French Classics Meet Korean Fire
Midtown West · New York · Korean · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Kochi NYC’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Kochi, you don't expect a Burgundy-heavy list to be your companion for a Korean tasting menu — and that's exactly the point. The wine program feels deliberate, almost audacious, built around the idea that French acidity and earthiness can hold their own against doenjang, gochujang, and charred short rib. It's a thesis, and it mostly works.
The list runs 150-200 bottles deep with a clear French spine: Burgundy anchors the red side with producers like Henri Jayer and, yes, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti at the top of the pyramid, while Alsace gets serious representation from Trimbach and Zind-Humbrecht — a smart call given how well those aromatics bridge Korean fermented flavors. Loire Valley shows up strong with Dagueneau and Henri Bourgeois, and the Rhône corner brings Château Rayas and Domaine Tempier for anyone who wants something with more grip and funk. Champagne by Krug and Billecart-Salmon covers the opening pour with no shortcuts. The gap is everywhere outside France — this is not a list for New World explorers, and that's a conscious choice.
Twelve to eighteen pours by the glass is a solid number for a restaurant this focused, with prices running $12–$25 — respectable for New York, especially when the pours likely lean toward the producers already in the cellar. There's no evidence of aggressive rotation or a dedicated BTG program beyond the standard offering, but with Alsace and Loire options presumably accessible by the glass, you can drink well without committing to a full bottle.
Henri Bourgeois Sancerre — $15
Loire Sauvignon Blanc at this price point cuts through banchan and seafood preparations with precision — bright acidity, mineral edge, and enough weight to handle Kochi's umami-forward dishes without getting lost.
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge
Most people chase the Burgundy names here and miss this Mourvèdre-driven southern Rhône — it's earthy, herb-edged, and genuinely built for charred meat. Order it with the galbi and thank yourself later.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
Look, DRC is always DRC, but at a Korean tasting menu in Midtown West, the markup on bottles at this tier is severe, and the delicate tertiary complexity gets bulldozed by fermented and grilled flavors. Drink it somewhere you can sit with it properly.
Trimbach Riesling Alsace + Doenjang-based course
Trimbach's Riesling is dry, precise, and has that petrol-and-citrus backbone that mirrors the funk and depth of fermented soybean paste without competing with it — one of the more intuitive pairings on a list full of interesting choices.
The Bottom Line
Kochi is the rare restaurant where the wine list feels like part of the concept, not an afterthought — French producers chosen to wrestle thoughtfully with Korean flavors, and a sommelier in Olive Ko who clearly believes in the pairing. Steep on price at the top end, but if you're eating the tasting menu anyway, lean into the Alsace and Loire pours and let the room do its thing.
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
· 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
Downtown Fringe / North Wilson · Bozeman · Korean
Whistle Pig isn't a wine destination, but it's doing more than most Korean casual spots bother to do, and a few smart picks — especially the Occidental and the Riesling — make the list worth engaging with. Come for the bibimbap, order the wine, don't overthink it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hell's Kitchen · New York · Korean
A Korean handroll bar with a Wine Spectator Award and a Burgundy-forward list curated by someone who clearly thought about what goes in your glass alongside what goes in your hand — that's a Wild Card worth cashing in. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Northeast Portland · Portland · Korean
Han Oak is the rarest kind of restaurant wine program: one where the list was built for the food, not the other way around. Send your friends here, but tell them to surrender to the format — it's worth it.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
