Mediterranean Wines Meet Michigan Avenue Energy
Magnificent Mile · Chicago · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 8, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Purple Pig’s wine list and gave it The Rager — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
A 150-200 bottle list that's laser-focused on the Mediterranean tells you everything about The Purple Pig's seriousness. This isn't some tourist trap wine program coasting on Michigan Avenue foot traffic — it's a thoughtfully curated selection that mirrors the menu's regional obsession. The by-the-glass program runs 25-30 options deep, which is unusually ambitious for a place this busy.
The list commits hard to Greece, Spain, and Italy with producers that go well beyond the usual suspects. Greek wines get proper representation with bottles like Assyrtiko that most Chicago restaurants ignore entirely. Spanish sections lean into Albariño and other coastal whites that make sense with the pork-forward menu. The Italian natural wine selection shows they're not afraid to get funky, though they balance it with enough crowd-pleasing options to keep the Michigan Avenue tourists happy. Bottles range from $40 to $250, which is a smart spread that lets you go deep without mortgaging your apartment.
The glass program runs $10-$18, which is shockingly reasonable for this location. With 25-30 options rotating through, they're clearly moving volume and keeping things fresh rather than letting pours oxidize. The Mediterranean focus holds strong here too — you're not getting the same Napa Cab and New Zealand Sauv Blanc rotation every other downtown spot defaults to.
Spanish Albariño — $12-14/glass
Mineral-driven Atlantic whites at downtown prices that won't make you wince — perfect with anything involving pork fat or bone marrow
Greek Assyrtiko
Most people skip Greek wine because they don't know it, but this volcanic white has the acid and minerality to cut through the richest dishes on the menu
Top-tier bottles near $250
The sweet spot here is $40-80 where you get serious Mediterranean producers without paying for the Michigan Avenue address premium
Italian Natural Wine (Orange or Skin-Contact) + Roasted Bone Marrow
The funky, textured grip of skin-contact wines cuts through marrow fat better than any red — and the sommelier knows it
The Bottom Line
The Purple Pig proves you can run a legitimate wine program in a high-traffic tourist corridor without dumbing it down. Mediterranean focus, fair pricing, staff that knows their stuff — this is where we'd send anyone who thinks downtown Chicago can't do wine right.
West Loop · Chicago · Californian
The Oakville Grill earns its Wine Spectator credential and the sommelier duo makes this list accessible, not intimidating. Wednesday half-price wine night alone is reason enough to get a reservation — just let go of the idea that anything other than California is on the agenda.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American
John's is a neighborhood spot that punches well above its casual format — two sommeliers, a thoughtful France-and-California list, fair prices, and half-price bottles every Monday. Send your friends here, especially on a Monday.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
River North · Chicago · American, Seafood
Terrace 16 earns its Wine Spectator badge and delivers a respectable, California-and-France-focused list in one of Chicago's most dramatic dining rooms. Just don't expect to be surprised — the wine is as reliable as the skyline view, and nearly as expensive.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
River North · Chicago · French, Indian
Indienne is the Wild Card in the truest sense — a fusion kitchen with a genuinely considered wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod. Yes, send a friend here for wine, but make sure they skip the Napa Cab and lead with Riesling.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
West Loop · Chicago · Steak house
BLVD Steakhouse doesn't reinvent the steakhouse wine list, but it executes the formula competently — solid producers, proper storage, and enough range to keep a table of Cab loyalists happy all night. Just go in with your eyes open on the markups and skip the trophy-bottle trap.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Magnificent Mile · Chicago · American
Adorn is a reliable, well-staffed wine program in a high-overhead setting — you're paying for the view and the address, but the list itself is legitimate. Send a friend here who wants solid French and California bottles without doing homework first.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Ocean Ave / downtown · Carmel By The Sea · Mediterranean
Dametra is a lively Carmel institution that takes its bottle list more seriously than its casual vibe suggests — the markups sting, but the range is genuinely interesting and a few bottles here are worth seeking out. Send a friend who wants something special with dinner, just tell them to skip the Caymus.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Kohala Coast · Kailua-Kona · Mediterranean
Meridia has the setting, the concept, and the menu to deserve a genuinely interesting wine list — instead it serves up resort-hotel boilerplate at punishing markups. Order the paella, drink the cocktails, and save the serious wine for somewhere that cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Helena · Helena · Mediterranean
Mediterranean Breeze is doing what it says on the tin — a relaxed room, recognizable bottles, and $6 glass pours that won't break anyone's budget. Skip the mid-tier markups, aim for Jordan or Kim Crawford, and you'll have a perfectly decent night.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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