Scene-first, but the cellar delivers
New York · Japanese, Thai
Updated June 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 19, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Tao Downtown’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Tao Downtown, you're not thinking about wine — you're thinking about the 20-foot Buddha and whoever just walked past you on the way to the VIP section. But flip open the list and it's more serious than the room suggests, with a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence (since 2024) that signals someone back there actually cares.
The list runs 150-250 bottles and leans hard into California and France — Opus One, Caymus, Jordan, Kistler, Far Niente on the Cali side; Louis Jadot and a smattering of Burgundy anchoring the French column; Moët and Veuve holding down Champagne for the inevitable bottle-service crowd. It's not a deep-digger list — you won't find esoteric Jura or skin-contact anything — but it's well-curated for what this room is doing. Gaps show up in Italy, Spain, and anything south of the equator, but the core California-France spine is genuinely solid. Think big-room blockbusters done right, not a lazy hotel list.
Somewhere in the 12-20 glass range, which is respectable for a venue this size and this loud. The pour program skews toward approachable crowd-pleasers rather than anything adventurous, which tracks with the clientele. Rotation isn't aggressive, but Wednesday's half-price wine night is a legitimate reason to show up mid-week.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $40-$120 range
Jordan is one of those bottles that consistently punches above its price point — structured, food-friendly, and recognizable enough that the table won't argue. In a room where bottles spiral fast, this is where you land with a group.
Louis Jadot Burgundy
Most people at Tao are grabbing Caymus or popping Champagne for the 'gram. Slip past those and the Jadot Burgundy sits quietly on the list — classic Côte de Beaune structure that holds up beautifully against the kitchen's umami-forward dishes and doesn't demand a second mortgage.
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
At $2,500 a bottle in a nightclub-adjacent dining room with 'Willing but Green' staff and no dedicated sommelier, you are not getting the full Screaming Eagle experience. This is a wine that deserves a quiet cellar and proper stemware, not a table next to a DJ booth. Hard pass.
Kistler Chardonnay + Shrimp Tempura
Kistler's rich, textured California Chardonnay has the weight to stand up to the fry without obliterating the delicate shrimp underneath. The subtle oak and citrus backbone cut through the batter in a way that a lighter white simply can't in this context.
Wednesday — Half-price wine night every Wednesday — the single best reason to drink well here without the weekend markup.
The Bottom Line
Tao Downtown is not a wine destination — it's a scene destination with a better-than-expected wine list tucked inside it. Come for the Wednesday half-price bottles, order the Jordan or Jadot, and leave the Screaming Eagle for a room that can do it justice.
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
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