Who’s behind it: For restaurateurs Joshua Pinsky and Chase Sinzer, the idea of opening their latest outpost, Stars, came from listening to their guests’ needs: A cozy wine-first, walk-in-only spot in the heart of New York’s East Village, offering only 12 seats and a wine list with over 1,000 bottles.
“[Our first spots] are restaurants in that people go there to have a full meal—and wine works in tandem with that,” Sinzer told Wine Spectator. Sinzer and Pinsky’s first restaurants, the next-gen bistro Claud and the seafood counter Penny, are both Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence winners in their own right that boast over 1,400 bottles on each wine list.
“Creating something where wine was central to the experience felt like the right next step,” continued Sinzer. “We wanted to make sure people knew very clearly that Stars is a spot to pop in and have some wine.”
Sinzer and Pinsky met in 2014 at David Chang’s Lower Manhattan wine temple Momofuku Ko, where they worked as wine director and chef, respectively. The inspiration for Stars came from iconic wine bars such as the rugged Septime La Cave and from elevated bars such as London’s Bauhaus cocktail destination A Bar with Shapes for a Name and Kyoto’s intimate service-forward bar The Rocking Chair.
“Part of the vision here was the ratio of seats to our library collection,” says Sinzer. “Long lists of wines from icons are not something you see at a 12-seat establishment, but we decided that this investment is a necessary part of our identity.”
Opening date: Dec. 12, 2025
What’s on the wine list? As Sinzer notes, the East Village is a young neighborhood with a historic bar scene. The wine list accommodates this with its “88 under $88 section,” which immediately greets guests with 88 rotating selections under $88. “It is both a fun thing for us and an important one because we believe a wine bar must highlight affordability,” says Sinzer. “It's imperative that everyone coming in feels comfortable ordering wine—no matter the price point.”
“We’re excited to carve out space [for] producers and regions that work hard to keep their wine accessible without compromise,” continues wine director Julia Schwartz. “Julian Haart’s Rieslings from Mosel are some of the most skilled and approachable expressions made today. Las Pedreras, a young estate in Sierra de Gredos, Spain, celebrates Garnacha from century-old vines at high altitudes. The wines are impactful, graceful and a little rugged.”
Beyond the 88 values, the Stars wine list is packed with over 1,000 other bottles, with verticals from across the major regions of France, with additional breadth in Spain, Italy, the United States and beyond. To Sinzer, stacking the list with verticals and horizontals “was everything to us. We believe in investing in producers.”
The team’s standout collections include bottles from Burgundy powerhouses like Domaine Mugneret-Gibourg, Dujac, Armand Rousseau, G. Roumier, Domaine des Comtes Lafon, Domaine Roulot, Domaine de la Coche, and of course, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. By-the-glass pours are also available, ranging from Chasselas grown in Oregon’s Dundee Hills to German Spätbagunder to select Sherries and sakes.
The menu: The food offerings at Stars are stripped back—this is not the place for a full meal, but for snacks to pair with wine. Think deviled eggs topped with cartoon-like puffed stars, glossy stuffed Peppadew peppers, marinated roasted peppers and artichokes and a selection of premium charcuteries and cheeses.
The design: The design of the space is inviting, with only 12 seats wrapped around a zinc horseshoe bar. The space was the first bar project from the design firm Studio Valle de Valle. As for the name “Stars,” according to Sinzer, “[it] nods to our neighborhood and the artists who lived and worked here—especially [abstract artist] Frank Stella. We are lucky enough to have two of his works in the space.”—Julia Larson
Italian Grand Award Winner Antica Bottega del Vino Adds a Location
Who’s behind it: Antica Bottega del Vino, a 21-time Grand Award winner located in Verona, has opened a new location in Cortina d’Ampezzo just in time for the Winter Olympics rush. The ski resort town, along with Milan and other sites across Northeast Italy, will host the games this February. It’s the first expansion for the Veronese Grand Award winner, whose flagship location is known for its historic atmosphere—with roots reaching back into the 1500s—and a cavernous, 21,000-bottle cellar.
Antica Bottega del Vino’s vinous pedigree is hard to match. Since 2010, the restaurant has been owned by the Famiglie Storiche, an association of prominent producers that includes Allegrini, Bertani, Brigaldara, Tenuta Sant’Antonio, Tommasi and others.
When it opened: Dec. 30
What’s on the wine list: Longtime veteran of the Verona location, Pietro Campara, serves as head sommelier, guiding the 1,500-label program. In addition to the many Veneto wines from the Famiglie Storiche, the list spans many of Italy’s top producers like Antinori, Marchesi di Grésy and Foradori. Beyond Italy, the list covers much of Europe, including a solid collection of French wines from producers such as Château Léoville Las Cases and Bouchard Père & Fils and even a few Californian options from Philip Togni and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.
The menu: Chef Giulio Alberto Debeni, who worked at the Verona location alongside its head chef Luca Dalla Via, will lead the kitchen. The menu incorporates local specialties alongside established favorites from the flagship. A few notable options include risotto all’Amarone, a sweet and sour chicken salad, cuttlefish polenta and smoked beef served with sunflower seeds and pumpkin.
The design: The restaurant is found on Cortina d’Ampezzo’s central promenade, Corso Italia, where shops and restaurants are surrounded by picturesque views of the Dolomites and the city’s historic buildings. The 100-seat space was designed by Menardi Ruggeri Nassivera Architects and evokes centuries past with antique decor and woodwork from local craftsmen.—Greg Warner
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