The Grove, Cucina & Wine
Italy and Napa Walk Into a Florida Grove
Hobe Sound · Hobe Sound · Farm to Table, Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You don't expect this in Hobe Sound. A 20-seat communal table, Friday night jazz, and a wine list carrying Gaja and Antinori — this is not your average Treasure Coast Italian spot. The room has actual warmth to it, and the list backs it up.
Selection Deep Dive
The Grove leans hard into its two strengths — Italy and California — and that focus pays off. On the Italian side, you've got Antinori and Banfi's Brunello di Montalcino holding down Tuscany, while La Spinetta and Gaja represent Piedmont at a serious level. California gets equal love with Caymus, Duckhorn, and Stag's Leap all present, which is exactly what the room will drink. The list doesn't wander much beyond those two regions, but 150-250 bottles with that kind of producer depth is a credible wine program, not a filler list.
By the Glass
Twelve to twenty pours by the glass at $12-$18 is a solid spread for a town this size, and you can trust the staff to actually walk you through them. We'd love to see more rotation and a dedicated half-price night, but the range covers enough ground that casual diners and wine-curious guests both land somewhere interesting.
Banfi Brunello di Montalcino — $200 (bottle)
Brunello from a reliable, well-distributed producer at the top of this list's price range — but Banfi's Brunello consistently punches above its price point in the category, and finding it on a restaurant list without a punishing markup makes it the move for the table that wants to go there.
La Spinetta Barbaresco
Most tables at a place like this reach for Caymus without blinking. But La Spinetta's Barbaresco is the real find here — a serious Piedmontese producer making wine that rewards attention, and it's the kind of bottle that turns a dinner into a conversation.
Meiomi Pinot Noir
Meiomi is a grocery store wine at grocery store scale, and it has no business being ordered when La Spinetta and Gaja are on the same list. Skip it.
Antinori (Tuscany) + Pappardelle Bolognese
A Tuscan Sangiovese-based wine next to slow-cooked meat ragu on wide pasta is about as close to a lock as wine pairing gets. The acidity cuts the richness, the fruit matches the depth — this is the order.
🎲 The Bottom Line
The Grove is a legitimate wine destination hiding inside a small Florida beach town, and the staff knows enough to help you find the good stuff. If you're anywhere near Hobe Sound, this list earns a detour.
Comments
Get the Weekly Wingman
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.