Albany's Greek wine passport worth stamping
Downtown Albany · Albany · Traditional Greek and Mediterranean
Reviewed June 16, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Athos Restaurant’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Athos doesn't try to be everything — it tries to be Greece, and mostly succeeds. You flip it open and immediately see Assyrtiko, Xinomavro, Moschofilero — grapes that most Albany restaurants couldn't pick out of a lineup. That focus earns immediate respect.
The list runs 60-plus labels with a clear Greek-first philosophy, leaning on the country's three strongest wine regions: Santorini for whites, Naoussa for reds, and Nemea for the middle ground. Producers like Sigalas and Kir-Yianni anchor the credibility here — these aren't random imports picked off a distributor sheet, they're legitimate names. There's some international filler rounding out the list, but the Greek selections are the reason you're here. Gaps exist in aged wines and anything approaching a cellar program, but for a taverna in Albany, the depth is genuinely impressive.
The glass program runs 6-10 options in the $10-$14 range, which is reasonable for the market. We'd love to see Assyrtiko available by the glass consistently — it's the obvious anchor pour and perfect with half the menu. Rotation appears limited, so don't expect anything seasonal or surprising in the pour list.
Kir-Yianni Xinomavro, Naoussa — $45
Xinomavro is often called the Nebbiolo of Greece — structured, savory, built for food — and Kir-Yianni is the benchmark producer. Finding it at a fair restaurant markup in Albany is the kind of thing that makes you order a second bottle.
Moschofilero, Mantinia
Most tables walk past this one in favor of a safe Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay, and that's a mistake. Moschofilero is floral, crisp, and has a slightly spicy edge that makes it one of the more interesting white grapes in the world. Order it before anyone else at the table does.
International variety filler wines
Whatever generic Cabernet or Chardonnay landed on this list to comfort the unadventurous — skip it. You're at a Greek restaurant with legitimate Greek producers on the menu. There's zero reason to order something you could get at any Applebee's.
Sigalas Assyrtiko, Santorini + Saganaki
Flaming cheese needs a wine with enough acidity to cut the fat and enough minerality to stand up to the salt. Assyrtiko from Santorini — volcanic, lean, searingly acidic — is basically engineered for exactly this moment.
The Bottom Line
Athos isn't trying to build the most ambitious wine program in New York State — it's trying to give you an honest Greek wine experience to go with honest Greek food, and it largely delivers. If you're eating moussaka and lamb in Albany, this is where your glass should be.
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Downtown · Albany · Seafood
Jack's is an oyster house first, and its wine lists back that up with French whites by the glass and the bottle. Start with a half dozen oysters and a glass of the Antoine de la Farge Menetou-Salon at 18, or go for the bottle of Reverdy Ducroux Sancerre at 84; for red, the $14 Catena Malbec is the lowest-priced glass. Confirm current lists and prices when you book; this unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown Albany · Albany · Italian
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Barcelona's bar menu posts more Spanish and Italian range than you might expect, from Rioja Crianza to a $125 Brunello. Try the Albariño at $9 $35 with seafood, or the Juan Gil red blend at $11 $40 if you want something fuller. Most wines show two prices with no unit labels and the page is undated, so confirm which is glass and which is bottle, and today's availability, when you order. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
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