With over ninety selections from all over Italy, Lupo has not only garnered the praise of lovers of Italian wine and cuisine from all over the Delaware Shore area, but the Wine Spectator has awarded Lupo with its Award of Excellence for its Italian-only wine list for eight years running. And there is a lot to love about Lupo, not the least of which is its terrific Italian and Coastal food offerings (I personally am a huge fan of its house made pasta). But since my focus is wine, let’s stay in that lane.
Lupo’s all Italian wine list covers a broad range of prices and regions and includes wines that will likely be familiar to lovers of Italian wine from such legendary producers as Gaja, Antinori and Biondi-Santi, as well as some that may appeal to the more adventuresome Italian wine drinkers. And it’s hard to think of a major Italian wine region that is not represented on Lupo’s wine list: Piedmont, Veneto, Sicily, Tuscany, Abruzzo, to name a few.
Something else that I like to see in wine lists is a “consumer first” orientation, and Lupo’s list really shines in that regard. First, they observe the KISS principle…keeping things simple when describing the wines: “Light,” “Medium,” or “Full” bodied. That’s it as far as wine descriptions are concerned and that works great for these Italian beauties. Also, and perhaps most importantly, Lupo offers wines from all over Italy at all price points. If a big spender wants to splurge on a world class Super Tuscan or Brunello di Montalcino by the producer that “invented” that wine (Biondi-Santi), they have you covered, including multiple vintages of certain blockbuster wines. Or if, like the rest of us, you are looking for something more down to earth price wise, Lupo offers a nice selection of wines to choose from for $60 or less…and many selections in between these two ends of the spectrum.
One final shout out., and this goes to their longtime bartender extraordinaire, Todd, who not only makes everyone feel instantly at home, but he also has a remarkable ability to remember the names of his guests. So, perhaps make it a point to show up for your dinner reservation a bit early and have a pre-dinner cocktail or glass of wine, so that the next time you come back, you will receive your personal greeting from your newfound friend, Todd.
Ray Kurz, also known as “Cuvée Ray,” holds certifications including Sommelier, Certified Specialist of Wine, and is completing his WSET Diploma. He’s the creator of Vintunes® and previously owned Cuvée Ray Wine Bar and Restaurant. Ray’s passion lies in connecting wine with wine lovers. Find him at cuveeray.com.
