Korea meets Spain, France shows up too
East Village · New York · Korean, Spanish · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed April 19, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Nudibranch’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
A Korean-Spanish restaurant in the East Village with a Wine Spectator Award and a soft spot for Burgundy and Rioja — we weren't expecting that, and we mean that as a compliment. The list is tight but clearly assembled with intention, not just filled out to hit a bottle count. Someone here actually thought about this.
Eighty to a hundred and twenty bottles sounds like a lot until you realize how focused the list actually is — France and Spain share equal billing, which makes complete sense given the kitchen's dual personality. On the French side, you've got serious Burgundy names like Domaine Leflaive and Faiveley alongside Rhône heavyweights Chapoutier and Guigal. Spain answers back with Muga and La Rioja Alta holding down Rioja, and Clos Mogador bringing Priorat muscle. The Albariño from Rías Baixas is the smartest move on the list — it bridges both cuisines without trying too hard.
Ten to sixteen pours by the glass is a generous spread for a room this size. We'd expect some rotation given the dual-cuisine concept, though the program reads more static than spontaneous — great options exist, but don't count on a surprise pour every visit. At least the range covers enough ground to match whatever direction the kitchen takes you.
Albariño, Rías Baixas — $12
At the low end of the glass price range, Albariño from Rías Baixas is doing the heavy lifting here — bright acidity, saline edge, works against the galangal and lemongrass in the frog legs like it was planned. It probably was.
Clos Mogador, Priorat
Most tables at Nudibranch are going to reach for Rioja out of habit — understandable, safe, fine. Clos Mogador is the move you make when you want to actually be surprised. René Barbier's Priorat flagship is dense and mineral in a way that holds up to the dry-aged branzino's richness without steamrolling it.
Champagne selections
Champagne at a Korean-Spanish East Village spot feels like a hedge — it's there for the table that can't decide, not because it fits. The selections listed don't come with enough context to justify whatever premium you're paying, and the Albariño or a white Burgundy from Leflaive will do more interesting work with this food.
Muga Rioja Reserva + Dry-aged branzino with Korean sweet potato and beurre blanc
The beurre blanc needs something with enough structure to cut through the fat but enough restraint not to fight the Korean sweet potato's earthiness. Muga Reserva — old vines, good acidity, that signature Rioja dustiness — threads that needle cleanly.
The Bottom Line
Nudibranch is doing something genuinely unusual and the wine list actually keeps pace with it — a Franco-Spanish bottle selection inside a Korean-Spanish kitchen that earned a Wine Spectator nod in its first year. Send a friend here, tell them to order the branzino and the Albariño, and don't overthink it.
SoHo · New York · Italian
A long bottle list with Italian, Burgundy and Champagne sections, fronted by a 22-wine glass page. For a glass, try the Skerk Orange Wine from Friuli at 25/95, and for a bottle on a lighter budget, the Volpaia Vermentino at 60; upstairs in the café, the labeled list pours Palistorti di Valgiano's orange Tuscan blend at Glass $22. Confirm prices before you order, because the site's Upstairs Café dinner menu and the beverage PDF do not match. This unrated guide covers the posted wine lists, not service, storage or markups.
Midtown East · New York · American, French
A Park Avenue restaurant whose posted wine list is a 21-wine glass list. Start with the $18 Leitz Riesling or the $19 Ogier Saint-Joseph. No bottle list is posted online, so ask the restaurant what is available by the bottle. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
Hudson Yards · New York · American, Seasonal
A hotel restaurant whose list opens with a 13-pour glass page and then moves through Champagne, Burgundy, Austria and other regions. Start with the $29 Prager Grüner Veltliner or the $24 Do Ferreiro Albariño by the glass alongside the chilled oysters, and confirm current pricing since the list is dated 09.30.26. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
East Village · New York · Southern French, Wine Bar
A glass-only list of 15 Central and Eastern European pours from $18 to $26, with an orange wine section of five. Start with the Gal Tibor Egri Bikavér Superior at $18 or the Kapistoni Tavkveri at $23, and confirm prices because the list is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted by-the-glass list, not service, storage or markups.
Financial District · New York · American
A short posted wine selection, with the full list available by email. Start with the $17 Crafted Cava or the $18 Côte de Brouilly by the glass, and email ahead if you want the full list. This unrated guide covers only the nine posted wines, not service, storage or markups.
East Village · New York · American Steakhouse
A compact glass list at a beef-focused restaurant: 11 pours from $19 to $39 across France, Italy, Germany and California. Start with the $24 Domaine Perraud Chardonnay, or the $30 Signorello 'Edge' Cabernet if you're ordering steak, and confirm current pours because the page isn't dated. This unrated guide covers the posted glass list, not service, storage or markups.
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