Spain's Greatest Hits, No Filler
Gramercy · New York · Spanish · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 25, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Casa Mono reads like someone actually loves Spain — not just Rioja and Albariño, but the weird, the old, and the genuinely great. This isn't a list built to move safe bottles; it's built to make you rethink what Spanish wine can do. The depth here would embarrass restaurants twice the size.
The list runs 150-250 bottles deep and stays almost entirely within the Iberian Peninsula, which sounds limiting until you realize how much ground that covers. Rioja is well-stocked with producers like CVNE Imperial and Vega Sicilia anchoring the top tier, while Priorat gets serious representation via Alvaro Palacios' L'Ermita. Ribera del Duero checks in with Dominio de Pingus — not easy to find on a restaurant list anywhere. What really separates this from other Spanish lists is the attention to the edges: Envinate's Tenerife selections from the Canary Islands and Telmo Rodriguez's work across multiple Spanish regions add genuine range for anyone willing to explore past the obvious.
With 12-20 options by the glass, Casa Mono gives you enough to build a full progression through dinner without committing to a bottle. Expect Sherry to anchor the opening pours — smart given the tapas format — alongside Galician whites and a rotating cast of reds from Rioja and Ribera. The glass program feels curated, not just leftovers from what they can't sell by the bottle.
CVNE Imperial Rioja Reserva — $85
Imperial Reserva consistently punches above its price class — structured, age-worthy Rioja from one of the appellation's most reliable producers. In a room where bottles climb fast, this is your anchor.
Envinate Tenerife
Most people skip past Canary Islands wine without a second thought, which is exactly why you shouldn't. Envinate is making some of the most exciting, high-altitude volcanic wine in Spain right now — textural, savory, and completely unlike anything else on the list.
Vega Sicilia Unico
Yes, it's iconic. Yes, it's one of Spain's greatest wines. But restaurant markup on trophy bottles like Unico is punishing — you're paying a significant premium for the story as much as the wine. If that's your move, great. If you're here to drink well and smartly, the money goes further elsewhere on this list.
Alvaro Palacios L'Ermita Priorat + Confit Goat
L'Ermita is rich, concentrated, and built around old-vine Garnacha with serious mineral backbone from the llicorella slate soils of Priorat. Confit goat brings that same depth of fat and savory intensity — the wine's structure cuts through without overwhelming the dish. It's a big swing, but this is the right room for it.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Casa Mono is the rare restaurant where the wine list is as much a reason to go as the food. The markups sting on the high end, but the depth, the curation, and the staff who actually know this stuff make it one of the best Spanish wine experiences in New York.
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
King · Portland · Spanish
Urdaneta isn't trying to run a wine bar — it's trying to run a great Spanish tapas spot, and the wine list earns its keep by staying honest to that mission. If you care about drinking something that actually makes sense with your food, this list delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Arlington · Arlington · Spanish
SER is punching above its weight class for a casual Arlington tavern, and the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence it's held since 2022 is earned. If you love Spain and want a serious Spanish list without a white-tablecloth price tag, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Reno · Spanish
Sevilla is a reliable Spanish wine destination by Reno standards — the regional focus is commendable and there are genuinely good bottles hiding behind the tourist-friendly labels. Just go in knowing the markup will sting on the recognizable names, and steer toward the producers most people haven't heard of.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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