Florence Called. It Wants Its Wine List Back.
West Village · New York · Tuscan Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 25, 2026
RagingWine reviewed I Sodi’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list at I Sodi reads like a love letter to Tuscany — and a pretty unapologetic one at that. There's no hedging with a token California Cab or New Zealand Sauv Blanc; this is Italy, full stop. If you came here for anything else, you came to the wrong restaurant.
The list leans hard into Tuscany's greatest hits, and the hits are genuinely great — Montevertine Le Pergole Torte and Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve are two of the region's benchmark Super Tuscans, and their presence signals a kitchen and front-of-house that actually care. Isole e Olena's Chianti Classico rounds things out as the everyday anchor, giving you a classic-label entry point before the prices climb. The range tops out around $500, which means there's cellar ambition here, but the mid-tier selection between the entry wines and the marquee bottles is where we'd want more data. What we can say is that the Italian-only focus is a feature, not a bug — just don't show up hoping to explore Burgundy.
By-the-glass specifics weren't available during our visit, but given the bottle list's commitment to quality Italian producers, we'd expect the pours to skew Tuscan and fairly serious. That said, if the BTG program doesn't rotate or offer at least a few options that reflect the bottle list's depth, it's a missed opportunity in a neighborhood full of wine-savvy diners. Worth asking your server what's open before committing.
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico — $50–$70 (est.)
If you're not ordering the Flaccianello or Le Pergole Torte, this is where the list earns its keep. Isole e Olena is one of Chianti Classico's most consistent producers — elegant, food-friendly Sangiovese that punches well above its price tier. At the low end of this list's range, it's the move.
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico
Most people at a table like this will chase the Super Tuscans, and fair enough — but Isole e Olena's Chianti Classico is the bottle that actually lives up to the room. It's restrained, terroir-driven, and made for food. Don't sleep on it because it doesn't have a famous nickname.
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve
This is a legitimately great wine — no question. But at a West Village restaurant with its markups, you're paying a premium on top of an already premium bottle. Unless someone else is buying, you can drink extremely well here for half the price and save Flaccianello for a night when you can really focus on it.
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte + Lasagna
Le Pergole Torte is 100% Sangiovese — high acid, fine tannin, built for the table. Against I Sodi's lasagna, which leans rich and deeply savory in the Florentine tradition, that acidity cuts through the fat and the wine's earthy complexity mirrors the beef. It's the kind of pairing that makes the whole meal feel intentional.
The Bottom Line
I Sodi isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's trying to be Florence, and the wine list serves that mission well. If you're a Tuscany obsessive, this is your place; if you want range or value, temper your expectations before you sit down.
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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