Verona's Greatest Hit, Transplanted to Midtown
Midtown · New York · Northern Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 24, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Antica Bottega del Vino’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The moment you walk in, the wine shelves lining the walls and the antique chandeliers hanging overhead tell you this place takes its bottles seriously — this isn't a restaurant that happens to have wine, it's a wine destination that happens to serve food. The list itself is a 300-plus bottle tome that immediately signals ambition. You're going to need a minute.
The Italian backbone here is legitimately impressive: Piedmont and Veneto get deep treatment, with serious Barbaresco and Barolo representation anchoring the red section — including the Bruno Giacosa 'Asili' 2008, which is the kind of wine that makes you put down your bread and pay attention. Tuscany shows up properly, and there's a smart California contingent featuring Mayacamas Mt. Veeder and Turley 'Pesenti' Zinfandel for those who wander west of the Alps. Champagne gets a nod with Gaston Chiquet 'Tradition' Brut, which is a smart, non-obvious pick over the usual mass-market suspects. The list does skew old-world heavy, which is exactly right for a concept rooted in Verona — if you want New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, you've made a wrong turn.
Eight-plus options by the glass spanning a $10–$23 range, which for Midtown Manhattan is actually defensible — you're not getting gouged at the low end. The Prosecco Adami 'Bosco di Gica' by the glass is a legitimately good starting point, and Au Bon Climat Chardonnay representing California on the glass list shows some range. Rotation details are unclear, so ask the sommelier what's open — they'll have an opinion.
Champagne Gaston Chiquet 'Tradition' Brut — $23/glass
Gaston Chiquet is a grower Champagne house that punches well above its recognition level — you're getting real Champagne complexity without paying for a famous label. At $23 a glass in Midtown, that's not a steal, but it's honest.
Zinfandel Turley 'Pesenti'
Turley 'Pesenti' is sourced from old-vine Paso Robles fruit and tends to get overshadowed by flashier California names on lists like this. Most diners here are scanning for Italian — which means this bottle quietly sits there waiting for someone smart enough to order it.
Mayacamas Mt. Veeder 2021
Mayacamas is a great producer and Mt. Veeder Cab is genuinely special, but at a Midtown Italian spot with steep markups, you're almost certainly paying a significant premium over retail for something that didn't need the restaurant markup to justify its price. The Italian section delivers far better value for the money.
Barbaresco Bruno Giacosa 'Asili' 2008 + Tortellini della Casa
A mature Barbaresco from one of the Langhe's most revered producers against stuffed pasta is the exact kind of old-world symmetry this restaurant was built for — the wine's dried roses, tar, and earthy depth find a natural home next to rich, meaty filled pasta.
The Bottom Line
Antica Bottega del Vino earns its stripes with a deep, Italy-first list, a knowledgeable floor team, and the kind of serious bottle selection you'd expect from a Verona institution. The markups will sting, but if you're here to drink well, you can — and a sommelier is actually in the building to help you do it.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown West · New York · Russian-American
The Russian Tea Room treats wine as an afterthought dressed up in Champagne flutes — five famous labels at punishing prices with no range, no by-the-glass program, and no apparent curiosity about wine beyond what looks impressive on a table. Go for the spectacle, order the caviar, but don't come here expecting a wine list.
Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
David Burke Tavern's list is a Chardonnay lover's comfort zone with a solid sparkling section propping up the top — but the narrow focus and steep pricing mean you're paying for familiarity, not discovery. Send a friend here if they want California whites and a glass of Champagne; send them somewhere else if they want to explore.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mount Vernon · Baltimore · Northern Italian
Try Lavignone at $14 a glass or compare a $52 bottle if everyone wants the same red. Sotto Sopra makes that budget decision straightforward. Prices come from the posted menu checked in September 2026; availability can change, and this guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
· Ithaca · Northern Italian
Mercato is a well-regarded local staple with the right regional instincts — Italian roots, Finger Lakes ambition, and a warm room that earns its reservations. We'd feel comfortable sending a friend here for a solid bottle of wine with dinner, but we'd tell them to ask questions at the table, because we can't yet confirm the specifics behind the list. Worth a visit; worth a deeper look once a full wine list is in hand.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Paso Robles · Paso Robles · Northern Italian
Buona Tavola is a genuinely good restaurant wine list in a town surrounded by great wine — it respects the local terroir, prices fairly, and makes smart Italian connections on the menu. Send your friends here and tell them to skip the Justin.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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