Mediterranean Soul, Markup Could Use Some Work
Downtown Princeton · Princeton · Mediterranean and Italian-inspired · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 22, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Mediterra’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Mediterra's wine list feels like it was built by someone who actually cares about the region — Spain, Italy, and southern France get real representation, not just token bottles. The warm, rustic-modern room makes you want to order a carafe of something and stay for hours. The list earns its place in this space, even if the pricing will make you do a little mental math.
The list leans into its Mediterranean identity with conviction — Rioja, Friuli, Rías Baixas, and Toscana all show up with actual producer names worth knowing, not just generic country bins. Bastianich Vespa Bianco from Friuli is a legitimately interesting white that most restaurants in this price tier wouldn't bother stocking. The Argentina presence (Crios Malbec, Santa Julia Cab) feels a bit like filler — fine bottles, but they don't push the Mediterranean narrative forward. Gaps exist in the southern Italian and Greek categories, which is a missed opportunity given the kitchen's direction.
The by-the-glass program runs an estimated 12-18 options, which is a healthy spread for a restaurant of this size. Prices land in the $12–$16 range, which is reasonable for Princeton but not exactly a bargain given what's being poured. Rotation appears static — this list reads like it hasn't been refreshed in a while, and there's no evidence of a seasonal glass program keeping things interesting.
La Cana Albariño Rías Baixas — $48
Yes, $48 for a $19 retail bottle stings a little, but Albariño is genuinely one of the best matches for Mediterra's seafood-forward menu — bright acidity, saline minerality, and enough weight to hold up to grilled octopus or any shellfish on the table. Among the markups here, this one at least delivers on flavor payoff.
Bastianich Vespa Bianco Friuli
Nobody at this table is ordering it, which is exactly why you should. A blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon, and Picolit from one of Friuli's most serious producers — it's aromatic, textured, and completely different from anything else on this list. Most diners here will default to the Albariño or a Cab; the Vespa Bianco rewards the curious.
Crios Malbec Mendoza
A 223% markup on a $13 grocery store staple is a tough ask. Crios is a perfectly decent, widely available Malbec that you've almost certainly had before — and at $42 a bottle here, you're paying Princeton real estate prices for a wine that belongs at a backyard cookout. Order literally anything else on this list.
Bodegas LAN Crianza Rioja + Grilled Octopus
Tempranillo-based Rioja Crianza has the acidity to cut through charred, smoky proteins and enough red fruit to complement the paprika and olive oil notes that typically come with Mediterranean octopus preparations. LAN is a reliable, classic Rioja house — this is the kind of pairing that makes the meal feel intentional.
The Bottom Line
Mediterra's wine list is doing more right than wrong — the regional focus is genuine, the selection has some real highlights, and the overall experience matches the room. But the markup math here works against you on several bottles, and without a dedicated wine program driving specials or glass rotations, it settles comfortably into reliable-but-not-destination territory.
· Princeton · Steakhouse
Ruth's Chris Princeton delivers a competent, corporately assembled wine program that covers the bases without taking any real swings. Markups are steep across the board — this is not the place to drop serious money on a bottle — but the all-by-the-glass format and the Trimbach and Catena Zapata picks give you room to drink well if you choose carefully. Come for the steak; drink strategically.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Palmer Square · Princeton · Italian / Pizza & Wine Bar
Teresa's has the bones of something genuinely good — a wine-bar concept in a charming Princeton setting, with an Italian-leaning list and the kind of casual-but-intentional vibe that makes you want to linger over a second glass. We'd call it a Wild Card because the setup is promising and the concept is right, but without a fully sourced list in hand, we're betting on potential as much as proof. Worth a walk-in to find out.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Princeton · Wine Shop with Tastings
Princeton Corkscrew is doing something genuinely useful: shop-floor pricing on a focused, mostly Old World list that punishes nobody for wanting to drink well without a restaurant markup. The Dubreuil-Fontaine Beaune Premier Cru at $67.50 and the Tardieu-Laurent Rhône Blanc at $19 both represent the kind of value that makes a wine list worth paying attention to. If you're in Princeton and care about what's in your glass, this deserves a stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Princeton · Italian / American
Metro North's wine program is honest, approachable, and priced fairly for what it is — a crowd-pleasing list that gets out of the way and lets you eat dinner. If you're looking for discovery or depth, you won't find it here, but if you want a glass of something reliable at a fair price, the Nebbiolo and the Rosso di Montalcino are quietly doing the real work on this list.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Princeton · Farm-to-Table / New American
Brick Farm Tavern has no business having a wine list this interesting, and that's exactly the point. The markups are real — this isn't a value destination — but the curation earns genuine respect, especially with the local Unionville pours and the Slovenian Rebula Brut as curveballs. If you're driving out to Princeton for the farm-to-table experience anyway, the wine list is a legitimate reason not to skip it.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Princeton · Italian / Pizza
LaScala's Fire Princeton offers a functional, crowd-friendly wine list that does the job without making any bold moves. The by-the-glass selection is genuinely broad and pricing stays reasonable at the lower end, but markups on recognizable names like Kim Crawford and Veuve Clicquot are steep enough to notice. Send a friend here for a casual pizza night — just point them toward the Vermentino or the Prosecco and away from the big-name bottles.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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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