Hell's Kitchen's Quiet Italian Wine Anchor
Hell's Kitchen · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Nizza’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Take Vibe Match and we’ll tell you what to order here.
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Nizza reads like a love letter to the Italian peninsula — organized, confident, and not trying too hard to impress. For a cozy trattoria sandwiched between pre-theater tourists and Hell's Kitchen regulars, the depth here is a genuine surprise. Gabriel Richter's fingerprints are all over it: this is a list built by someone who actually cares.
Italy gets the full treatment — Piedmont anchors the list with serious Barolo and Barbaresco representation, while Tuscany brings the heavy hitters: Sassicaia, Tignanello, and Brunello di Montalcino all make appearances. Chianti Classico Riserva holds down the mid-tier with the kind of everyday-drinking credibility that makes Italian wine lists worth returning to. The north gets its moment too, with Alto Adige Pinot Grigio and Gavi di Gavi offering lighter alternatives that don't feel like afterthoughts. What's missing is anything outside Italy — but honestly, that focus is a feature, not a bug.
The by-the-glass program runs 10-20 options, which is more than enough to make a meal of it without committing to a bottle. Expect solid representation across reds and whites, likely pulling from the same Italian producers on the bottle list. Rotation feels consistent rather than adventurous — what's there is reliable, even if it doesn't change with the seasons.
Chianti Classico Riserva — $55
A well-made Chianti Classico Riserva in the $50s at a New York trattoria is a legitimate deal — expect Sangiovese with structure and restraint that punches well above its price point on a Manhattan wine list.
Gavi di Gavi
Most people reaching for an Italian white here will default to Pinot Grigio, but Gavi di Gavi — dry, mineral, with that distinctive almond finish — is the smarter play and usually the better value on lists like this.
Sassicaia
We love Sassicaia as much as anyone, but Super Tuscans at the top of a restaurant wine list carry serious markup. If you're paying for the name here, you're paying a lot for it — save the Sassicaia splurge for a restaurant where the markup is more honest.
Barbaresco + Grilled Broccolini
Barbaresco's earthy Nebbiolo character — roses, tar, dried herbs — finds a surprisingly natural counterpart in charred, bitter broccolini. The wine's tannins soften against the vegetable's slight sweetness, and the whole thing feels more intentional than it has any right to.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Nizza isn't trying to be a wine destination, but its Award of Excellence since 2009 is no accident — this is a thoughtful, Italy-focused list run by someone who knows what they're doing. Send a friend here if they want solid Italian wine without the Midtown markup or the fine-dining theatrics.
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
Rainbow Curve / I-49 Corridor · Bentonville · Italian
The Bertani Amarone and Col d'Orcia Brunello sitting on this list are like finding a Rolex in a vending machine — impressive that they exist, but the surrounding context makes the whole thing feel absurd. Come for the pasta, drink the Chianti Classico, and lower your expectations accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Square · Bentonville · Italian
Tavola Trattoria isn't trying to be a wine destination, but it has enough going on — solid Italian depth, fair pricing, reasonable glass options — to earn your business on a date night in Bentonville. Stick to the classics and let the balcony do the rest.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Central Ave · Bentonville · Italian
Sestina is doing something genuinely interesting for Bentonville — an Italian-focused, bubble-forward list with real producers and regional ambition tucked into a small but considered 26-bottle program. The red wine gap and unknown by-the-glass program hold it back from greatness, but if you're in Northwest Arkansas and want to drink better than average, this is the spot.
Small but Thoughtful
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.