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 →
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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.
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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
Liberty/Belmont Corridor · Youngstown · Italian Steakhouse
Station Square Ristorante is the wine list Youngstown doesn't know it has — deep Italian selections, prestige California anchors, and 450+ bottles that would turn heads in any city. The markups are real and there's no dynamic specials program to soften them, but if you're willing to invest in a bottle of Barolo or a Super Tuscan, this place delivers.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Owen Ayres Court · Eau Claire · Italian Steakhouse
Johnny's is doing the most with a crowd-pleasing formula — 160 bottles, a Wine Spectator nod, and a list that won't offend anyone. Markups on the trophy bottles are hard to defend, but if you know where to look, there's a solid night of wine here for a reasonable bill.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waterfront / Cabrillo Blvd · Santa Barbara · Italian Steakhouse
Ca' Dario Steakhouse is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants serious Italian bottles with their steak without having to navigate a 300-label monster list. The markups trend steep, especially on the celebrity bottles, but the Santa Barbara Syrah and Sicilian options give value-hunters a legitimate path.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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