Italy's Greatest Hits, All Under One Roof
Midtown Manhattan · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list lands on the table like a small novel — and not the kind you skim. This is a love letter to Italy, written with real conviction, and it's clear from the first page that whoever built this list actually cares. Midtown Manhattan doesn't always earn that kind of attention.
Four hundred-plus bottles and almost all roads lead to Italy, which is exactly the right call here. Tuscany and Piedmont anchor everything: you've got Sassicaia and Ornellaia sitting alongside Tignanello, Brunello from Biondi-Santi, and Barolos from both Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa — that's not a list, that's a statement. Gaja's Barbaresco makes an appearance, and Castello di Ama's Chianti Classico Riserva gives you something to drink without requiring a second mortgage. The gaps are minor — non-Italian options feel like an afterthought — but when Italy is this well-represented, you don't miss them.
Twenty to thirty pours by the glass is genuinely impressive, and the quality tracked through the bottle list doesn't drop off when you go half-measure. Rotating options include Super Tuscans and regional Italian varieties that go well beyond the usual Pinot Grigio-and-Chianti defaults. If you're doing a solo dinner or splitting a bottle feels like overkill, you're still in good hands.
Chianti Classico Riserva, Castello di Ama — $50–$70
In a list heavy with four-figure bottles, Castello di Ama's Riserva delivers serious Sangiovese credibility without the sticker shock. It's a producer that earns its reputation every vintage, and at the entry point of this list's price range, it's the move for anyone who wants to drink well without doing math.
Amarone, Allegrini
Everyone's eyes go straight to the Barolo and Super Tuscan section, and Allegrini's Amarone gets overlooked as a result. That's a mistake. This is a structured, serious wine with the kind of dark fruit and grip that holds up beautifully against the heavier pasta dishes and braised meats on this menu. It's the sleeper on the list.
Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido
Look, Sassicaia is a genuinely great wine. But it's also one of the most recognizable names in Italian wine, which means restaurants know they can charge whatever they want for it. At a Midtown restaurant with a prestige-forward list, the markup on a bottle this famous will hurt. You can drink incredibly well here without reaching for the trophy bottle.
Barolo, Bruno Giacosa + Pappardelle with Wild Boar
Giacosa's Barolo brings high-toned rose and tar aromatics with serious tannic backbone — exactly what you need to stand up to a rich, gamey wild boar ragu. The acidity cuts through the fat, the tannins play off the braised meat, and the whole thing tastes like someone planned it, even if you stumbled into it.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Masseria dei Vini has built one of the most focused, credible Italian wine lists in New York, and the Best of Award of Excellence since 2017 is well-earned. The markups sting, and you won't get a dedicated sommelier walking you through it — but if you know what you want, or you're willing to explore, this list rewards 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
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
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.