Mēdüzā Mediterrania
Mediterranean soul, serious Old World cellar
West Village · New York · Mediterranean
Reviewed April 8, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Mēdüzā hits like a well-worn passport — Italy, France, Spain, and California all accounted for, each with genuine depth. For a candlelit Mediterranean spot on Hudson Street, the ambition here is real. This isn't a restaurant that threw a wine list together; someone thought hard about this.
Selection Deep Dive
Sommelier Shawn Teng has built a 400-600 bottle list that leans hard into Italy — and it shows in all the right ways. Barolo is represented by Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa, Brunello by Biondi-Santi and Ciacci Piccolomini; that's not filler, that's conviction. France holds its own with Burgundy Grand Crus from Faiveley and Domaine Drouhin, plus Champagne from Billecart-Salmon and Pol Roger. Spain gets real respect with Muga and La Rioja Alta anchoring the Rioja section, and the southern Italian corner — Donnafugata, Planeta, Feudi di San Gregorio's Greco di Tufo and Fiano di Avellino — is exactly the kind of thing a Mediterranean-focused kitchen earns the right to pour.
By the Glass
Twenty to thirty-five options by the glass is a serious commitment, and the $12–$25 range means you can work your way through something interesting without ordering a bottle. We'd expect the Sicilian and southern Italian whites to anchor the glass list here, which makes sense given the food. Rotation isn't confirmed, but the breadth of the program suggests there's something worth asking Shawn about on any given night.
Feudi di San Gregorio Greco di Tufo — $14
Southern Italian whites this well-sourced rarely show up on NYC restaurant lists at entry-level glass prices. Greco di Tufo has the structure to handle the food here — crudo, mezze, whole fish — and it's the kind of bottle that costs $30 at a wine shop but drinks like a considered choice.
Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino
Biondi-Santi is the headline name on any Brunello list, but Ciacci Piccolomini quietly overdelivers for the price. It's the pick for anyone who wants to explore serious Sangiovese without paying the trophy-wine premium that Biondi-Santi commands.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Jordan is a fine wine — approachable, consistent — but at NYC restaurant markup it's hard to justify when the same dollars buy you something from Barolo or Rioja with far more personality and provenance. The Napa section feels like it exists to comfort the room, not excite it.
Muga Rioja Reserva + Lamb chops with herbs
Muga Reserva is built for exactly this situation — enough structure to stand up to the char on the lamb, enough fruit and savory depth to play with the herbed crust. It's a classic pairing that doesn't feel like a cliché when the wine is actually good.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Mēdüzā is the rare West Village spot where the wine list earns as much attention as the food — a Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator in its first year of eligibility says something. Yes, markups run steep as they do everywhere in this zip code, but the depth and curation here justify the trip.
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