Piedmont Royalty With an East River View
South Street Seaport · New York · Italian Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Carne Mare’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Carne Mare arrives with the same confidence as the room — Tuscan leather banquettes, Venetian mirrors, and a list that opens straight into Giacomo Conterno and Biondi-Santi without apology. This is a place that takes its Italian bona fides seriously, and the cellar backs it up. Wine Spectator handed them a Best of Award of Excellence in 2023 and the list earns it.
Piedmont is the undisputed star here — Barolo from Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, and Gaja anchor the Italian section with serious depth, and Barbaresco gets equal respect with Produttori del Barbaresco alongside Angelo Gaja. Tuscany doesn't get left behind: Biondi-Santi Brunello and Sassicaia round out Italy with the kind of names that make collectors put the phone down and just order. California shows up strong too — Caymus, Opus One, Ridge Monte Bello, Kistler, Far Niente — it's a classic, crowd-pleasing American lineup that fits the steakhouse half of the concept. France is present but feels more like a supporting cast: Chateau Margaux is the headliner, and the list doesn't appear to go much deeper than the hits.
With 20 to 35 pours on the glass list priced between $15 and $30, there's genuine range here — not just the usual Pinot Grigio and house Cab situation. That said, the list doesn't rotate aggressively, so regulars may find the same options month to month. Still, for a Seaport Italian chophouse, the by-the-glass program punches above its weight.
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco — $60-range
In a list loaded with Gaja and Conterno at serious collector prices, Produttori del Barbaresco is the honest answer — a co-op that consistently over-delivers on Nebbiolo without the trophy markup. If it's on the lower end of the bottle range, it's the smartest pour in the room.
Ridge Monte Bello
Everyone's eyes go straight to Screaming Eagle and Opus One, but Ridge Monte Bello is the California bottle that actually rewards patience and thought. It's a Cabernet-dominant blend from the Santa Cruz Mountains that ages like a great Bordeaux — and on a list this trophy-heavy, most tables walk right past it.
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine for a chain steakhouse. At Carne Mare, with Conterno and Giacosa on the same list, ordering Caymus is like flying business class and spending the whole flight watching the same movie you've seen five times. The markup won't be kind, and the list has better answers at every price point.
Bruno Giacosa Barolo + Gorgonzola-cured Wagyu strip loin
Giacosa's Barolo brings the kind of tannic structure and dried cherry depth that can actually stand up to the richness of Wagyu without getting steamrolled — and the gorgonzola curing adds a funky, salty edge that makes the wine's acidity snap to attention. This is the pairing that justifies the reservation.
The Bottom Line
Carne Mare is the real deal — a serious Italian cellar dropped inside a stunning room on the East River, backed by sommeliers who know what they're pouring. Markups are New York steakhouse-steep, but if you navigate toward the Italian side of the list, you'll drink exceptionally well.
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
· Peoria · Italian Steakhouse
Johnny's wine list is exactly what it is: a well-curated collection of American crowd-pleasers with markups to match the steakhouse zip code. You won't be wowed, but you won't be stuck either — and 28 glasses by the pour means you have options.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· College Station · Italian Steakhouse
The wine list here is an afterthought dressed up with four surprisingly good dessert wines. Come for the steak, order water or a cocktail through dinner, then let the back half of this list redeem itself.
Grocery Store
Acceptable
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Reston · Reston · Italian Steakhouse
Davio's Reston is a reliable wine destination if your expectations match the room — it's a steakhouse wine list, not a wine bar list. The by-the-glass breadth saves it, and a few smart picks like the Pieropan Soave keep it from being totally forgettable.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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