Sicily Only, No Apologies, No Exceptions
Unknown · New York · Sicilian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Norma’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Norma is a love letter to Sicily written by someone who actually knows the island. There's no Napa Cab here, no token Burgundy to keep nervous guests comfortable — just a tight, purposeful collection of indigenous Sicilian varieties that doubles down on the restaurant's identity. It's a bold move, and it mostly pays off.
Every bottle on this list is Sicilian, full stop, and the producers they've chosen are the real deal — Donnafugata, Cottanera, COS, Planeta, Feudo Montoni, Fondazione Witaker. You're getting Nero d'Avola, Frappato, Grillo, Nerello Mascalese, Grecanico, and Fiano, which is a legitimate tour of the island's best grapes. The COS Grecanico/Inzolia 'Ramí' orange wine shows they're not just playing the hits, and the Passito di Pantelleria 'Ben-Ryer' from Donnafugata gives the list a proper dessert landing. The gap is depth — if you want to explore verticals or find a sleeper producer, the list is too short to take you very far.
Glass pours run $14–$18, which is reasonable for New York, but we couldn't confirm how many options are available by the glass or how frequently the selection rotates. What we do know is that the bottle list skews toward the $45–$60 range, so the by-the-glass program likely pulls from the same approachable Sicilian core. If they're pouring the Frappato or the Grillo Brut by the glass, that's a good night.
Grillo Brut, Santa Tresa — $45
At a 125% markup this is the least punishing bottle on the list — retails around $20, drinks well as an aperitivo-style sparkling white, and sets the Sicilian tone from the jump. Relative to everything else here, it's the move.
Grecanico/Inzolia 'Ramí' (Orange wine), COS, 2021
COS is one of the most important natural producers in Sicily and this orange wine is genuinely interesting — skin-contact Grecanico and Inzolia with texture and grip that most guests will walk right past on the way to the Nero d'Avola. Don't let them.
Nero D'Avola, 'Sedara', Donnafugata, 2020
Donnafugata's Sedara is a fine, widely available wine that retails for about $18. At $58 on this list that's a 222% markup on a bottle you can grab at any decent wine shop. The Frappato from Santa Tresa is more interesting and barely costs less — go there instead.
Frappato, Santa Tresa, 2021 + Arancini
Frappato is light, bright, and has enough acidity to cut through fried rice and cheese without bullying the dish. Santa Tresa's version is approachable and food-friendly — exactly what you want with a crispy arancino.
The Bottom Line
Norma is a wine list with a clear point of view and the producers to back it up, but the markups are steep enough to take some of the joy out of it. Come for the Sicilian focus and the COS orange wine, just go in knowing your wallet is going to feel the island's heat.
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
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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