Greek Grapes You Forgot Existed, Done Right
Central City · Salt Lake City · Greek · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 13, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You open the list at Manoli's and immediately realize this isn't the usual Caesar salad wine situation where Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay sits at the top of a laminated card. Someone here actually thought about this. The Greek-forward lineup telegraphs a kitchen that takes its identity seriously, and the wine list is trying to match that energy.
Forty to sixty bottles isn't a lot, but Manoli's uses the space wisely — leaning hard into Greek varietals like Assyrtiko from Santorini, Xinomavro from northern Greece, and Agiorgitiko from the Peloponnese, with Southern Italy and Southern France filling in the gaps. It's a coherent, regionally honest list that actually makes sense with the food on the table. What you won't find is a deep cellar or much range outside the Mediterranean orbit, which is either a feature or a bug depending on what you came for. The pricing keeps bottles in the $40–$120 band, which in today's restaurant landscape is refreshingly sane.
Ten to fifteen by-the-glass options is a solid count for a restaurant this size, and the glass list appears to reflect the bottle program's Greek backbone — meaning you can actually explore Assyrtiko or Xinomavro without committing to a full bottle. Pours land in the $12–$18 range, which is fair given the quality of the grapes being poured. We didn't spot evidence of a rotating glass program, so what's on the list is what you're getting.
Assyrtiko (Santorini) — $14
Santorini Assyrtiko by the glass in the low-to-mid teens is a genuine deal — this is a volcanic, saline white that trades blows with Premier Cru Chablis and often costs more to import. Ordering it here at this price is the obvious move.
Xinomavro
Most tables skip past it because nobody knows how to pronounce it, but Xinomavro is Greece's answer to Barolo — high acid, firm tannins, serious structure. Order it with the lamb chops and stop sleeping on northern Greece.
Agiorgitiko
Agiorgitiko is a fine grape, but it's the most approachable and widely exported of the Greek reds on this list — meaning you've probably had something similar at a lesser price elsewhere. With Xinomavro sitting right there, this one's the safe choice for safe people.
Assyrtiko (Santorini) + Grilled Octopus
Charred octopus and volcanic island white wine is one of the most geographically logical pairings on earth. Assyrtiko's bright acidity and sea-salt minerality cut right through the smokiness and give the dish room to breathe. This is the one.
🎲 The Bottom Line
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.
Sugar House · Salt Lake City · Steakhouse and Seafood with Scandinavian/European Influences
Kimi's earns its reputation as one of Salt Lake City's better nights out, and the wine program has real bones — a sommelier, a thoughtful Italian-leaning list, and proper glassware. Just go in knowing the markups are aggressive on the bubbles, anchor yourself to the Riesling if you're watching the spend, and let the room do the rest of the work.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
9th & 9th · Salt Lake City · Middle Eastern
Mazza isn't a wine destination, but it's doing something genuinely interesting by building a list around Lebanese producers that actually belong on the table with this food. If you're in Salt Lake City and want to drink something you won't find anywhere else in town, this is worth a detour.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Japanese and Sushi
Takashi is a great restaurant with a wine list that's just along for the ride — functional, safe, and a little overpriced relative to what you get. Go for the sushi, order the Cloudy Bay or the Oregon Pinot, and don't expect the wine program to keep pace with the kitchen.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Raw Bar
Market Street Oyster Bar is a reliable spot for wine if you calibrate your expectations accordingly — this is a crowd-pleaser list built for a crowd-pleaser room, and it mostly delivers. Send a friend here for oysters and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, not for a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cottonwood Heights · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill Cottonwood is a dependable neighborhood anchor with a wine list that does exactly what it needs to — nothing more. Send a friend here for the oysters and the Sonoma-Cutrer; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · Salt Lake City · Seafood and Steakhouse
Market Street Grill is a solid, dependable restaurant that deserves a more adventurous wine list — the oyster program alone could support something far more interesting than what's here. Come for the seafood, order the Sonoma-Cutrer, and don't spend too much time staring at the bottle list hoping it changes.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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
Fulton Market · Chicago · Greek
Lyra earns its Wine Spectator nod by doing something genuinely rare in Chicago: building a wine list that takes Greek producers seriously and prices them fairly. If you've been sleeping on Greek wine, this is the restaurant that will change that.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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