Springfield's Quiet Wine Bar Punching Above Its Zip Code
South Springfield · Springfield · Wine Bar / Tapas & Small Plates · Visit Website ↗
Updated August 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 28, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Cellar + Plate’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Cellar + Plate, you don't expect much from a wine bar tucked into a Springfield strip mall — and then the list surprises you. It's small, but someone clearly made deliberate choices here, not just grabbed the Sysco wine catalog. The communal, linger-a-while atmosphere gives the whole thing a European neighborhood wine bar energy that Springfield doesn't exactly have in abundance.
The list leans into Italy and Argentina with enough specificity to signal real intent — we're talking G.D. Vajra Barbera d'Alba from Piedmont, not just 'Italian red.' The Vicentin Blanc de Malbec from Argentina is a genuine curveball that most local spots wouldn't dare put on a menu. A guest mention of Okanagan Valley wines suggests the list has some reach beyond the obvious, though the overall size stays modest. Gaps exist — this is not a deep cellar operation — but what's here was chosen with a point of view.
Glass pours run an estimated $10–$18, which is honest pricing for what you're getting in this market. The wine flight format is a smart way to navigate a focused list, letting you hit several producers in one sitting. Wednesday's half-price first flight is genuinely one of the better wine deals in the city — don't ignore it.
G.D. Vajra Barbera d'Alba — $14 (estimated)
Vajra is a serious Piedmontese producer — bright acidity, dark fruit, and enough structure to hold up to food. Finding this on a glass list in Springfield at neighborhood bar pricing is the kind of thing you tell people about.
Vicentin Blanc de Malbec
Most people see 'Malbec' and expect a big red — this blanc version from Argentina is the opposite, a pale and aromatic white that most guests walk right past. Worth the detour.
Good Clean Rosé
It's fine. It's also the most generic pour on the list — a crowd-pleaser placeholder in a lineup that otherwise shows more ambition. With the Vicentin Blanc de Malbec sitting right there, there's no reason to default here.
G.D. Vajra Barbera d'Alba + Cellar Board
Barbera's high acid and low tannin cut straight through cured Italian meats and aged cheese without overwhelming them. This is a classic Piedmont pairing that works exactly as advertised.
Wednesday — Wine Flight Wednesday: half price on your first wine flight. Thursday is Ladies Night with BOGO wine.
The Bottom Line
Cellar + Plate earns its Wild Card badge by doing things a mid-Missouri wine bar has no obligation to do — stocking real producers, offering genuine specials, and building a list with an actual perspective. It's not a destination in the national sense, but for Springfield? Send your friends on a Wednesday.
Downtown · Springfield · Sports Bar & Grill
The Dugout is a perfectly fine sports bar where wings get eaten, games get watched, and wine gets ignored — and that's the right call. Come for the BBQ Bacon Burger, leave the wine glass at home.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Springfield · Springfield · Farm-to-table gastropub
Farmers Gastropub is a reliable neighborhood stop where the food gets more attention than the wine list — and that's okay. Order the Tempranillo, enjoy the locally sourced kitchen, and don't come here expecting to geek out on wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Springfield · Springfield · American Grill
FD's Grillhouse isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it knows it — the list is safe, the markups lean steep, and the by-the-glass selection does most of the heavy lifting. If you're here for burgers and a decent pour, you'll leave fine; just skip The Prisoner and let Catena or Chapoutier do the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fremont · Springfield · Upscale Italian
Avanzare isn't reinventing the wine list, but it's doing the right things in a market where that's not guaranteed — real Italian producers, a few adventurous picks, and a happy hour wine deal that's genuinely one of the better values in Springfield. Take someone you want to impress, order the Barbaresco, and get there before 6 PM.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Springfield · Upscale Steakhouse
Flame is doing what a downtown Springfield steakhouse should do — keeping the room happy with a recognizable, well-stocked list and an unusually strong by-the-glass program. It's not breaking new ground, but if you know what you want and pick carefully, there's a solid night of wine to be had here.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Springfield · Springfield · American
Ocean Zen has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2019, and the list earns it by being consistently fair and food-friendly, even if it never surprises you. Come on a Wednesday, order the J. Lohr, and enjoy the sea bass — you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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