Passerine
Indian food meets serious California and Burgundy
Flatiron · New York · Indian · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 19, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Walking into what used to be Sona and finding an Indian restaurant with Ridge Monte Bello on the list is not something you expect. The wine program here leans confidently into California and France, which on paper sounds like a mismatch with Kolhapuri lamb tartare — but stick with us. Wine Spectator handed them an Award of Excellence in 2025, and it's not hard to see why.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 150-250 bottles deep with a clear focus on California heavyweights and French classics. You've got Kistler Chardonnay and Paul Hobbs Cabernet anchoring the California side, while Louis Jadot and Château Meyney Saint-Estèphe hold down the French flank. Domaine Drouhin Oregon is a nice bridge — Oregon Pinot bringing some of that old-world restraint into the new-world column. The list isn't trying to be a natural wine playground or a hyper-regional deep dive, but for what it is — polished, well-chosen, food-friendly — it delivers.
By the Glass
Twelve to twenty options by the glass in the $12-$18 range gives you real room to explore without committing to a bottle. That's a solid spread for an Indian restaurant, where you might want to try different pours against different courses. We'd love to see more rotation, but the price ceiling is reasonable enough that experimenting doesn't sting.
Château Meyney Saint-Estèphe — $XX (bottle)
Saint-Estèphe is reliably the most underrated appellation in Bordeaux, and Meyney is a perennial overachiever at its price point. Against the bold, spiced flavors coming out of the kitchen, this has the structure and dark fruit to hold its own without breaking the bank.
Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir
Most people at an Indian restaurant reach for something bold or something white — they sleep on Pinot. Drouhin's Oregon bottling has enough earth and acidity to work beautifully against the dry aged lamb loin, and most tables walk right past it for the Kistler or Hobbs.
Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon
Paul Hobbs is great wine, no argument. But at the price point it commands, and up against the complexity of Indian spicing, it's working against itself. The tannins and oak weight don't find a natural home here — you're paying a premium for a bottle that's better suited to a steakhouse.
Kistler Chardonnay + Vadagam blend aged sea bass
Kistler's Chardonnay has the richness and texture to stand up to aged fish without being overwhelmed, and the bright acidity cuts through the Vadagam spice blend cleanly. It's the rare California Chardonnay that's actually doing something useful at this table.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Passerine is the kind of place that shouldn't work on paper — serious California and French bottles alongside Indian cooking — but it does, and it does it well enough to earn the Wine Spectator nod. Send a friend here if they think wine and Indian food don't mix; this list will change their mind.
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