Osteria Mozza
Georgetown's Italian wine list that means business
Georgetown · Washington · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into Osteria Mozza DC, the wine list announces itself before you even sit down — this is not a restaurant that treats wine as an afterthought. The Georgetown setting is polished and purposeful, and the list reflects that same energy: this is an Italian-focused program that clearly has a point of view and the cellar depth to back it up. Wine Spectator handed them a Best of Award of Excellence in 2025, and from what's on these pages, it's not hard to see why.
Selection Deep Dive
The list is anchored hard in Piedmont and Tuscany, and it doesn't apologize for it — you'll find Barolo from Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, and Gaja sitting alongside Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico Riserva, which is essentially an Italian wine lover's wishlist made real. The Super Tuscan representation is serious too: Sassicaia and Ornellaia are both present, covering the high-end collector corner for anyone celebrating something worth celebrating. What makes this more than a trophy list is the range within those Italian regions — Barbaresco sits alongside Barolo, giving you the full Piedmont conversation. Gaps exist outside Italy, but honestly, the focus is the point.
By the Glass
Specific by-the-glass details aren't published prominently, which is a minor frustration for the casual diner who just wants a solid pour without committing to a bottle. With a sommelier team this deep — Benjamin McMeley, Mirian Colonel, Zoe Pullen, and Alison Sachs on staff — we'd expect the glass program to be curated and rotated with care, but we can't confirm counts or pricing from available data. Ask your server directly; a room like this usually has something worth pouring by the glass even if it's not loudly advertised.
Chianti Classico Riserva — null
In a list full of Gaja and Sassicaia price tags, a well-chosen Chianti Classico Riserva is almost always the smart move — structured enough to handle a full Italian dinner, approachable enough not to require a spreadsheet decision. At a program like this, it's likely sourced well and priced more reasonably than its Barolo neighbors.
Barbaresco
Everyone comes in asking about Barolo, but Barbaresco — especially from a producer like Bruno Giacosa — is the more elegant, often earlier-drinking option that gets passed over at tables that don't know better. On a list this strong, the Barbaresco section deserves a second look before you default to Barolo.
Sassicaia
Sassicaia is a legitimate great wine, but at a restaurant with this kind of markup profile, you're almost certainly paying a significant premium over retail for a bottle that's widely available and well-known. Unless it's a special occasion and someone else is paying, there are more interesting bottles on this list that won't drain your account.
Barolo (Giacomo Conterno) + Pasta with braised meat ragù
Conterno's Barolo is built for this — the wine's high acidity and tannic structure cut right through a rich, long-braised meat sauce, and the earthy depth in the wine mirrors whatever's in the pot. It's the most classically Italian pairing on the menu, and it works because it's supposed to.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Osteria Mozza DC is the kind of Italian wine program Georgetown needed — serious Piedmont and Tuscany depth, a knowledgeable team, and a list that earned its Wine Spectator badge honestly. Pricing will test your budget, but if you know what you're ordering, this list rewards you.
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