Libiamo
221 W. Galena St., (414) 271-1155
www.libiamorestaurant.com
Libiamo takes full advantage of the extensive wine storage behind the familiar and gorgeous bar, filling it to the brim with a list of 150 varieties that will keep both sommeliers and basic laymen wine lovers busy for months. Wine novices, don't fret -- staff here is educated on the wine list and you cannot fail with a recommendation from them.

Meritage
5921 W. Vliet St., (414) 479-0620
Across the street from The Times Cinema in the space formerly occupied by Indigo, is Meritage a wine-focused restaurant and bar run by Jan Kelly, former head chef at Barossa.

Nessun Dorma
2778 N. Weil St., (414) 264-8466
Nessun Dorma stocks an impressive selection wine, as well as beer and whiskey. It offers a few dozen types of wine by the glass or bottle, including red, white, sparkling, sake and more. The list isn't the largest, but it usually has a lot of gems and is reasonably priced. Add the good food and the nice atmosphere and Nessun Dorma is unbeatable.

Pizza Man
1800 E. North Ave., (414) 272-1747
www.pizzaman.org
OnMilwaukee.com readers named Pizza Man "Best Wine List" in 2007. To be sure, the East Side pizzeria boasts a huge list, but the topic was "best" not "biggest," and we wonder what real wine connoisseurs would say when comparing Pizza Man to other local restaurants with dedicated sommeliers. That said, you can't go wrong ordering vino at the restaurant with Milwaukee's most phallic outdoor sign. And just as Pizza Man won the readers' choice for best Milwaukee pizza, nothing goes better with a great pie than a glass of wine.

Thief Wine Shop & Bar
400 N. Water St. (inside the Milwaukee Public Market), (414) 277-7707
www.thiefwine.com
"Our shop follows our passions and in addition to the classics has a lot of varietals, regions, and wineries that many people aren't familiar with but are eager to explore," says co-owner Phil Bilodeau. "Not only are they trying them once, but they're coming back after loving what we've recommended."

In the bar you can expect a frequently changing list of 30-40 wines by the glass, taste, or flight in a casual, welcoming atmosphere, and the shop has about 500 wines to choose from. In both, it's an eclectic array of distinctive, artisanally produced wines from around the world.

Vino 100
1442 Underwood Ave., Wauwatosa, (414) 456-9463
vino100-tosa.com
With a great outdoor patio -- currently useless, of course, thanks to the weather! -- and an interesting if not exactly exhaustive selection of wine, Vino 100 has a range of wines by the glass that changes daily. It's a great way to try new things and talk wine with others at the small bar in the rear of the shop. While sipping, you can also order and nosh on goodies from Ristorante Bartolotta down the block.