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🔥The Rager

The Grill

Trophy Hunting in the Seagram Building

Midtown East · New York · American · Visit Website ↗

deep-cellarsplurge-worthyold-world-focusdate-night

Reviewed April 5, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietyDeep & Eclectic
MarkupSteep
GlasswareVarietal Specific
StaffKnowledgeable & Friendly
Specials & DealsSet & Forget
Storage & TempProper

First Impression

The wine list at The Grill arrives like a leather-bound novel — and at 3,000 to 4,000 selections deep, it reads like one too. This is a room built for power lunches and celebration dinners, and the list matches the room's ambition without apology. You are not here to find a bargain; you are here to drink seriously.

Selection Deep Dive

California and Burgundy are the undisputed anchors — we're talking Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, and Henri Jayer in the same list, which is not something you say about many restaurants in America. Bordeaux coverage is equally deep, with Château Pétrus, Château Margaux, and Château Latour accounted for across multiple vintages. Italy punches well above its usual supporting-role weight here, with Giacomo Conterno Barolo and Gaja Barbaresco giving the old-world faithful something to get genuinely excited about. Champagne rounds it out with Krug and Salon Blanc de Blancs — two houses that never feel like they're just filling space on a list.

By the Glass

With 20 to 30 options by the glass, the program is more generous than the restaurant's trophy-wine reputation might suggest. The pours skew toward crowd-pleasing but well-sourced selections, and the five-sommelier team — Williston Cox, Erin Kesseli, Libby Winters, Jeremy Hansen, and Christian Piscitelli — means someone always knows what's in those bottles. Expect to spend meaningfully per glass, but expect to get something worth it.

💰Best Value

Kistler Chardonnay — $80–$120 (estimated bottle range based on list positioning)

In a list stacked with four-figure Burgundy, Kistler offers world-class California Chardonnay at a price point that won't require a separate conversation with your accountant. It's the closest thing to a value play on a list that wasn't designed with that word in mind.

💎Hidden Gem

Ridge Monte Bello

Everyone chasing the California trophy names walks right past Ridge Monte Bello, which has been quietly outperforming its price for decades. It's one of the most age-worthy American Cabernets made, and on a list full of flash, it's the one with actual gravitas.

Skip This

Opus One

Opus One is fine wine. It's also one of the most marked-up bottles in American restaurant culture, and at The Grill it will cost you significantly more than the already-elevated retail price. The halo effect is baked into what you're paying — there are better bottles on this list for less ego and more glass.

🍽️Perfect Pairing

Giacomo Conterno Barolo + Prime Rib

Barolo's iron-clad tannins and high acidity were practically engineered for a thick cut of prime rib. Conterno is the real deal — structured, complex, and built for exactly this kind of moment in exactly this kind of room.

🔥 The Bottom Line

The Grill is one of the most serious wine destinations in New York, full stop — a Grand Award list with five sommeliers in a landmarked dining room is not something you stumble into. Bring a reason to celebrate, leave the budget anxiety at the door, and let the team steer you somewhere great.

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