Spain's Greatest Hits, No Filler
Gramercy · New York · Spanish · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Casa Mono’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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.
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
Atlanta · Atlanta · Spanish
Buena Vida doesn't have the deepest list in Atlanta, but they've done real work curating twenty bottles that actually match the food and the spirit of the place — and with 18 pours available by the glass at fair prices, it's one of the more inviting wine setups on the tapas scene. Send your friends here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Newark · Newark · Spanish
Spanish Tavern is a Newark institution worth visiting for the atmosphere and the paella, but the wine program doesn't quite match the room's ambitions. Drink something Spanish, keep it simple, and let the food carry the night.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Bethesda · Bethesda · Spanish
Spanish Diner Bethesda is a wildcard: a laid-back all-day spot with a wine list that has no business being this interesting. The markups keep it from being a destination wine play, but if you're in Bethesda and want to drink actual Spain with your tapas, this is your move.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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