Eight Hundred Bottles Deep, Zero Excuses
Midtown · New York · French Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 23, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Le Bernardin lands like a small novel — 800 to 1,000 selections, bound with the kind of quiet confidence that doesn't need to shout. France dominates the early chapters, as you'd expect, but flip a few pages and you're in Tokaj, then Santa Barbara, then back to Burgundy. This is a list built by people who actually drink wine.
France is the obvious backbone here — Loire Valley, Burgundy, and Champagne all get serious treatment, with producers like Domaine Pellé in Menetou-Salon and Domaine Testut in Chablis showing that the team isn't just buying famous labels. The Burgundy section digs into village and premier cru territory, with David Duband's Nuits-St-Georges 2022 as a standout example of a real producer making the cut. Spain shows up with Rioja (Sierra de Toloño), California gets a thoughtful nod via Tyler Winery's Pinot Noir, and the inclusion of Moric Tokaji from Hungary signals that someone here is paying attention beyond the obvious. The one gap worth noting: if you're hunting for natural wine or anything left-field, this isn't your playground — the list skews classical and polished throughout.
The by-the-glass program runs 10-plus options across whites, reds, and Champagne, ranging from $19 to $42 a pour — yes, $42 is a real number on this list, but at Le Bernardin you're not exactly here to pinch pennies. Louis Roederer Vintage Brut 2016 by the glass is a genuine flex and the kind of option that justifies the program's existence. The range covers enough ground that you can build a multi-course glass progression without doubling back.
Domaine Pellé Menetou-Salon Sauvignon Blanc 2024 — $19
The entry point of the by-the-glass list and easily the sharpest pour for the money. Menetou-Salon is Loire Sauvignon Blanc doing Sancerre's job at a fraction of the ego — and at $19 in a room where everything else costs more than your last car payment, it's the move.
Sierra de Toloño Rioja 2023
Most people at Le Bernardin are tunneling through the Burgundy section and ignoring everything else. Sierra de Toloño is a small, traditionally-minded Rioja producer that flies completely under the radar — the kind of wine that makes you wonder why you ever paid three times as much for the same satisfaction.
Louis Roederer Vintage Brut 2016
Look, it's a great Champagne and we're not disputing that. But at fine-dining markup in Midtown Manhattan, you're paying a significant premium over retail for the privilege of drinking it here. If you're on a budget-conscious evening (relative term at Le Bernardin), put that money toward an extra glass of something from the Loire instead.
Domaine Testut Chablis + Warm lobster carpaccio
Chablis and shellfish is one of those combinations that exists for a reason — the steely, mineral backbone of Testut's unoaked Chardonnay cuts right through the richness of warm lobster without overwhelming it. Classic for a reason.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Le Bernardin's wine program is one of the most serious in New York, full stop — the depth is real, the staff clearly knows what's in those bottles, and the glassware is exactly what you'd want holding it. The markups are steep and there are no deals to be found, but if you're eating here, you already made your peace with that.
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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