Eight Hundred Bottles Deep, No Apologies
Flatiron · New York · Contemporary American · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Gramercy Tavern’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Eight hundred SKUs walk into a room — and somehow it doesn't feel overwhelming. The list at Gramercy Tavern hits with quiet authority: no gimmicks, no novelty grabs, just serious wine organized by people who actually think about it. Wine director Chris Raftery has built something that rewards both the obsessive and the casually curious.
Burgundy is the spine of this list — Raveneau's Montée de Tonnerre and Marquis d'Angerville's Volnay Champans are not wines you stumble onto at most New York restaurants, and their presence here signals a program that shops with intention. Aged Napa, Willamette Valley Pinot, Finger Lakes producers, and a Madeira section that most restaurants wouldn't even attempt round out a list that genuinely covers ground. Bartolo Mascarello Barolo showing up tells you they're not just chasing trends. The gaps are minor — if you're hunting deep Rhône or Southern Italian, you may have to look harder — but this is a rare list where curiosity gets rewarded in almost every direction.
Twenty-eight pours by the glass is a serious commitment, running $10 to $38, and the range doesn't feel padded with filler bottles. The Château d'Yquem 2002 at $50 a glass is its own category — absurd in the best way, and a flex move that few restaurants could pull off credibly. A Chianti Classico on the list at $89 a bottle anchors the more approachable end without embarrassing anyone.
Chianti Classico — $89/bottle
In a list that reaches into four-figure Burgundy territory, a well-chosen Chianti Classico at this price is the smart order — food-friendly, honest, and won't make your credit card wince.
Finger Lakes selections
Most tables here are gunning for Burgundy or aged Napa, which means the Finger Lakes pours get overlooked — and that's a mistake. Raftery has spoken publicly about championing this region, and bottles from here are some of the most interesting, terroir-driven wines on a list full of heavy hitters.
Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Oregon Pinot is having a moment, which means markups have followed the hype. With Marquis d'Angerville Volnay Champans on the same list, the Willamette pour feels like a safe default that costs nearly as much as something far more compelling — spend a little more or go a different direction entirely.
Marquis d'Angerville Volnay Champans + Hanger Steak
Volnay's signature finesse and bright red fruit cut right through the char and iron of a wood-grilled hanger steak without either one bullying the other — this is exactly the kind of pairing that makes a Rager-level list worth the investment.
The Bottom Line
Gramercy Tavern is one of the few restaurants in New York where the wine list is as considered as the food — and yes, the markups are New York steep, but you're getting access to bottles and knowledge that justify the premium. Send every wine-curious friend here without hesitation.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Chef's Station earns its Reliable badge the honest way: a sommelier who cares, a list with actual regional perspective, and a room where drinking something good feels like the obvious move. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a trustworthy one.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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Golden Eagle Inn is the kind of reliable mountain wine list that won't embarrass you on a date or a client dinner, but it'll charge you for the altitude at every turn. The Brunello and the Bouchard Beaune are genuine bright spots — find those, skip the Veuve, and you'll have a good night.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Sweet Basil is the best wine list in Vail by a wide margin — 400 bottles, a real Cruvinet program, and a sommelier who put actual thought into the selections. The markups sting, but that's mountain dining; the quality justifies the trip.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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