SoHo's Italian wine list done right
SoHo · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The list lands in your hands and it's immediately clear someone here takes wine seriously. Four to six hundred bottles anchored in Italy, France, and California — this isn't a restaurant that slapped a Chianti and a Pinot Grigio on the back of the food menu and called it a day. Wine Spectator handed them a Best of Award of Excellence in 2024, and one look at the list tells you that wasn't a charity call.
Italy is the undisputed star here — Barolo alone reads like a producer hall of fame, with Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, and Gaja all represented. Brunello di Montalcino gets serious treatment too, with Biondi-Santi anchoring that section alongside Sassicaia pulling double duty in both the Super Tuscan and Bolgheri conversation. France shows up with genuine weight — Burgundy dips all the way to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti territory, while Louis Jadot holds it down for the non-billionaires. California rounds things out with Opus One and Caymus, which feel more crowd-pleaser than adventurous, but they belong in a list this size.
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a generous pour program for a room this size, and with sommelier Robert Cook steering the ship, you'd expect those pours to rotate thoughtfully rather than collect dust. The range likely spans from accessible Italian whites to serious reds — enough to build a full dinner without committing to a bottle if that's your move.
Louis Jadot Burgundy — $60–$80
In a list that reaches DRC heights, Jadot is the entry point into real Burgundy without the sticker shock. Solid producer, proper terroir expression, and it keeps you firmly in the spirit of the list without torching your wallet.
Amarone della Valpolicella
Most tables here are zeroing in on the Barolo and Brunello sections, which means the Amarone often sits underordered. Big, structured, and built for a long dinner — if you're going pasta heavy and want something that can carry the whole meal, this is your move.
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
Caymus is fine wine, but it's also available at roughly every mid-to-upscale restaurant in America with a markup to match. At a list this deep in Italian and French excellence, ordering the Caymus at SoHo prices is like going to a great sushi counter and ordering the California roll.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo + Veal Chop
This is the pairing the list was built for. Conterno's Barolo is structured, tannic, and earthy — exactly what a thick, bone-in veal chop needs to cut through the richness and make both the wine and the plate taste bigger than they would alone.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Sartiano's is the real deal — a SoHo Italian with a wine program that earns its Best of Award of Excellence rather than just framing it on the wall. The markups sting at the top end, but Robert Cook and a list this deep make it worth every penny for a serious wine dinner.
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
West Toledo / Reynolds Corner · Toledo · Italian
There's one reason to come here for wine: Thursday. Half-price bottles on a standing weekly basis is a genuinely good deal, especially on the Santa Margherita. Any other night, the markups are steep and the list doesn't justify them.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
West Toledo/Monroe Street · Toledo · Italian
Carrabba's Toledo isn't a destination for wine — but it's not an embarrassment either. The Ruffino Chianti Classico alone earns its keep, and if you stick to the Italian side of the list, you'll drink reasonably well without drama.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
La Jolla · Chula Vista · Italian
Marisi is a reliable Italian wine list with genuine ambition hiding behind a steep markup structure — the producers are right, the regions are right, but you'll pay for the privilege. Go for the Produttori Barbaresco and the Pre-Phylloxera Barbera, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
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.