Caronchi Photography
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The off-season is the time for locals to explore and rediscover why our corner of paradise is so special. At the top of the list, especially for wine lovers, should be a rendezvous at Angelina’s Ristorante in Bonita Springs.
It’s a shoo-in for almost anyone looking to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or promotion for its classic European service and consistently elegant Italian fare, but oenophiles put it in regular rotation for its exceptional wine list—which is one that consistently earns Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for its breadth and depth. With more than 4,000 bottles, all Italian regions and those far beyond are represented, and the majority are housed in a unique vertical wine tower that stands as a 30-foot-tall centerpiece in the main dining room. (We recommend reserving one of the private booths surrounding it for front-row seats to the nightly sommelier show, as the wine stewards repeatedly maneuver the spiral staircase to fetch whatever has been just ordered.)
Each summer, any bottle under $175—and many are, with obvious exceptions being rare, prized vintages like Premier Crus from historic chateaus—are half off every night. The deal kicks off June 1 and lasts at least through August. If for some reason you miss it, a version exists year-round as a happy hour available only at the bar, but for restrictions-free access to huge savings on quality Sangiovese, Super-Tuscans and Syrah to accompany dinner, it pays to visit in the summer.