French soul, Midtown address, real wine ambition
Midtown East · New York · American, French · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Copinette’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walk into Copinette's chandelier-lit dining room and the wine list feels like it belongs somewhere more serious — in a good way. For a Franco-American bistro tucked off First Avenue, this is not the obligatory, afterthought wine program you'd expect. The Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (held since 2020) isn't just wallpaper here; the list earns it.
France is the backbone and it shows — Burgundy anchors the cellar with names like Faiveley and the obligatory nod to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti for the table that's celebrating something serious. Bordeaux is well-represented with Château Lynch-Bages and Château Léoville-Barton giving the list genuine Left Bank credibility. The Rhône shows up through Chapoutier and Guigal, and Alsace gets a proper seat at the table via Trimbach and Zind-Humbrecht — a detail most bistros skip entirely. California rounds things out with Ridge and Jordan for Cab lovers and Kistler and Kongsgaard for Chardonnay drinkers who want something to talk about.
Somewhere between 12 and 20 options by the glass, priced $14–$22 — respectable range for the neighborhood. The glass program skews French, which is exactly right given the kitchen's orientation, though we'd love to see more rotation to keep regulars guessing. As it stands, it's a solid program that won't embarrass anyone but isn't going to surprise you either.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley — $45–$60 range (bottle)
Jordan delivers polished, food-friendly Cab that overperforms at its price point — reliable, crowd-pleasing without being boring, and a steal relative to the Left Bank bottles sharing the same page.
Trimbach Riesling, Alsace
Most tables here are chasing Burgundy or Bordeaux and completely sleep on the Alsace section. Trimbach Riesling is one of the most food-versatile whites in the world — high acid, zero residual sugar, handles the Truffle Burrata and the Lobster Risotto with equal grace. Nobody orders it. You should.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (any bottling)
If DRC is on the list, the markup in a Midtown bistro context is going to be punishing. Unless someone else is paying, this is a wine better hunted at retail or at a restaurant that's built its entire program around proper DRC cellaring and service.
Guigal Crozes-Hermitage Rouge + Copinette Burger
Northern Rhône Syrah has the dark fruit and peppery backbone to stand up to a serious burger without overwhelming it — Guigal's Crozes brings enough structure to cut through fat and enough rusticity to feel right at a table where someone just ordered a burger at a French bistro.
The Bottom Line
Copinette is punching above its Midtown-bistro weight class with a French-focused list that has genuine depth and some exciting names. Markups keep it from being a destination wine experience, but if you're already here for dinner, drink the Alsace and be happy.
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
· 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
Huntly · Huntly · American, French
Houndstooth is the kind of place you'd never stumble across, which is exactly why we're telling you about it. Drive out, let someone else drive back, and let the list do the work.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Huntington Beach · Huntington Beach · American, French
Henry's is a reliable, well-tended California wine program with a genuine expert behind it — not flashy, but consistently good. If you're eating on PCH and want a bottle that was actually chosen with care, this is your spot.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Fargo · West Fargo · American, French
Maxwells is the kind of wine program that earns real respect in context — a thoughtfully stocked, sommelier-guided list in a city where 'wine program' often means a Merlot and a Pinot Grigio. If you're passing through West Fargo or lucky enough to live there, this is where you drink.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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