The Eastern Med Deserves a Seat at the Table
Penn Quarter · Washington · Mediterranean (Turkish, Greek, Lebanese) · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed March 26, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Zaytinya’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list is short by fine dining standards — maybe 80 to 120 bottles — but it's doing something almost no one else in DC bothers to do: it takes Eastern Mediterranean wine seriously. Lebanon and Greece aren't the footnote here; they're the whole point. That alone earns some respect before you've ordered a single meze.
Zaytinya leans hard into the regions that actually match what's on the plate — Naoussa, Santorini, Crete, and Lebanon anchor the list, with Château Musar showing up in multiple vintages and formats (Jeune Blanc, Rosé, the Levantine, and proper library bottles going back to 2001). Alpha Estate represents the northern Greek contingent with PDO Amyndeon and PGI Florina bottlings that most restaurants wouldn't even know to stock. There are gaps — don't come looking for deep Burgundy or a Napa splurge option — but within its lane, this list punches well above its weight. A sommelier is on staff, and you can feel it in the curation.
Twelve by-the-glass options is a solid count, and the pricing — $12 to $20 a pour — feels honest given what's on offer. The Kir-Yianni Akakies from Naoussa at $17 is a standout pour, and the Matthiasson Skin Ferment showing up by the glass at $14 is borderline absurd value. Rotation appears to happen with the seasons, which means the list stays fresh and gives regulars a reason to keep checking back.
Matthiasson Skin Ferment 2022 — $14
This bottle retails around $35 and Zaytinya is pouring it by the glass for $14. That's not a typo. An amber wine from one of California's most thoughtful producers at a price that would be fair for a grocery store plonk — drink it while they're still pricing it this way.
Château Musar Jeune Blanc
Most people at this table will order red or grab the rosé without a second thought. The Musar Jeune Blanc is quieter and stranger — bright acidity, oxidative tension, and a weight that makes it feel like the perfect bridge between the mezze spreads and the heavier lamb dishes. It gets overlooked every time.
Château Musar Levantine
The prestige Musar bottles are a lovely flex on the list, but the markup climbs noticeably as you move into the older vintages and premium tiers. If you're paying toward the top of that $180 ceiling, you're paying for the name recognition more than you're getting deal value — the younger, more accessible Musar expressions give you the same house character for significantly less.
Kir-Yianni Akakies 2018 + Octopus Santorini
Akakies is a rosé from Xinomavro — which means it has the grip and savory backbone to stand up to charred octopus without getting steamrolled. The bright red fruit plays off the lemon and olive oil while the acidity cuts through any richness. It's the obvious call and it's still the right one.
The Bottom Line
Zaytinya is doing something genuinely rare: building a wine list that actually matches the food it's meant to accompany, at prices that don't feel punishing. If you've been sleeping on Greek and Lebanese wine, this is a low-risk, high-reward place to wake up.
· Washington · Mediterranean
Zaytinya's wine list is one of the more focused and honest Greek programs you'll find at a mid-to-high scale restaurant in D.C. The by-the-glass selection is wide, the pricing doesn't insult you, and the Greek variety depth is genuinely impressive. If you've been waiting for a reason to finally figure out what Xinomavro tastes like, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Washington · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão's wine list is exactly what a national Brazilian steakhouse chain's wine list looks like: functional, familiar, and priced for margin rather than your benefit. The by-the-glass count is impressive on paper, but most of the options are labels you've seen at your grocery store for a fraction of what they're charging here. If you're coming for the meat — and you should be — stick to the Catena Malbec and enjoy the show.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Washington · Washington · Steak House
A 20-wine by-the-glass list with every pour between $14 and $30, split across four sparkling, six white, two rosé and eight red. With a steak, start with the $26 Clos Duval Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or the $22 Monte Antico Supremus; for the cheapest glass, take the $14 Dr. Loosen Riesling. Pour sizes aren't posted and the page is undated, so confirm today's wines. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Downtown DC · Washington · Steakhouse
A steakhouse beverage menu with 30 wines by the glass and a bottle list that is mostly California, with some France, Italy and Portugal. Start with the $9/glass happy hour Bonanza Cabernet if you arrive in the window, or the Eroica Riesling, the only Riesling on the glass list, and ask for prices because regular wine prices aren't posted. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Georgetown · Washington · Seafood, Steakhouse
An unpriced list that is easier to read for what it offers than for what it costs. If you want Bordeaux, ask for the 2020 Margaux de Brane Cantenac, or look at the Brunello di Montalcino in Sommelier's Selections, and get the price before you commit. This unrated guide covers the posted Beverage Menu, not service, storage or markups.
Washington · Washington · Latin, Vegetarian
A wide-ranging list with 14 wines by the glass from $17 to $95 and a bottle book that runs from $60 to $1,275. Start with the $17 Eichinger Grüner Veltliner or the $20 Pêcheur Trousseau, and ask for the Natural Wines section if you want something low-intervention. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp
