Tribeca's love letter to French wine
Tribeca · New York · French · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Frenchette’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Frenchette lands like a confident handshake — 200-plus bottles, nearly all French, and clearly curated by people who actually drink this stuff. It's not trying to impress with Bordeaux first-growths or Napa cult bottles; it's trying to get you to try something you've never heard of, and it mostly succeeds. The warm room and leather banquettes make it feel like the right setting to let someone talk you into a Roussillon you didn't know you needed.
The list runs deep on France — Beaujolais, Loire, Languedoc, Roussillon, Champagne — with genuine producers who mean something, not just names that fill space. Bruno Duchene showing up by the glass is a signal: this is a list built by people who pay attention to what's happening in natural and artisan French wine right now. Spain and Italy get a nod but they're clearly the supporting cast here, which is fine because the French selections are that good. There are gaps if you're hunting for New World or want a broad international tour, but if you came to a place called Frenchette for a Malbec, that's on you.
The by-the-glass program runs 15 to 25 options in the $18–$35 range, which is honest money for this neighborhood and this caliber of wine. The selections rotate seasonally and skew toward natural and low-intervention producers — seeing Alex Foillard's Beaujolais-Villages at $19 and the YoYo Bateau Ivre Roussillon at $23 by the glass puts this program well ahead of most Tribeca competition. If you're indecisive, this is the restaurant where you just tell the staff what you're eating and let them pour.
Alex Foillard Beaujolais-Villages 2024 — $19
Alex Foillard is from the inner circle of Beaujolais natural wine royalty — son of Jean Foillard, who basically co-wrote the playbook. Getting this in a glass at $19 in Tribeca is a genuine steal, and it'll make the steak frites sing.
Bruno Duchene La Luna Cote Vermeille IGP 2024
Most people at this table will walk past a Cote Vermeille IGP without a second glance, and that's exactly why you should order it. Duchene is one of the most compelling natural producers working in Roussillon right now, making wines near the Spanish border that taste like nowhere else in France. At $25 a glass, this is the kind of pour that makes the whole evening feel like a discovery.
Hervé Rafflin La Meunier Premier Cru Extra Brut Champagne NV
At $35 a glass, this is the priciest pour on the by-the-glass list and while Rafflin is a solid grower-producer, the premium feels steep when there are more interesting options at nearly half the price. If you want bubbles, ask what's open — or save the splurge for a bottle.
YoYo Bateau Ivre Roussillon-V.d.F 2025 + Duck liver mousse
The Bateau Ivre has enough earthy funk and dark fruit tension to stand up to the richness of the duck liver mousse without overwhelming it — this is the kind of pairing that feels obvious in retrospect but takes a good list to make possible.
The Bottom Line
Frenchette has one of the most focused and genuinely exciting wine programs in Tribeca — deep on France, fair on price, and staffed by people who will steer you right. Yes, send a friend here for wine.
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
Georgetown · Washington · French
Lutèce is a strong place to explore French wine with a firm budget in mind. The posted list runs from a $64 Southern Rhône red to $600 Champagne, so tell Chris Ray what you want to spend and let that guide the conversation. Confirm prices and availability when you book or arrive.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Paso Robles · French
Cépage is a destination restaurant in a destination wine region — the kind of place you plan a Saturday around, not somewhere you stumble into. The wine program appears honest to its terroir and purpose, though pricing at this caliber of operation rarely favors the guest. If you're already out on Highway 46 with a reservation in hand, you're likely going to have a very good time; just don't arrive expecting a sprawling global list or a killer value-hunting opportunity.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Weston · Weston · French
The Left Bank is the rare small-town wine program that genuinely surprises you — not by accident, but because someone with real taste built it. If you're driving through Vermont and need a reason to stop in Weston, this list is it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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