Greek Grapes Finally Get a Seat at the Table
Downtown · Stamford · Greek · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 1, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Thirty labels isn't a deep list, but at a Greek taverna in downtown Stamford, the fact that it leans into Greek producers at all puts it ahead of most. The menu signals that someone actually thought about this — Assyrtiko shows up multiple times, Agiorgitiko gets a nod, and Provence rosé is represented with the expected crowd-pleasers.
The backbone of this list is Greek, and that's the right call. You've got Boutari Kretikos from Crete, a Santorini Collection Assyrtiko Trygos, and the GR Amethystos Sauvignon Blanc-Assyrtiko blend covering the white side with real regional credibility. The Aivalis Nemea Agiorgitiko rounds out the reds with a grape most diners in Connecticut have never tried. The non-Greek additions — Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc, La Marca Prosecco, the usual Provence rosés — feel like concessions to the crowd, and they probably need to be, but they don't add much beyond familiarity.
Eleven by-the-glass options is respectable for a 30-bottle list, meaning they're pouring a solid chunk of the program by the glass. We'd want to see more Greek options featured here specifically — if the Assyrtiko and Agiorgitiko aren't among those pours, that's a missed opportunity to get guests to try something they can't find at every other restaurant on the block.
GR Aivalis Nemea Agiorgitiko 2016 — null
Agiorgitiko from Nemea is Greece's answer to a crowd-pleasing red — think dark cherry, soft tannins, goes with everything on this menu. Still an underdog grape in the US, which means pricing tends to be fair relative to quality. Order it before everyone figures this out.
GR 9 Muses Assyrtiko Trebbiano Sauvignon Blanc 2018
A blend of Assyrtiko with Italian and French grapes sounds like it shouldn't work, but this kind of cross-regional white is exactly what Greek producers are experimenting with right now. Most tables will default to the Whispering Angel. Don't be most tables.
Whispering Angel Rosé Côtes de Provence 2019
Look, Whispering Angel is fine. It's also on every wine list in America at a markup that reflects the Instagram bottle more than what's inside. At a Greek taverna with actual Greek rosé options, this is the safe play for people who aren't really here for the wine.
GR Santorini Collection Assyrtiko Trygos 2017 + Grilled Octopus
Santorini Assyrtiko — briny, high-acid, bone dry — and grilled octopus is one of the more locked-in pairings on any Greek menu. The wine's salinity echoes the char on the octopus and cuts through any olive oil finish. This is the combo you come here for.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Kouzina is doing the right things with Greek wine in a city that doesn't ask for it, and that's worth something. Pricing runs a little hot, but if you stick to the Greek producers and let the Assyrtiko do its thing, you'll eat and drink well.
Downtown · Stamford · Southwestern / Mexican
Geronimo is a tequila bar first and a wine destination never — but for what it is, the wine list punches above its weight class. If you're the one at the table who doesn't want a margarita, you're not stranded here.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Stamford · Classic American Burgers and Malt Shop Fare
Lucky's isn't a wine destination, and it doesn't try to be — but the prices are fair, everything's available by the glass, and a Malbec with a cheeseburger is genuinely a good idea. Come for the malt, stay for the Malbec.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Stamford · Modern Italian, Tapas-Style Plates, Cocktail Bar
Zaza is a genuinely fun spot to drink wine if you show up on a Monday, when half-price bottles turn a steep list into a reasonable one. Come any other night and you're paying full markup on wines you could pick up at Total Wine on the way home.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Springdale · Stamford · Italian
Table 104 is punching above its Springdale weight class — the Italian selections alone make it worth a visit, and the Barolo by the glass is a straight-up steal. The markups get aggressive on the California side, but stick to the Italian half of this list and you'll drink very well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Side/Stillwater · Stamford · Japanese
Fin II is here for the sushi and hibachi, and the wine list makes no bones about that. Come for the food, order sake, and if you must have wine, grab the Riesling and move on.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Stamford · Japanese/Sushi
Come to Kashi for the sushi and the atmosphere — both deliver. But the wine list is an afterthought, and with a stylish room and serious food, that's a real missed opportunity. Stick to cocktails or sake and save the wine obsession for somewhere that reciprocates.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Central City · Salt Lake City · Greek
Manoli's wine list is doing something most restaurants in Salt Lake City won't bother trying — it's actually teaching you something about Greek wine without making you feel like you're in a classroom. If you're even mildly curious about Old World grapes beyond the usual suspects, this is worth your time.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Greenpoint · Brooklyn · Greek
Nerina is doing something genuinely rare in New York: building a focused, serious Greek wine program in a neighborhood that could coast on vibes alone. If you've ever wanted a guided tour of Greek wine without booking a flight to Athens, this is your table.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Seaport District · Boston · Greek
Trade is doing something genuinely rare in Boston: taking Greek wine seriously and giving diners the tools to explore it without a lecture. If you're eating anywhere near the Seaport and curious about what's actually in your glass, this is the move.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
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