The Chain That Actually Takes Wine Seriously
Kentwood / Southeast · Grand Rapids · Upscale Casual American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into Cooper's Hawk feels like someone merged a Napa tasting room with an Olive Garden and somehow made it work. The wine list is thick — almost entirely house labels — and it lands on your table with the confidence of a brand that knows exactly who it's selling to. This isn't a discovery list; it's a polished, approachable menu built for people who want wine to be easy, not educational.
Roughly 50-75 proprietary Cooper's Hawk labels anchor the list, covering all the expected bases — Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Riesling, Moscato, and a Meritage under the Lux tier for when you want to feel fancy. The international by-the-glass picks add some welcome texture: a Tempranillo from Rioja, a Super Tuscan from Tuscany, a Shiraz from Barossa, and an Abrillante from Rueda give you actual regional context. The gap is real depth — no grower Champagne, no Burgundy, no skin-contact anything — but that's by design, not accident. Cooper's Hawk built this list for their crowd, and their crowd is happily drinking it.
The by-the-glass program is genuinely generous, running 20-30 options at any given time, which is more than most standalone restaurants bother with. House pours start around $7-$9 and top out around $13, which is honest pricing for a winery-restaurant of this scale. The Sangria Flight — Strawberry Fields, Papa Don't Peach, Raspberry Beret, Rum In Da Coconut — exists, and yes, people order it, and no, we are not here to judge.
Cooper's Hawk Barbera — $9
Barbera is an underrated Italian grape that punches above its price in acidity and food-friendliness. At house-wine pricing, this is the most interesting bottle on the list for the money — more character than the Merlot, less predictable than the Cab.
Abrillante (Rueda, Spain)
Most people here are going straight for the house Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, but this Verdejo from Rueda is the sleeper — crisp, herbal, and genuinely Spanish in character. It's one of the few wines on the list that didn't come from Cooper's Hawk's own production, and it earns its spot.
Sangria Flight
Listen, we get it — Raspberry Beret is a fun name. But this is a sweetened cocktail situation dressed up as a wine experience, and at flight pricing it's not where your money should go. Order an actual glass of wine.
Tempranillo (Rioja, Spain) + Prime Chimichurri Steak
Rioja Tempranillo brings earthy, dried-cherry structure that cuts through the richness of the steak while playing nicely with the herby brightness of the chimichurri. It's the one pairing on this menu where the international list earns its keep.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Cooper's Hawk Kentwood is exactly what it is — a well-run chain winery restaurant with fair prices, a crowd-pleasing list, and staff that's enthusiastic if not deeply expert. Don't come here expecting to find your new favorite grower Champagne; do come here knowing you'll drink something decent without getting gouged.
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown / Riverfront · Grand Rapids · Modern Spanish
MDRD is a hotel rooftop bar that actually tried with its wine list, and in Grand Rapids — or anywhere, really — that clears the bar. The markups have some sharp edges and the list is short, but the Spanish focus is genuine and the Txakoli alone makes it worth a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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