Florence Called. It Wants Its Wine List Back.
West Village · New York · Tuscan Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 25, 2026
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.
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
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