Verona's Greatest Hit, Transplanted to Midtown
Midtown · New York · Northern Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 24, 2026
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.
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
· New York · Restaurant
Corima's wine list is proof that ten well-chosen bottles beat a hundred thoughtless ones every time. If you care about what's in your glass, this place is worth your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Village · New York · American
Cecchi's is first and foremost a bar, but the wine list is more serious than the neon and noise suggest. Steep markups are the main ding — but if you know what to order, there's real pleasure here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SoHo · New York · Steak House, Small Plates
The Corner Store is a reliable, well-credentialed wine list doing exactly what a good SoHo steakhouse should — France and California, done with intention, in a room that makes you want to order another bottle. Just watch the markup on the big Bordeaux names and let the Rhône or Burgundy side show you a better time.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Tribeca · New York · American
Farra is punching above its weight class for a neighborhood wine bar, and the Wine Spectator nod is earned — just know that the serious bottles come with serious prices, and the no-sommelier setup means you're doing some of the navigating yourself. Worth it for anyone who knows what they want; potentially overwhelming for those who don't.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Bay Harbor Islands · Bay Harbor Islands · Northern Italian
The Palm Miami earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the strength of a reliable, well-stored California-focused list that does exactly what it's supposed to do in a steakhouse setting. It won't surprise you, but it won't embarrass you either — just budget accordingly, because the markups here are real.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Washington · Washington · Northern Italian
The Palm DC is a perfectly competent California wine destination if you want big names, reliable quality, and zero surprises — just know you're paying for the address as much as the wine. Send your client here, but order Jordan, not Opus One.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Salt Lake City · Salt Lake City · Northern Italian
Veneto is quietly one of the best Italian wine lists in the mountain west — focused, deep where it counts, and priced with enough fairness that you won't wince at the bill. Send your friends here, and tell them to order the Barolo.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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