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 →
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.
Logan Square · Chicago · Italian
For a bottle night, start with Thursday's advertised half-price selection. Wednesday's posted four-course menu is $55 with an optional $30 wine pairing, before other charges. The restaurant discloses a 3.75% administrative fee on guest checks; confirm current terms when booking.
Lincoln Park · Chicago · American Casual
Summer House is not a wine destination, but it's a reliable place to drink well enough without getting gouged on the low end — just steer clear of the big-name bottles where the markup climbs. Send your friend here if they want something easy and good; don't send them here if they're chasing something serious.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · Italian
il Carciofo is doing something genuinely rare: building a wine list that treats Italian regional variety as the main event, not the footnote. If you're tired of the same Pinot Grigio and Chianti Classico circuit, this is exactly where you should be eating dinner.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Chicago · Chicago · Steakhouse
STK Chicago is here to sell you a night out, and the wine list is just part of the set dressing. If you care about what's in your glass, eat here for the steak and order water.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Chicago · French Brasserie
La Grande Boucherie Chicago is a reliable wine destination for anyone who wants a French-focused list executed with genuine effort and the occasional smart value. The markups aren't shy, but the BTG program and specials take some of the sting out — go in with a plan and you'll drink well.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
· Chicago · Steakhouse
This is not the wine list you expect to find at The Palm, and that's exactly why it earns attention. Six bottles, zero filler, genuinely fair pricing — if someone's tending this list, they deserve a raise.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Elektra's list is small and smart — a rare combination. The commitment to Greek, Lebanese, and Southern French producers gives it a personality most restaurants with three times the selection can't claim. If you're in the mood to drink something you haven't tried before without getting lectured about it, this list holds up.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Kitty Dare is punching well above its weight for an Atlanta restaurant wine list — fair prices, genuinely adventurous selections, and the rare willingness to pour all of it by the glass. We don't have visibility into service or food specifics, but the list alone is worth coming for. If you want a Lebanese white from 70-year-old vines for $13/glass, this is your place.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Mediterranean
Fia has the bones of a genuinely good wine program — thoughtful white selections, a few hidden gems, and a Champagne section that sets a mood — but steep markups and a list that doesn't stray far from the expected hold it back from greatness. Go for the Aligoté or the Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, skip the trophy bottles, and you'll drink well without feeling taken.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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