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.
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
Rainbow Curve / I-49 Corridor · Bentonville · Italian
The Bertani Amarone and Col d'Orcia Brunello sitting on this list are like finding a Rolex in a vending machine — impressive that they exist, but the surrounding context makes the whole thing feel absurd. Come for the pasta, drink the Chianti Classico, and lower your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Square · Bentonville · Italian
Tavola Trattoria isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it has enough going on — solid Italian depth, fair pricing, reasonable glass options — to earn your business on a date night in Bentonville. Stick to the classics and let the balcony do the rest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Central Ave · Bentonville · Italian
Sestina is doing something genuinely interesting for Bentonville — an Italian-focused, bubble-forward list with real producers and regional ambition tucked into a small but considered 26-bottle program. The red wine gap and unknown by-the-glass program hold it back from greatness, but if you're in Northwest Arkansas and want to drink better than average, this is the spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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