Brunello's high acid and iron-tinged tannins are built for braised meat. Casanova di Neri's version has the weight to stand up to osso buco's richness and the structure to cut through the marrow without losing a step — this is the pairing that justifies the whole list.
🎲 The Bottom Line
A genuinely unexpected wine program hiding inside a Norwalk Italian spot that also slices sandwiches at noon — the Italian cellar alone is worth the reservation. Pricing runs steep and there's no sommelier to guide you through it, but if you know what you're looking for, this list rewards the effort.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.