Tribeca's love letter to French wine
Tribeca · New York · French · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 25, 2026
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.
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
College Hill · Wichita · French
Georges is doing something genuinely impressive for its market — a focused, honest French wine list in a city where that's not a given. It's not a deep cellar and the BTG program could use more energy, but as a neighborhood bistro wine experience, it punches well above its zip code.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Skaneateles / Greater Syracuse · Syracuse · French
Joelle's isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a French bistro that takes its wine list seriously enough to match the food, and that's exactly what it delivers. If you're eating here and drinking French, you'll leave satisfied.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Montrose · Houston · French
The Marigold Club is Houston's most interesting new wine room for anyone who thinks Champagne is a food group and France is the only country that matters — in the best possible way. Go on a Sunday, order the Delamotte, eat the Duck Wellington, and tip generously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.