José Andrés Does Miami—Wine Plays Support
Miami · Miami · Mediterranean · Visit Website ↗
Updated March 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 20, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Zaytinya’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Zaytinya's wine list reads like a Mediterranean vacation postcard—lots of Greece, some Lebanon, predictable Spanish and Italian entries. It's a safe list built for a crowd that's here for the José Andrés name and the meze platters, not to geek out over obscure producers.
The list leans heavily into Greek whites—Assyrtiko from Santorini, Moschofilero from the Peloponnese—which makes sense given the cuisine, but the depth stops there. You'll find Lebanese reds like Château Musar and Château Kefraya, solid choices but hardly adventurous. The Spanish and Italian sections play it safe with Albariño, Garnacha, and Nero d'Avola—nothing wrong with them, just nothing memorable. We're seeing a lot of recognizable names at Miami prices, which means markup creep is real.
The glass program sticks to the greatest hits: a Greek white, a rosé, maybe a Spanish red. Rotation seems minimal—these feel like pours that sit on the list for months. Portions are generous, but at $14-16 per glass, you're paying for the ThinkFoodGroup branding. If you're doing a proper meze spread, the glass pours will get you through, but don't expect discovery.
Gaia Wines 'Thalassitis' Assyrtiko — $52
Crisp, mineral-driven Santorini white that actually matches the seafood-forward menu without the usual Greek wine markup
Domaine Wardy Chardonnay, Bekaa Valley
Lebanese Chardonnay sounds like a punchline but this one's got weight and character—ignore the suspicious looks from your tablemates
Any Châteauneuf-du-Pape over $120
Zero connection to the food and Miami markup on French heavy-hitters makes this a wallet killer with no payoff
Kir-Yianni 'Ramnista' Xinomavro + Lamb Adana Kebab
Xinomavro's high acid and earthy tannins slice through the spiced lamb fat like they were made for each other—because they basically were
The Bottom Line
Zaytinya's wine list does its job without trying to steal the show. It's built for the meze-grazing crowd who wants something drinkable and vaguely thematic, not the wine nerds hunting allocations. Come for the Andrés experience, order Greek by the glass, and keep your expectations in check.
Miami · Miami · Mediterranean
Casa Neos earns its Wine Spectator nod with a focused, well-executed list guided by someone who clearly knows wine — just know the markups are Miami-level and plan accordingly. Send a friend here who wants a serious wine experience alongside serious Mediterranean food; they won't leave disappointed.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Brickell · Miami · Mexican
Chateau ZZ's is the kind of place where the setting does half the work and the sommeliers do the other half — if you let them. The list may not be adventurous, but it's professionally managed, properly stored, and served in a room that makes even a straightforward Chardonnay feel like an event.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Miami · Miami · Steak house
Hereford Grill earned its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the back of a respectable, if predictable, California-focused cellar that does exactly one thing well: getting a serious Cab on the table next to a serious steak. If you're hunting for discovery or value, look elsewhere — but if you want a classic steakhouse wine experience with Venezuelan flair on the plate, this delivers.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Miami · Miami · Italian, Steakhouse
Sofia is a polished Italian-steakhouse with real ambition behind the wine list — the Italian producers are legit and the Wednesday half-price night is one of the better deals in Miami. Just go in knowing you're paying for the room as much as the wine, and order accordingly.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Miami · Miami · American
Michael's Genuine earned its Wine Spectator nod with a French-focused list that's more considered than most Miami restaurants bother to be. It's not a destination wine experience, but it's a genuinely reliable place to drink well while eating well — and in this city, that counts for a lot.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
South Beach · Miami · Asian
Lucky Cat earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence on the strength of solid French producers, even if the list plays it a bit safe for a restaurant this loud and bold. Send a friend here for Champagne and sashimi — just don't expect the wine program to keep up with the room's ambition.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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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