July is heating up in New York City, and the wine scene is delivering fresh reasons to explore. Between a staggering new cellar in Nolita, a wine bar built around rotisserie chicken in Brooklyn, and an unexpected evening transformation in Williamsburg, there's plenty that hasn't made the roundup yet. Here's what's actually new this week.
Oriana: Nolita's Monumental New Wine Destination
Amid the bustle of lower Manhattan — right on the border of Nolita and Chinatown — Oriana has quietly opened with one of the year's most impressive new cellars. The sultry, amber-lit restaurant from chef Andy Quinn and sommelier Cedric Nicaise (alums of Eleven Madison Park and the team behind West Village favorite the Noortwyck) opened May 28 and immediately earned a Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for 2026.
The opening list is staggering: over 1,700 wines spanning the Rhône, Burgundy, the Loire Valley, Italy, Germany, and California. Showstopping verticals include Robert Chevillon dating to 1989, more than two dozen selections of Domaine Jamet from 1997 forward, and Château Pape Clément back to 1978. The list also features two ultrarare bottles of Veuve Clicquot 'Cuvée Commémorative du Mariage du Prince de Galles & de Lady Diana' 1975 — bottled for the wedding of Charles and Diana.
For value seekers, Oriana offers nearly 50 wines in 375-milliliter carafes, including Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage Blanc 2023 and Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino 2017. In the kitchen, Quinn works a custom wood-fired grill visible from the dining room — think barbecued duck, whole grilled turbot, and the pairing Nicaise calls "as close to perfect as it gets": Northern Rhône Syrah with the wood-fired duck. Read the full Wine Spectator feature.
Gigi's: A Wine Bar Built Around Rotisserie Chicken
In Greenpoint, Gigi's from Fulgurances co-founder Hugo Hivernat and wine team members Thibault Dubreuil and Pierre Buffet has been quietly earning a following since opening in April. The concept is refreshingly direct: a neighborhood wine bar built around an exceptional rotisserie chicken ($40 for a half, $77 for a whole, served with broth, salad, and rice).
The wine list leans European and French, selected with the same philosophy that made the team's prior projects admired — thoughtful, unfussy, and built for drinking, not collecting. It's the kind of place where you can settle in for a half-bottle of something from the Loire, a plate of seasonal vegetables, and a perfect roast chicken, and leave feeling like you found exactly what you needed. Via Eater NY's Brooklyn Heatmap
Bar Chimera: Midtown's Martini-and-Madeira Powerhouse
Part of Gracious Hospitality's massive Midtown expansion (same group behind Cote Korean Steakhouse), Bar Chimera at 550 Madison Avenue brings together three distinct drinking concepts under one roof: martinis, whiskey, and wine. The wine program leans into splurge-worthy pours, but the real headliner is an extensive collection of aged Madeiras you won't find poured by the glass anywhere else in the neighborhood. If you're near Midtown and want to drink like you're expensing it, this is your spot.
Dean's: The British Pub with English Sparkling
From Jess Shadbolt and Annie Shi — the team behind King and the dazzling Chinatown wine bar Lei — comes Dean's, a British pub-inspired spot in the West Village (213 Sixth Avenue). The menu leans into the classics: fish and chips, stargazy pie, pork scratchings, and — notably — oyster-topped Guinness pints. The wine list includes a thoughtful selection of English sparkling wines, a category that deserves more attention and pairs naturally with the cuisine. Between this and Lei, Annie Shi is quietly having one of the best years of any restaurateur in the city.
Somssi: Wines and Sake from the Atomix Team
The team behind NA:EUN Hospitality — the group that brought us Atomix, Atoboy, and NARO — has opened Somssi at 79 MacDougal Street in the West Village. Spearheaded by former director of operations Ahris Kim, the menu walks the line between shareable plates and a beverage list that spans wine, sake, and cocktails with real depth. The Potato, Potato, Potato (creamy pomme purée wrapped in crispy potato strings, topped with caviar) paired with a Finger Lakes sparkling or a spritzy sake is the kind of pairing you'll remember.
Via VinePair's July 2026 guide
Noury: Japanese Izakaya Meets Wine-and-Sake Bar
From Lina Goujjane and Alex Chang (the wife-and-husband team behind Hudson Square's Kiko), Noury on Sullivan Street combines the energy of a modern Japanese izakaya with the precision of a serious wine and sake bar. Small bites like sashimi and house vegetable futomaki pair with rare sake bottles and splurge-worthy Champagnes. It's the kind of place that rewards exploration — order something unfamiliar and trust the staff.
Birdee's Botequim: A Bakery by Day, Brazilian Wine Bar by Night
One of the more inventive openings this month: Birdee's, a bakery in Williamsburg, has added evening service and transformed into Birdee's Botequim — a casual Brazilian-style bar. Open Thursday through Saturday nights, it pours a dozen wines by the glass alongside Brazilian snacks like pão de queijo. It's proof that some of the city's most interesting wine experiences don't announce themselves with a marquee. Just show up, order a glass, and eat cheese bread. Via The Infatuation
Long Island Wine Week and a Winemaker in the Spotlight
Long Island Wine Week 2026 is scattered across multiple July dates, offering tasting experiences at vineyards across the North Fork — a reliable excuse for a weekend in wine country. Meanwhile, Forbes recently profiled Marin Brennan, winemaker at Bedell Cellars and Corey Creek, highlighting her distinctive approach across two very different Long Island wineries. It's a reminder that some of the East Coast's most interesting wine is being made a couple of hours from Grand Central. Via East Coast Wine News
The Bottom Line
July's wine scene in New York isn't about retreading the same openings — it's about the new finds that reward showing up. Whether it's Oriana's jaw-dropping cellar, a half-bottle at Gigi's with a perfect roast chicken, or an unexpected glass at a Brazilian-inspired bakery-bar in Williamsburg, there's always a reason to explore. Stay curious, and drink well.