How To Choose Wines By the Glass for Italian Restaurants and Bars

A single glass of wine is typically priced at the wholesale cost of the entire bottle.

That means that a bottle that costs $10 wholesale equates to a $10 glass of wine at your bar or restaurant. Your markup depends on how many glasses you pour from the bottle.

Our job at Chilled is to suggest wines for your wine-by-the-glass bar program. Each online issue will highlight a handful of wines that meet our criteria of quality and affordability. The wines chosen will please the palate on their own or when served with food. This week, we’re discussing the best wines by the glass to offer at Italian restaurants and bars.

Strev Moscato d’Asti DOCG

This new-style DOCG Moscato has a gentle, fair acidity and a balanced flavor that sits somewhere between bold and light. Peach, pear, apple, honey, ginger, and lychee make this Strev Moscato d’Asti irresistible—one glass is never enough. With its delicate sweetness, it is a perfect starter wine that also doubles as a dessert wine.

Suggested glass price: $8

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Broglia Il Doge Gavi DOCG 2017

Well-balanced with nonbiting acidity, flavors of green apple and lemon dominate this white wine, along with hints of pear, honey, and grapefruit. It’s fairly dry with pleasant, crisp minerals. Try this pedigree DOCG from Piedmont that drinks well above its price point and will certainly be a bestseller.

Suggested glass price: $9

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Purato Nero d’Avola 2017 Organic

This is a certified organic DOC wine from Sicily that features a bottle, paper, and ink all 100 percent recycled. The vegan-friendly wine is lovely and smooth with cherry overtones. It is perfect for both the curious wine drinker and the new generation, as organic wines have their own audience and command higher dollar returns. This wine may become the sleeper success on your menu.

Suggested glass price: $9

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Colosi Nero d’Avola 2017

Colosi wines make a statement, like with this bold, medium tannic wine that is not so dry. A great value for the money, it’s spicy with leather and tobacco on the palate, followed by rich red and dark fruit. It dazzles the palate with an abundance of full, round flavors. This wine will beckon your guests to order a second glass.

Suggested glass price: $10

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Statti Gaglioppo 2017

Gaglioppo is an elegant, universal wine. It shines with appetizers, desserts, and red sauces, so it’s a vino that you want both when you’re eating snacks at the bar and choosing wine for a meal. The backbone of red fruit, cedar, vanilla, and chocolate hypnotize your senses, as the soft and bright fruit opens into a spicy, dry finish.

Suggested glass price: $11

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La Lastra Chianti Colli Senesi 2016

A true food wine, this fruit-forward DOCG Sangiovese from Sienna has high acidity, a velvety texture, and a nice finish. Orange rind, cracked pepper, and red fruit cross your palate with each sip. It’s an obvious go-to wine for any restaurant.

Suggested glass price: $12