Mediterranean soul, serious Old World cellar
West Village · New York · Mediterranean
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Mēdüzā Mediterrania’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Mēdüzā hits like a well-worn passport — Italy, France, Spain, and California all accounted for, each with genuine depth. For a candlelit Mediterranean spot on Hudson Street, the ambition here is real. This isn't a restaurant that threw a wine list together; someone thought hard about this.
Sommelier Shawn Teng has built a 400-600 bottle list that leans hard into Italy — and it shows in all the right ways. Barolo is represented by Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa, Brunello by Biondi-Santi and Ciacci Piccolomini; that's not filler, that's conviction. France holds its own with Burgundy Grand Crus from Faiveley and Domaine Drouhin, plus Champagne from Billecart-Salmon and Pol Roger. Spain gets real respect with Muga and La Rioja Alta anchoring the Rioja section, and the southern Italian corner — Donnafugata, Planeta, Feudi di San Gregorio's Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino — is exactly the kind of thing a Mediterranean-focused kitchen earns the right to pour.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a serious commitment, and the $12–$25 range means you can work your way through something interesting without ordering a bottle. We'd expect the Sicilian and southern Italian whites to anchor the glass list here, which makes sense given the food. Rotation isn't confirmed, but the breadth of the program suggests there's something worth asking Shawn about on any given night.
Feudi di San Gregorio Greco di Tufo — $14
Southern Italian whites this well-sourced rarely show up on NYC restaurant lists at entry-level glass prices. Greco di Tufo has the structure to handle the food here — crudo, mezze, whole fish — and it's the kind of bottle that costs $30 at a wine shop but drinks like a considered choice.
Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino
Biondi-Santi is the headline name on any Brunello list, but Ciacci Piccolomini quietly overdelivers for the price. It's the pick for anyone who wants to explore serious Sangiovese without paying the trophy-wine premium that Biondi-Santi commands.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Jordan is a fine wine — approachable, consistent — but at NYC restaurant markup it's hard to justify when the same dollars buy you something from Barolo or Rioja with far more personality and provenance. The Napa section feels like it exists to comfort the room, not excite it.
Muga Rioja Reserva + Lamb chops with herbs
Muga Reserva is built for exactly this situation — enough structure to stand up to the char on the lamb, enough fruit and savory depth to play with the herbed crust. It's a classic pairing that doesn't feel like a cliché when the wine is actually good.
The Bottom Line
Mēdüzā is the rare West Village spot where the wine list earns as much attention as the food — a Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator in its first year of eligibility says something. Yes, markups run steep as they do everywhere in this zip code, but the depth and curation here justify the trip.
NoHo · New York · Italian
Il Buco has one of the most compelling Italian wine lists in New York City — deep, principled, and staffed by people who actually care. The markup is real, so budget accordingly, but this is a room worth splurging in.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Downtown is a place where people order Champagne to celebrate, not to drink — and the wine program is built accordingly. If you're here for the vibe and someone else is paying, pop the Dom and enjoy it; if you actually care about what's in your glass, you're in the wrong room.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Upscale Seafood & Steakhouse
Three happy hour wines do not a wine program make. Ocean Prime is a place you eat well and drink safely — but if wine is a priority, this list will let you down before the bread basket arrives.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
STK Midtown is a great place to see and be seen, but the wine list is there to pad the check, not to excite you. If you're here for the experience, lean on the cocktails or grab a glass of Bonanza at the bar — don't expect the bottle list to reward any real curiosity.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Kitty Dare is punching well above its weight for an Atlanta restaurant wine list — fair prices, genuinely adventurous selections, and the rare willingness to pour all of it by the glass. We don't have visibility into service or food specifics, but the list alone is worth coming for. If you want a Lebanese white from 70-year-old vines for $13/glass, this is your place.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Fia has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — thoughtful white selections, a few hidden gems, and a Champagne section that sets a mood — but steep markups and a list that doesn't stray far from the expected hold it back from greatness. Go for the Aligoté or the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, skip the trophy bottles, and you'll drink well without feeling taken.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Monterey · Mediterranean
Dametra Cafe isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be one either — and that honesty is refreshing. The sparkling selection is genuinely fun, prices are fair across the board, and the few left-field picks like Chateau Musar Jeune give the list just enough personality. If you're in Monterey and want a bottle that doesn't feel like a markup shakedown, this is a safe call.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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