Italy's Greatest Hits, Deep in Times Square
Midtown West · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed La Masseria’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into La Masseria, you'd never guess you're steps from the Times Square chaos — the rustic Italian farmhouse decor does real work. The wine list arrives and it's immediately clear this place takes Italy seriously: Piedmont and Tuscany dominate, and the heavy hitters are all accounted for. It's a confident, focused list, even if it doesn't stray far from the Italian canon.
Somewhere between 150 and 250 bottles deep, the list reads like a greatest hits of the Italian peninsula — and that's not a complaint. Gaja and Ceretto anchor the Piedmont section with Barolo and Barbaresco that actually belong on a serious list, while Antinori and Sassicaia fly the Tuscan flag with authority. Brunello di Montalcino and Chianti Classico Riserva round out the south without much adventure beyond the Italian borders. If you came hoping for a Burgundy or a Willamette Valley Pinot, you're at the wrong table — but if you want Italy done right, La Masseria delivers.
With 12 to 20 options by the glass running $12 to $22, there's enough range to drink well without committing to a bottle. The pours skew predictably Italian — expect Chianti, likely a Barbera or Pinot Grigio, and possibly a Super Tuscan if you're lucky. Rotation seems limited; this is not a by-the-glass program built for discovery, but it's functional and the quality floor is respectable.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $55
In a list where Gaja starts climbing fast, a well-made Chianti Classico Riserva in the $50s is your anchor — structure, savory depth, and enough acid to carry you through a whole meal without draining your wallet.
Marchesi di Barolo Barolo
Marchesi di Barolo doesn't carry the cache of Gaja or Ceretto, so it often gets overlooked on lists where those names are present. That's a mistake — it's a legitimate, terroir-honest Barolo at a friendlier price point, and it rewards anyone willing to look past the flashier labels.
Sassicaia
Sassicaia is a genuinely great wine, but it's also one of the most marked-up bottles on every upscale Italian list in New York. You're paying a premium for the name here, and in a Times Square restaurant, that premium climbs even higher. Save it for a retailer or a wine bar where the markup doesn't make your eyes water.
Barbaresco (Piedmont) + Braised Lamb
Barbaresco's combination of high acidity, firm tannins, and earthy red fruit is built for slow-cooked meat. Braised lamb's richness and herbal notes meet the wine halfway — neither one overwhelms the other, and you end up with something better than either on its own.
The Bottom Line
La Masseria is a reliable Italian wine destination that earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — the Italian depth is real and the producers are legit. Just know you're paying Midtown New York prices for the privilege, and the list isn't going to surprise you.
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
· Lansing · Italian
Carrabba's Lansing isn't a wine destination — it's a chain with a four-bottle list that skews heavily toward one California region and ignores everything Italian about the menu. Come for the pasta, skip the wine program, or catch one of their Paso Robles wine dinners if the timing works out.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
· Las Cruces · Italian
La Bella Vita's wine list won't make a wine geek's heart race, but it's fairly priced, almost entirely available by the glass, and leans into its Italian identity in the right places. Send a friend here if they want a solid glass of Chianti without a lesson.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· West Palm Beach · Italian
Cafe Sapori's wine list is a reliable Italian-leaning companion — not adventurous, not cheap, but curated enough that the right picks reward you. Skip the Whispering Angel, dig into the Tuscans, and you'll leave satisfied.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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