Burgundy royalty underground in Tribeca
Tribeca · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list lands in your hands like a small novel — 800 to 1,000 selections deep, organized with the kind of quiet confidence that doesn't need to shout. This is a tasting menu restaurant that takes wine as seriously as the kitchen takes fermented grains and foraged mushrooms. Sommelier Dan Lusardi's fingerprints are all over it.
Burgundy is the obvious crown jewel here — Armand Rousseau, Leflaive, and Raveneau Chablis anchor a list that could hold its own against any serious wine bar in the city. Bordeaux runs deep with Château Pétrus and Château Le Pin for the deep-pocketed, while the Rhône section delivers with Guigal La Landonne and Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Italy shows up properly with Giacomo Conterno Barolo, Spain punches with Alvaro Palacios L'Ermita, and California gets a respectful nod via Kistler Vineyards and the obligatory Screaming Eagle. The Champagne section alone — Krug, Salon — is worth the trip downtown.
The by-the-glass program runs 12 to 18 options and rotates in line with the tasting menu's seasonal direction, which is exactly what you want in a place like this. Pours start around $15 and climb, and the selection is thoughtfully chosen rather than just whatever needed to be moved. If you're doing the full tasting menu experience, the wine pairing through Dan's hands is likely the smarter call anyway.
Raveneau Chablis — $80-$120 range
In a list stacked with four-figure Burgundy, Raveneau is where you access genuine Chablis greatness without the DRC price tag — structured, mineral, and an absolute weapon against Atera's Nordic-inflected seafood courses.
Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Most eyes go straight to the Burgundy and Bordeaux sections, but Bonneau's Châteauneuf is one of the most singular wines in the Southern Rhône — wild, old-school, and completely its own thing. Easy to walk past; hard to forget once you've had it.
Screaming Eagle
It's on the list because it has to be — a certain type of guest expects it. But at whatever Atera charges for it, you're paying heavily for the name in a room where that money goes much further in Burgundy or the Rhône. Order it at a steakhouse.
Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay + Sea urchin with fermented grains
Kistler's richly textured California Chardonnay has enough weight and acidity to stand up to briny uni without drowning it — the creamy, slightly oxidative character bridges the fermented element in the dish in a way that leaner whites simply can't.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Atera is the real deal — a Best of Award of Excellence list that earns it rather than inherits it, guided by a sommelier who clearly gives a damn. The markups are steep because everything here is, but the depth and curation justify making a reservation you plan around.
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
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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