Isabelle's Osteria
Italy's Greatest Hits, Beautifully Curated
Flatiron · New York · Italian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Isabelle's Osteria arrives like a well-dressed Italian guest — confident, purposeful, and not here to waste your time. At 300-500 bottles deep with a Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator, this is a list that's been curated with real intent. The Italy-first focus is immediately obvious, and immediately right.
Selection Deep Dive
Piedmont and Tuscany do most of the heavy lifting here, and they do it well — we're talking Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa Barolo, Biondi-Santi Brunello, and a Super Tuscan lineup that includes Sassicaia, Ornellaia, and Masseto in the same breath. The northeastern Italy section earns bonus points for including Friulian whites from Livio Felluga and Jermann, which most Italian spots in New York completely ignore. France shows up with purpose — Burgundy from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Faiveley keeps the old-world obsessives happy — and California gets a respectable nod via Opus One and Ridge. The gaps are minor: if you're hunting for natural wine or anything outside the classic canon, this probably isn't your list.
By the Glass
With 20-35 pours by the glass, Isabelle's is genuinely generous here — enough options to drink well across an entire meal without committing to a bottle. We'd expect the glass program to skew toward approachable Italian reds and whites that complement the handmade pasta menu. Having sommelier Arman Miridzhanyan on staff means someone is actually minding the program, which shows.
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco — $60
Produttori is a co-op that consistently punches way above its price point — it's serious Barbaresco made by people who've been doing this for generations, sitting on the same list as Gaja at a fraction of the cost. If the entry-level bottle clocks in near the bottom of their range, it's the smartest buy on the table.
Livio Felluga Friulian White
Everyone comes to Isabelle's for the Barolo and Brunello, which means the Friulian whites from Livio Felluga get overlooked constantly. That's a mistake. These are textured, serious whites from northeastern Italy that hold their own against the best of Burgundy — and they're exactly what you want with delicate handmade pasta.
Opus One
Opus One is a trophy wine that gets ordered for the name, not the glass. At New York restaurant prices on a list this prestigious, you're paying a significant premium for a Napa Cabernet that simply can't compete with the Italian depth around it. Save those dollars for another pour of Gaja.
Faiveley Burgundy + Handmade Pasta
A well-structured Burgundy from Faiveley has the acidity and earthiness to play beautifully off egg-based fresh pasta without bulldozing it the way a big Barolo might — it's the move when you want finesse over power.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Isabelle's Osteria is the real deal — a proper Italian wine program with serious depth, a sommelier who knows the cellar, and enough range to reward both the curious and the committed. Yes, you'll spend money, but you're in New York eating Italian food with Quintarelli on the list, so lean in.
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