Downtown's Italian Wine List Done Right
TriBeCa · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Locanda Verde’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Locanda Verde lands with the confidence of a place that knows exactly what it is. Five hundred selections, Italy front and center, with Piedmont and Tuscany doing the heavy lifting — this is not a list built by someone who Googled 'popular Italian wines.' Wine Spectator handed them a Best of Award of Excellence in 2024, and the list earns it.
Piedmont is the star here: Barolo and Barbaresco from names like Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, and Gaja fill out a section that could hold its own against dedicated wine bars. Tuscany keeps pace with serious Brunello di Montalcino, Chianti Classico Riserva, Sassicaia, and Ornellaia — the heavy hitters are present and accounted for. The depth skews heavily Italian, which is exactly the right call for the kitchen they're running, though explorers looking beyond the boot will find slim pickings. For a focused, Italy-first program, it's hard to argue with the execution.
Twenty to thirty options by the glass is a generous program, with prices running $15 to $30 — expect rotating pours that reflect the bottle list's Italian focus. The staff knows what's on the pour list and can actually tell you about it, which is more than most TriBeCa dining rooms can say. It's a solid glass program for a trattoria of this caliber.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $50-$70 (bottle estimate)
Sangiovese at this level in a room this nice is the move — it's the entry point to serious Tuscan wine without breaking into three-figure territory, and it belongs on this table.
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco
Everyone reaches for the Barolo, but Giacosa's Barbaresco is often the more complete bottle at the table — slightly more accessible, no less serious, and frequently overlooked by guests fixated on the big name.
Sassicaia
It's a great wine. It's also a wine every restaurant marks up aggressively because the name sells itself. You're paying a premium for prestige here, not for an undiscovered bottle — save it for somewhere that prices it more honestly.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo + Lamb Chops
Conterno's Barolo has the tannic structure and earthy depth to match the char and richness of lamb — this is the kind of pairing that makes the whole table stop talking for a minute.
The Bottom Line
Locanda Verde is the rare hotel restaurant where the wine list is a genuine reason to show up, not an afterthought. The markups sting a little, but the depth, the staff knowledge, and the Italian focus make this one of the better places in downtown Manhattan to drink serious wine with your dinner.
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
· Atlanta · Italian
Bici's wine list won't knock you sideways, but it's honest, Italian-focused, and fairly priced — a reliable partner to the food. We'd send a friend here and tell them to skip the Sauvignon Blanc and go straight for the Greco.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Parkway / Elks Plaza · Gatlinburg · Italian
The Best Italian's wine list does exactly what it needs to do: keep casual diners happy, not drain wallets, and get out of the way of the garlic knots. We wouldn't drive to Gatlinburg for the wine, but if you're already there and want something decent with dinner, you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Italian
La Nonna brings a legitimately serious Italian cellar to a town where most restaurants are content to coast on their ski-town captive audience — and that deserves real credit. The markups are steep across the board, but the bones of the list are strong enough that the right bottle makes the whole evening.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
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
