A Plain-English Guide to Shukette’s Wine List

Shukette’s wine list isn’t built around the usual suspects. Instead of leaning on familiar regions like Napa or Bordeaux, it draws heavily from the Mediterranean and Adriatic, with detours into Georgia and Lebanon that can be intimidating if you don’t already know the producers. The good news is that the by-the-glass list is organized simply enough that you don’t need any background to order well.

By-the-glass, broken down

What orange wine actually is

Orange wine is the category most likely to trip up a first-time reader of this list, and it’s worth explaining because it shows up more than once. It’s white wine made using red wine technique, left in contact with its grape skins during fermentation instead of being pressed off immediately. That skin contact is what gives the wine its amber-orange color and its texture, which leans more tannic and savory than a typical white. If you like a fuller-bodied white or a light red, an orange wine is a reasonable middle ground worth trying, and Shukette’s Georgian and Portuguese pours are a good introduction.

The case for Château Musar

Château Musar “Jeune,” from Lebanon, deserves a specific mention because it fits the restaurant’s Levantine focus more directly than the other reds on the list. Musar is one of Lebanon’s most internationally recognized wineries, known for producing wine through decades of regional instability, and the “Jeune” bottling is its more approachable, fruit-forward line rather than the estate’s more structured reserve wines. It pairs naturally with the charcoal-grilled lamb and steak dishes from the Al Ha’esh section.

How to order if the list feels unfamiliar

The simplest approach is to tell your server what you’d normally order, rather than trying to interpret the list cold. Someone who usually drinks a crisp Sauvignon Blanc will likely enjoy the Verdicchio or Moschofilero. A typical Cabernet drinker has a reasonable bridge in the Sangiovese or Château Musar. And if you’re willing to try something outside your usual order, the orange wine selections are the most distinctive pours on the list and the ones that best reflect what Shukette is doing differently from a standard restaurant wine program. If cocktails are more your speed, our guide to Gazoz covers the rest of the drink menu.