The West Village's Quirkiest Italian Wine Rabbit Hole
West Village · New York · Italian Enoteca
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Gottino’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Gottino reads like a love letter to the parts of Italy most wine lists completely ignore — we're talking Nosiola from Trentino, Grillo from Sicily, obscure Nebbiolo bottlings that aren't Barolo. It's dense, it's Italian-only, and if you came in expecting a Pinot Grigio or a safe Chianti, you're going to have to recalibrate.
With somewhere between 80 and 120 bottles, Gottino punches well above its weight for a small West Village enoteca. The focus is relentlessly Italian — and not the greatest-hits version. Pinot Bianco, Nosiola, Grillo, and regional Nebbiolo all show up, which tells you someone put serious thought into sourcing wines that don't show up on every other Italian list in Manhattan. There are gaps — you won't find a lot of depth in Tuscany or Piedmont's blockbuster appellations — but that's almost the point. This is a list built for exploration, not recognition.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is genuinely impressive for a room this size, and the selections lean into the same esoteric Italian ethos as the bottle list. The glass program is where Gottino really earns its keep — you can work your way through a Nosiola and a Sangiovese Rosato in one sitting without committing to a bottle, which is exactly how a wine bar should work.
Pecorino Terre — $11
A glass pour priced below retail — yes, below retail. That almost never happens. It's a crisp, textured white from central Italy that most guests will walk right past, which means more for the people paying attention.
Nosiola
Nosiola is one of the most obscure indigenous white grapes in Trentino, and most people have never heard of it. Gottino stocks it, which is reason enough to order it. It's leaner and more mineral than you'd expect — think Alpine freshness — and it's the kind of wine you'll talk about on the way home.
Sauvignon Blanc
At $48 a bottle against a $10 retail price, this is a 380% markup — and it's the one place on this list where the kitchen is clearly just cashing a check. If you want white wine, the Pinot Bianco or Nosiola will be more interesting and far better value.
Nebbiolo + Braised meats
Nebbiolo's naturally high acidity and firm tannins are built for fatty, slow-cooked meat. Gottino's braised preparations give the wine something to grip onto, and the whole thing lands exactly where rustic Italian wine and food should — like it was always supposed to work this way.
The Bottom Line
Gottino is the rare wine bar that actually commits to a point of view — all Italy, all the time, and not the obvious stuff. If you're willing to let the list take you somewhere unfamiliar, it almost always delivers.
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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