Come for the beer, skip the wine
West Des Moines · Des Moines · Brewpub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 24, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Barn Town Brewery takes about four seconds to read — because there are exactly three options on it. This is a brewery first, a restaurant second, and a wine destination approximately never. The wines feel like they were added to appease a partner who doesn't drink beer, not because anyone here actually cares about them.
Three labels: a Coppola Chardonnay, a Matua Sauvignon Blanc, and a Luccio Moscato. That's California, New Zealand, and Italy represented by some of the most mass-market, grocery-aisle picks available. There's no depth, no regional curiosity, no attempt to find something interesting or local. The Coppola Diamond Collection and Matua are fine wines in the sense that they exist and are technically drinkable, but a brewery in Des Moines could do so much better if it tried even a little.
All three wines are available by the glass, which is to say the entire list is available by the glass — because the entire list is three wines. Pours run $8.50 to $9.50, which feels aggressive for wines you can find at any Hy-Vee for $10-$12 a bottle. There's no rotation, no seasonal swap, no sign that anyone is paying attention.
Matua Sauvignon Blanc — $8.50
If you must order wine here, the Matua is the most honest pick — it's crisp, straightforward, and at least tastes intentional. It's still overpriced relative to retail, but it's the least offensive option on the list.
Luccio Moscato
Nobody orders Moscato at a brewery, which means nobody is judging you for it either. It's sweet, low-alcohol, and if you're splitting a dessert or just want something light and cold, it quietly does its job without pretending to be anything else.
Coppola Chardonnay
At $9.50 a glass or $38 a bottle, you're paying a 3-4x markup on a supermarket Chardonnay that retails around $12. The Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection is a perfectly acceptable grocery store wine — at grocery store prices. Here it's just expensive mediocrity.
Matua Sauvignon Blanc + brewery pretzel
We don't have verified menu specifics, but nearly every brewpub runs a soft pretzel — and the Matua's grassy, citrus-forward character cuts through salt and dough better than the Chardonnay or Moscato would. It's the most food-friendly wine on a very short list.
❌ The Bottom Line
Barn Town Brewery is a genuinely solid craft beer destination, and we respect it for that — but the wine program is an afterthought dressed up as an option. Order a pint, save the wine for literally anywhere else.
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
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Seasonal Rotation
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Crowd Pleasers
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
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Occasional
Acceptable
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Solid Range
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Basic Stemmed
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Active Program
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
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Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Gouge
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.