Alsace On The Upper East Side, Done Right
Upper East Side · New York · French · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Café d'Alsace hits you like a well-organized argument for why Alsace deserves more respect than it gets. It's thick, it's focused, and it's unmistakably French — but not in the lazy, Bordeaux-heavy way so many brasseries default to. This list has a point of view, and it sticks to it.
With somewhere between 250 and 350 bottles, the list earns its Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence — held since 2009 — without feeling like it's showing off. Alsace is the obvious anchor: Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, Trimbach's Clos Sainte Hune, Hugel et Fils Gewurztraminer, and Domaine Weinbach cover the region's greatest hits with real depth. Beyond that, Burgundy gets serious representation via Louis Jadot, Domaine Leflaive, and Domaine Faiveley, while the Rhône makes its case with Guigal's Côte-Rôtie and Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Bordeaux fills in the prestige column — Château Lynch-Bages is the kind of name that signals someone actually cared when building this list.
Twenty to thirty options by the glass is generous for a neighborhood brasserie, and the range reflects the bottle list's French-first priorities. You're not stuck choosing between a Pinot Grigio and a Malbec — there are real Alsatian pours here that make sense with the food. Rotation appears to follow seasonal logic, which keeps things honest.
Hugel et Fils Gewurztraminer — $40
Hugel is one of Alsace's most reliable producers, and a well-priced Gewurztraminer in a room full of Choucroute Garnie is basically a gift. Aromatic, slightly off-dry, and food-forward — this is exactly what the kitchen wants next to it.
Domaine Faiveley Burgundy
Everyone's eyes go straight to Leflaive and Jadot, but Faiveley is quietly one of Burgundy's most consistent houses and tends to fly under the radar on lists like this. If you want real Pinot Noir without paying the hype tax, start here.
Château Lynch-Bages
Lynch-Bages is a legitimately great Pauillac, but it's also one of the most widely distributed prestige Bordeaux labels on the planet — you're paying for the name recognition as much as the wine. At a restaurant built for Alsace and Burgundy, this feels like a tourist trap column on an otherwise thoughtful list.
Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune Riesling + Choucroute Garnie
This is one of the great regional pairings in French cuisine, full stop. Clos Sainte Hune's electric acidity and mineral backbone cut straight through the fat of the braised pork and sausages, while the wine's subtle richness matches the dish's weight. It's not a coincidence this is on the list — it's the whole point of the restaurant.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Café d'Alsace is the rare neighborhood restaurant where the wine list actually reflects the food philosophy — and it backs that up with serious producers, fair pricing, and a sommelier who knows the list. Send your friends here, especially if they've been sleeping on Alsace.
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