The Upper East Side's Italian wine fortress
Upper East Side · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 5, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walk into Sistina and the wine list arrives like a small novel — somewhere between 1,200 and 1,800 bottles deep, organized with the kind of seriousness that tells you immediately this place takes wine as seriously as it takes its decades-long Upper East Side reputation. This is old-school Italian dining done with conviction, and the cellar backs it up. Wine Spectator has handed out Grand Awards here since 2018, and one look at the list tells you exactly why.
The Italian section is the obvious centerpiece: Tuscany and Piedmont are covered at a depth that most dedicated wine bars can't touch. Sassicaia, Ornellaia, Masseto, Solaia, and Tignanello anchor the Super Tuscan column, while the Barolo lineup reads like a Piedmont hall of fame — Giacomo Conterno, Bruno Giacosa, and Gaja all present and accounted for. Biondi-Santi and Casanova di Neri (Giacomo Neri) hold down Brunello di Montalcino with appropriate gravitas. France isn't an afterthought either: Bordeaux royalty like Château Pétrus and Château Lafite Rothschild share shelf space with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and California's prestige tier — Opus One, Screaming Eagle — rounds out a list built for serious collectors and serious celebrators alike.
With 20 to 30 options by the glass, Sistina offers more pour flexibility than most white-tablecloth Italian spots in the city. The selection skews Italian and classic, which is exactly what you want here. We'd steer toward whatever Nebbiolo or Sangiovese is open on a given night — the staff know what they're pouring and can point you in the right direction.
Tignanello (Antinori) — $180
In a list where bottles routinely push into the thousands, Tignanello is the entry point into serious Super Tuscan territory — a benchmark wine that consistently punches above its price relative to its neighbors on this list. Not cheap, but it's the move if you want to drink something iconic without ordering a mortgage payment.
Brunello di Montalcino, Casanova di Neri (Giacomo Neri)
In the shadow of Biondi-Santi — which gets all the headlines and commands the bigger price tags — Casanova di Neri quietly delivers some of the most compelling Brunello on the market. Most diners order past it chasing bigger names. Don't.
Screaming Eagle
Yes, it's on the list. Yes, it's Screaming Eagle. And yes, the markup at a restaurant like this will be punishing in a way that makes even fans of the wine wince. This is a trophy pour for people expensing dinner, not a smart way to spend your wine budget here.
Barolo, Bruno Giacosa + Eggplant Parmigiana
Giacosa's Barolo brings the kind of grippy tannin and dried rose depth that cuts right through the richness of a properly made Eggplant Parmigiana — the tomato acidity in the dish softens the wine, and the wine makes the dish taste more like itself. Classic match, no tricks required.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Sistina is the real deal — a 40-year-old Upper East Side institution with a cellar that earns its Grand Award year after year. Markups are what they are at this level, but if you're going to spend serious money on Italian wine anywhere in New York, this is one of the rooms worth doing it in.
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
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