Trophy Hunting in the Seagram Building
Midtown East · New York · American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · April 5, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Grill’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Grill arrives like a leather-bound novel — and at 3,000 to 4,000 selections deep, it reads like one too. This is a room built for power lunches and celebration dinners, and the list matches the room's ambition without apology. You are not here to find a bargain; you are here to drink seriously.
California and Burgundy are the undisputed anchors — we're talking Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, and Henri Jayer in the same list, which is not something you say about many restaurants in America. Bordeaux coverage is equally deep, with Château Pétrus, Château Margaux, and Château Latour accounted for across multiple vintages. Italy punches well above its usual supporting-role weight here, with Giacomo Conterno Barolo and Gaja Barbaresco giving the old-world faithful something to get genuinely excited about. Champagne rounds it out with Krug and Salon Blanc de Blancs — two houses that never feel like they're just filling space on a list.
With 20 to 30 options by the glass, the program is more generous than the restaurant's trophy-wine reputation might suggest. The pours skew toward crowd-pleasing but well-sourced selections, and the five-sommelier team — Williston Cox, Erin Kesseli, Libby Winters, Jeremy Hansen, and Christian Piscitelli — means someone always knows what's in those bottles. Expect to spend meaningfully per glass, but expect to get something worth it.
Kistler Chardonnay — $80–$120 (estimated bottle range based on list positioning)
In a list stacked with four-figure Burgundy, Kistler offers world-class California Chardonnay at a price point that won't require a separate conversation with your accountant. It's the closest thing to a value play on a list that wasn't designed with that word in mind.
Ridge Monte Bello
Everyone chasing the California trophy names walks right past Ridge Monte Bello, which has been quietly outperforming its price for decades. It's one of the most age-worthy American Cabernets made, and on a list full of flash, it's the one with actual gravitas.
Opus One
Opus One is fine wine. It's also one of the most marked-up bottles in American restaurant culture, and at The Grill it will cost you significantly more than the already-elevated retail price. The halo effect is baked into what you're paying — there are better bottles on this list for less ego and more glass.
Giacomo Conterno Barolo + Prime Rib
Barolo's iron-clad tannins and high acidity were practically engineered for a thick cut of prime rib. Conterno is the real deal — structured, complex, and built for exactly this kind of moment in exactly this kind of room.
The Bottom Line
The Grill is one of the most serious wine destinations in New York, full stop — a Grand Award list with five sommeliers in a landmarked dining room is not something you stumble into. Bring a reason to celebrate, leave the budget anxiety at the door, and let the team steer you somewhere great.
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
Eagle Ranch · Vail · American
The Wild Sage is your dependable neighborhood spot in Eagle Ranch — the wine list won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you at dinner either. Watch the markups on the top-shelf Napa bottles and stick to the mid-range, and you'll be fine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Waterfront · Traverse City · American
Warehouse Kitchen + Cork won't win any awards for depth or ambition, but it plays its hand honestly — fair prices, solid local representation, and a full by-the-glass program that respects your wallet. If you're in Traverse City and want a glass of something local with a water view, this works.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Truckee · Truckee · American
Sunnyside is a casual lodge restaurant wearing a serious wine list under its flannel — the markup is steep and it won't win any awards for staff expertise, but the producer lineup is legitimately impressive for where you're sitting. If you're already at the lake, this is absolutely worth ordering a real bottle.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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