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 →
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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.
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
Ocean Ave / downtown · Carmel By The Sea · Mediterranean
Dametra is a lively Carmel institution that takes its bottle list more seriously than its casual vibe suggests — the markups sting, but the range is genuinely interesting and a few bottles here are worth seeking out. Send a friend who wants something special with dinner, just tell them to skip the Caymus.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kohala Coast · Kailua-Kona · Mediterranean
Meridia has the setting, the concept, and the menu to deserve a genuinely interesting wine list — instead it serves up resort-hotel boilerplate at punishing markups. Order the paella, drink the cocktails, and save the serious wine for somewhere that cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Helena · Helena · Mediterranean
Mediterranean Breeze is doing what it says on the tin — a relaxed room, recognizable bottles, and $6 glass pours that won't break anyone's budget. Skip the mid-tier markups, aim for Jordan or Kim Crawford, and you'll have a perfectly decent night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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