30 wine bars worth the trip across Italy, editor-ranked by Cork & Curve. All Italy guides.
Enoteca Picone ★ 4.8 · Sicily
Politeama, Palermo · Via Guglielmo Marconi 36, 90141 Palermo (PA), Sicily
Palermo's most storied enoteca since 1946; floor-to-ceiling bottles, an encyclopedic Sicilian list and an expert team that stocks wines rarely found elsewhere on the island.
Tip: Arrive at 5pm for aperitivo with a charcuterie board before the evening rush.
Osteria dei Vespri Wine Bar ★ 4.8 · Sicily
Kalsa, Palermo · Piazza Croce dei Vespri 6, 90133 Palermo (PA), Sicily
Michelin-listed Palermo restaurant in Palazzo Gangi (the location of Visconti's 'The Leopard') with a 650-label cellar that is among the finest in Sicily; bar area allows wine-only visits.
Tip: The bar seats offer the full wine list without a food commitment; recommended for solo wine explorers.
Enoteca Allegra ★ 4.7 · Sicily
Lungomare, Catania · Viale Artale Alagona 36b, 95121 Catania (CT), Sicily
Sleek Lungomare wine bar opened by sommelier Andrea Allegra after experience abroad; 320 Italian labels with 70 off-list rarities, priced from EUR 25 a bottle, in a refined seaside setting.
Tip: The off-list section includes micro-producer Etna wines not found in retail; ask Andrea to unlock it.
Enoteca Solaria ★ 4.7 · Sicily
Ortigia, Siracusa · Via Roma 86, 96100 Siracusa (SR), Sicily
Ortigia institution since 1987, transformed into a leading natural-wine bar by AIS-certified owners Elisa Merlo and Gianfilippo Russo; triple Slow Wine award winner for best Cerasuolo di Vittoria selection.
Tip: Slow Wine has cited Solaria for three consecutive years for Sicily's best territorial selection.
Locale Firenze ★ 4.7 · Tuscany
Centro Storico, Florence · Via delle Seggiole 12, 50122 Firenze, Italy
Inside the 13th-century Palazzo Concini with multiple floors including a Renaissance courtyard. Ranked 22 on World's 50 Best Bars 2025; sommelier-led pairings alongside cocktail bar programme.
Vino Vero ★ 4.7 · Veneto
Cannaregio, Venice · Fondamenta Misericordia 2497, 30121 Venezia (Cannaregio), Italy
Opened 2014 by Matteo and Mara Bartoli, Vino Vero was the first natural-wine-only bar in Venice. Over 600 labels from artisanal producers; creative cicchetti with unusual ingredients. Canal-side position on Fondamenta della Misericordia.
Tip: Check the chalk-board for the daily col fondo Prosecco pour - usually a different producer each week.
Antica Bottega del Vino ★ 4.7 · Veneto
Centro storico, Verona · Vicolo Scudo di Francia 3, 37121 Verona (VR), Italy
Verona institution combining restaurant, wine bar, and wine cellar. Wine Spectator Grand Award recipient since 2004; cellar deep in Italian and international labels. Daily from 11:00 to 01:00; serious wine list with knowledgeable sommelier team.
Tip: The private cellar tour (ask in advance) shows historic vintages going back to the 1940s.
Enoteca Butticè ★ 4.6 · Sicily
Politeama, Palermo · Piazza San Francesco di Paola 12, 90138 Palermo (PA), Sicily
Beloved Palermo wine bar where sommelier Salvatore Fanale fields a vast list of Sicilian gems and global stalwarts; outdoor terrace on the piazza is the place to be at sundown.
Tip: Ask Salvatore for his current Etna picks; the underground gems change seasonally.
Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina ★ 4.6 · Tuscany
Oltrarno, Florence · Piazza Pitti 16, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Wine shop and bar facing the Pitti Palace, focused on small-production handcrafted Tuscan wines. Tasting menus engineered around the bottle list; dinner service runs to 22:30.
Enoteca Al Volto ★ 4.6 · Veneto
San Marco, Venice · Calle Cavalli 4081, 30124 Venezia (San Marco), Italy
Founded in 1936 near the Rialto Bridge, Al Volto pours from a list of over 1,000 bottles with a strong Veneto backbone. Wooden-panelled interior plastered with wine labels; traditional cicchetti served alongside regional selections.
Tip: Open 10:00-16:00 and 18:00-22:00; arrive early evening to find a spot at the bar before the tourist rush.
Estro Vino e Cucina ★ 4.6 · Veneto
Dorsoduro, Venice · Calle Crosera, Dorsoduro 3778, 30123 Venezia, Italy
Opened 2014 by brothers Alberto and Dario Spezzamonte at the Dorsoduro / San Polo boundary. MICHELIN Guide Good Cooking designation 2025. Over 700 ecologically sustainable wines from small European producers; cicchetti and full dinner menu.
Tip: Closed Tuesdays; open Mon and Wed-Sat 11:00-midnight.
Millevini Enoteca ★ 4.6 · Veneto
Rialto, San Marco, Venice · Ramo del Fontego dei Tedeschi, San Marco 5362, 30124 Venezia, Italy
Founded 2001 near the Rialto by certified sommelier Lorenzo Menegus. Every bottle is personally tasted and selected by Lorenzo. Strong Veneto and Friuli backbone; also carries grappa, rum, whisky, gin, and balsamic. One of Venice's most acclaimed wine shops.
Tip: Tell Lorenzo your flavour profile and budget - his personal recommendations consistently overdeliver.
Il Santino ★ 4.5 · Tuscany
Santo Spirito, Florence · Via di Santo Spirito 60R, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Tiny Santo Spirito wine bar in a former cellar, sister venue to Il Santo Bevitore next door. Tuscan-favoured list with small artisan producers; standing-room counter and a handful of bar stools.
Enoteca Tognoni ★ 4.5 · Tuscany
Bolgheri · Via Lauretta 5, 57020 Bolgheri, Italy
The village wine bar of Bolgheri, established 1965 just off the Cypress Avenue. Full Bolgheri DOC roster on bottle and a long-standing relationship with the founding producers of the appellation.
Cantina Do Mori ★ 4.5 · Veneto
Rialto, San Polo, Venice · Sestiere San Polo 429, 30125 Venezia, Italy
Venice's oldest bacaro, established 1462 and hidden in an alley near the Rialto. Double entrance from two narrow calle; an institution for ombre (small wine pours) with traditional cicchetti mini-sandwiches. Mon-Sat 8:00-19:30.
Tip: Go at 11:00 when the freshest cicchetti are laid out; Sunday is closed.
La Cantina ★ 4.5 · Veneto
Cannaregio, Venice · Cannaregio 3689, Campo San Felice, 30121 Venezia, Italy
Hidden corner of Campo San Felice in Cannaregio; La Cantina prepares all cicchetti to order using the highest-quality local ingredients. Cosy interior, outdoor campo seats, and staff who greet regulars as old friends. Phone +39 041 522 8258.
Tip: The tartare cicchetti changes daily depending on what arrived at the Rialto fish market that morning.
Osteria del Bugiardo ★ 4.5 · Veneto
Verona centro storico · Corso Porta Borsari 17/A, 37121 Verona (VR), Italy
Wine bar and osteria on Verona's ancient Corso Porta Borsari owned by Buglioni winery. Exclusive Buglioni list at affable prices; simple cicchetti, charcuterie, and cheeses. Sun-Thu 11:00-midnight, Fri-Sat 11:00-01:00.
Tip: The Amarone by the glass is a rare bargain - Buglioni keeps house pricing far below comparable Amarone bars in Verona.
Enoteca Dal Zovo ★ 4.5 · Veneto
Borgo Trento, Verona · Via IV Novembre 12/A, 37126 Verona (VR), Italy
Established 1958, now in its third generation with Mattia Dal Zovo. Situated across the Adige from Verona's historic centre on fashionable Via IV Novembre. Ask to see the cellar and the sommelier will guide selections from the deep Veneto and Italian list.
Tip: The cellar visit is free for serious wine-seekers - just ask Mattia.
I Rusteghi ★ 4.5 · Veneto
San Marco, Venice · Corte del Tentor, San Marco 5513, 30124 Venezia, Italy
Hidden in a quiet courtyard just behind the Rialto in San Marco, I Rusteghi is a sommelier-run bacaro where the wine list takes priority. Strong Veneto and Friuli backbone with thoughtful cicchetti pairings. A locals' favourite for serious ombre.
Tip: The courtyard is easy to miss - look for the small sign at the mouth of Calle del Tentor.
Vincafe ★ 4.4 · Piedmont
Alba · Via Vittorio Emanuele 12, 12051 Alba CN, Italy
Wine bar and cafe on Alba's main pedestrian street pouring a rotating Langhe selection by the glass. Counter seating with truffle and cheese plates designed to anchor the Nebbiolo-led list.
Bar Cavour ★ 4.4 · Piedmont
Piazza Carignano, Turin · Piazza Carignano 2, 10123 Torino TO, Italy
The evening bar of the historic Del Cambio restaurant, set above Piazza Carignano. Vermouth-driven aperitivo and a Piedmont-strong wine list in a sophisticated, dimly-lit room.
Uve Rooms and Wine Bar ★ 4.4 · Piedmont
La Morra, Barolo · Via Umberto I 13, 12064 La Morra CN, Italy
Wine bar in the former 18th-century San Sebastiano convent in La Morra, with a Barolo-led by-the-glass list drawn from local cru producers. Pairing plates of Langhe classics in a vaulted room.
Nelson Sicily ★ 4.4 · Sicily
Centro Storico, Catania · Via Crociferi 50, 95124 Catania (CT), Sicily
Started as an online enoteca in 2013; now two storefronts on the same Baroque street with a wine-bar format and one of Catania's fullest Sicilian selections by the glass.
Tip: The monastic setting at Via Crociferi 14 is the more atmospheric option for a glass.
Inside Wine - Art Wine Bar ★ 4.4 · Sicily
Centro Storico, Catania · Catania (CT), Sicily
Created by lawyer-turned-sommelier-turned-artist Gabriella Maugeri; wine service is paired with live art exhibitions and performances in a refined Catania setting.
Tip: Check Instagram for current exhibition openings; wine and art events are the highlight.
Casa del Vino ★ 4.4 · Tuscany
San Lorenzo, Florence · Via dell'Ariento 16R, 50123 Firenze, Italy
Behind the San Lorenzo market under a colonnade, this 19th-century enoteca is run by the Migliorini family in its fourth generation. Wine by the glass alongside crostini and made-to-order panini.
Enoteca Grotta del Brunello ★ 4.4 · Tuscany
Brunello di Montalcino · Via Mazzini 24, 53024 Montalcino, Italy
Run by Marco Capitoni since 1985 in the heart of Montalcino, with vaulted cellar tasting rooms below the shop. Pairings of Brunello with sliced pici, cinghiale and pecorino di Pienza.
Fuori Porta ★ 4.4 · Tuscany
San Niccolo, Florence · Via del Monte alle Croci 10R, 50125 Firenze, Italy
Long-running San Niccolo enoteca with a 650-label cellar leaning hard on Tuscan classics. Crostoni and pasta plates designed to anchor the by-the-glass menu; terrace below the medieval gate.
Cantine del Vino Gia Schiavi ★ 4.4 · Veneto
Dorsoduro, Venice · Fondamenta Nani 992, 30123 Venezia (Dorsoduro), Italy
Known as 'Al Bottegon', this historic Dorsoduro bacaro dates to 1800. Standing-only wine bar and enoteca with 500+ labels from Italian producers. Sandwich cicchetti prepared to order at lunch. A neighbourhood institution beloved by locals and wine lovers.
Tip: Arrive at 12:30 for the best sandwich selection before the lunch crowd depletes the board.
Enoteca del Soave ★ 4.4 · Veneto
Soave, Verona Province · Via Roma 19, 37038 Soave (VR), Italy
Founded 1980 in the medieval village of Soave; returned to direct management by Cantina del Castello in April 2024. The best point-of-access for Soave and Valpolicella wines by the glass, with private room available for groups upstairs. Contact enotecasoave@gmail.com.
Tip: Order the Lessini Durello metodo classico - this Veneto sparkling made from Durella grapes is one of the region's best-kept secrets.
Enoteca Baraldi ★ 4.4 · Veneto
Centro storico, Verona · Via Roma 10/C, 37121 Verona (VR), Italy
Family-owned enoteca in Verona's historic centre led by owner Bruno Baraldi, known for his organic and sustainably farmed selections with deep local knowledge. Also offers wine tastings through the Winedering platform. A retail and tasting hybrid.
Tip: Ask Bruno about biodynamic Valpolicella producers - he sources directly from smaller estates not widely distributed.