Zaytinya
Greek grape therapy in a José Andrés world
Culver City · Culver City · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 10, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You open the wine list at a buzzy mezze spot in Culver City and instead of the usual Cali Cab and Italian suspects, you get a deep dive into Greek varietals most diners couldn't pronounce on a good day. It's a bold move, and it works. Wine Spectator just handed them an Award of Excellence in 2025, and walking through this list, you understand why.
Selection Deep Dive
Zaytinya's list runs 150-200 bottles with Greece as the unapologetic anchor — Santorini, Naoussa, Drama, Peloponnese all represented with producers who actually matter. Domaine Sigalas and Gaia Wines bring serious Aegean pedigree, while Kir-Yianni's Xinomavro and Alpha Estate's Syrah give the red side some spine. The Eastern Mediterranean thread extends beyond Greece with nods to Lebanon and beyond, keeping things cohesive with the mezze concept rather than just grafting on a generic international list. The gap is depth outside the core Greek focus — if you want serious Burgundy or Napa, this isn't your room, and that's fine.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty pours by the glass is genuinely impressive for a restaurant at this price point, and the range skews Greek across the board — meaning you can work through Assyrtiko, Malagousia, and Agiorgitiko all in one sitting without ordering a full bottle of anything. Glass prices land between $12 and $18, which is honest money for Culver City. The rotation doesn't appear to change much, but when your house selections are this focused and well-chosen, that's less of a problem.
Boutari Moschofilero — $45
Moschofilero is one of the most food-friendly whites you've never ordered, and at the low end of this list's bottle pricing it's the easiest yes at the table — bright, aromatic, and built for a spread of mezze.
Domaine Gerovassiliou Malagousia
Malagousia nearly went extinct before Gerovassiliou brought it back, and most American diners still walk right past it. Floral, textured, and completely unlike anything else on the list — this is the bottle to order if you want a conversation starter and a genuinely great glass of wine.
Alpha Estate Syrah
The Alpha Estate Syrah is a respectable wine but feels out of step with the mezze format — Syrah at this weight wants a lamb chop, not a parade of small plates, and at the upper end of the bottle range you're paying a premium for something that's fighting the menu rather than complementing it.
Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko + Grilled Octopus
Santorini Assyrtiko and grilled octopus is practically a geographic inevitability — the wine's volcanic minerality and sharp acidity cut through the char and smoke while holding up to the brininess of the sea. It's the most obvious call on this list, and it's obvious because it's correct.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Zaytinya is doing something genuinely rare in LA: building a wine list around a cuisine's native grapes and making it accessible, fairly priced, and exciting. Send your friends here — especially the ones who think they don't like Greek wine.
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