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 →
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.
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
· Baltimore · American
Give the international and local sections a look before defaulting to Burgundy. Sula at $70 and Old Westminster at $90 offer different budget options. These are posted bottle prices, not guaranteed stock; confirm availability. This menu guide doesn't rate service or cellar conditions.
· Key West · American
Caroline's Café is not a wine destination, and it's not trying to be — the identical pricing across all five house labels makes that abundantly clear. If you're in Key West looking for something interesting in your glass, keep walking; if you just need a cold pour of Chardonnay with your lunch and aren't asking questions, $8 gets you there without drama.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kerns · Portland · American
Noble Rot is the rare restaurant wine program that would hold up as a standalone wine bar — deep list, sharp staff, fair prices, and a view that makes the whole experience feel earned. Send your friends here. Send yourself here.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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