Gramercy Tavern

Juliette Pope, the longtime wine director for Danny Meyer’s beloved Gramercy Tavern, has been one of the city’s quiet influencers for more than a decade. As one of Meyer’s most lauded and enduring restaurants, GT has managed to prove that it isn’t actually impossible to be everything to everyone. At once casual and formal—depending on what sort of experience you want to have—the experience at GT is as well-rounded as the wine list. Pope’s talent is in making a relatively broad list feel inclusive. Part of this has to do with the staff at GT, which is one of the city’s most well-educated (thanks to Pope) on the wine side. But it also owes something to the fact that the list has a clear point of view, without being preachy or overcompensating—much like Pope herself. While the collection shows a clear preference for classic Old World wines, it’s open and curious—at once capable of reinforcing one’s love of traditional wines (and America’s old-school stalwarts) and encouraging him or her to discover something new.