Italy Runs Deep in This Rustic Room
Nolita · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Peasant’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The list at Peasant is unapologetically Italian — and that's exactly the right call for a wood-fired restaurant tucked into Nolita. You won't find a world-tour of regions here; instead, the list reads like a love letter to the Boot, and it earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence credential honestly. It's focused, considered, and priced like they actually want you to order a second bottle.
The 150-plus bottle list covers Italy's heavy hitters — Barolo from Piedmont, Brunello di Montalcino, Amarone della Valpolicella, and Chianti Classico Riserva anchor the prestige tier — but what makes this list interesting is the reach down south. Sicilian natural wines and Etna Rosso producers bring some volcanic personality to a list that could have played it safe with only the classics. The depth is real without being overwhelming, and the regional range inside Italy is genuinely impressive for a room this size. Gaps in non-Italian options are there, but if you came here looking for Burgundy, you missed the assignment.
With 10 to 20 pours available by the glass, Peasant gives you enough to explore without analysis paralysis. Expect a rotating cast of Italian producers across whites and reds, likely including access to the Etna and Sicilian natural wine side of the list — the stuff worth actually ordering. It's not a by-the-glass hero program, but it's solid enough to let you match each course without committing to a full bottle.
Etna Rosso — $55
Etna Rosso in this price range at a restaurant consistently punches above its bottle cost — volcanic, food-friendly, and genuinely interesting in a way that a same-priced Chianti just isn't. At Peasant's fair markups it's a no-brainer.
Sicilian Natural Wine
Most tables go straight for the Barolo and never look south. The Sicilian natural wine selections here are worth the detour — lower price points, high energy, and a texture that works brilliantly with wood-roasted everything.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone is always a markup magnet, and at a restaurant in this price range it rarely represents the best value on the table. The sheer richness of the wine also fights the wood-fired food more than it helps it — you're better served going lighter and leaner.
Chianti Classico Riserva + Roasted chicken under a brick
Chianti Classico Riserva's bright acidity and firm structure cut right through the rendered fat of a brick-pressed chicken. It's a classic central-Italian pairing for a reason, and Peasant's open-fire cooking only amplifies it.
The Bottom Line
Peasant is a focused, honest Italian wine list in a room built for exactly this kind of drinking — wood smoke, good pasta, and a bottle of something from the Boot. Send your friends here for the Etna Rosso alone.
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Midtown · New York · Steakhouse
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· New York · Restaurant
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Carrabba's Lansing isn't a wine destination — it's a chain with a four-bottle list that skews heavily toward one California region and ignores everything Italian about the menu. Come for the pasta, skip the wine program, or catch one of their Paso Robles wine dinners if the timing works out.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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