Plaza Patio Wine That Won't Embarrass You
Country Club Plaza · Kansas City · Creative American with Southern influences · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 26, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Gram & Dun reads like a crowd-pleasing greatest hits album — familiar names, approachable regions, nothing that's going to scare off a casual drinker. It fits the room: upbeat, neighborhood-friendly, better than you'd expect from a spot that leads with fried chicken and waffles. But once you start checking retail prices, the shine dulls pretty fast.
The list spans 40-60 bottles across California, Italy, Oregon, France, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina, which is respectable range for a Plaza casual-upscale. You'll find solid anchors like Patricia Green Reserve Pinot Noir from Willamette and Chateau Montelena Chardonnay from Napa — both wines that signal someone put thought into this. The VinZant Wines presence (multiple SKUs) feels like a supplier relationship more than a curated choice, and it drags the list toward formulaic. The Italian section nods to Trentino and Tuscany but doesn't go deep enough to reward explorers.
Eighteen by-the-glass options is genuinely generous and one of the list's real strengths — ranging from $8 to $17, with solid representation across whites, reds, and bubbles. The Mollydooker 'The Boxer' Shiraz and Patricia Green Pinot Noir both appearing by the glass is a nice touch, giving drinkers access to wines worth their attention without committing to a bottle. Rotation appears static rather than seasonal, which is a missed opportunity given the kitchen's creative menu.
Pinot Noir, Patricia Green, Reserve, Willamette, Oregon — $59
At 31% over retail, this is the most fairly marked bottle on the list. Patricia Green makes serious Willamette Pinot Noir, and at $59 you're getting a wine that outperforms its price by a wide margin compared to everything else here. This is the move.
Chianti, Renzo Masi 'Riserva', Tuscany, Italy
Most people at Gram & Dun are reaching for California reds, which means the Renzo Masi Riserva sits quietly on the list, largely ignored. Chianti Riserva at a Southern-leaning American spot is an unexpected match that actually works — bright acidity, earthy grip, and enough structure to cut through richer dishes.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Louis Martini, Napa Valley, California
At $100 on the list against a $35 retail price, this is a 186% markup on a wine that doesn't merit the splurge even at retail. Louis Martini is a fine, workmanlike Napa Cab — but it is not a $100 bottle. Spend that money on two glasses of something more interesting.
Chardonnay, Sea Smoke, Sta. Rita Hills, California + Pan Seared Atlantic Scallops
Sea Smoke's Chardonnay comes from one of California's cooler coastal appellations, which means you get tension and salinity alongside the richness. That energy mirrors seared scallops — the wine's acidity cuts the butter, the fruit fills in where the sweetness of the scallop peaks. It's a genuinely strong combination.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Gram & Dun is a reliable wine stop in a city that doesn't have enough of them — solid by-the-glass program, a few genuinely good bottles, and a patio worth lingering on. Just skip the Louis Martini and anything with VinZant on it and you'll come out ahead.
Crossroads / Westside border (Southwest Boulevard) · Kansas City · Spanish tapas / small plates
La Bodega is the Wild Card Kansas City didn't know it needed — a genuinely Spain-focused wine list with fair pricing and a half-price Monday that should be on everyone's weekly calendar. Send your friends here, especially on a Wednesday when the paella and a Rioja Reserva are waiting.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Columbus Park / Downtown Fringe · Kansas City · Classic Italian-American
Garozzo's is a Kansas City institution, and the wine list knows its lane — Italian classics, middle-of-the-road pricing, and zero pretension. Send a friend here for the Spiedini and a Chianti; just don't send them expecting to discover anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Brookside / East Brookside · Kansas City · Seafood-focused American / Oyster Bar
Earl's Premier is a wild card in the best possible way: a thoughtfully curated, seafood-focused wine list hiding in a Kansas City neighborhood spot. Send your oyster-loving friends here and tell them to start with bubbles.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Country Club Plaza · Kansas City · Seafood / Oyster Bar
Jax KC isn't trying to be a wine destination and doesn't need to be — but the list is smarter than the room might suggest, with a few genuine standouts that reward paying attention. Send a friend here for oysters and Sancerre, and tell them to skip the markups on anything California.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Freight House / Crossroads · Kansas City · Italian
Lidia's is a reliable Italian wine destination with a focused list and real sommelier knowledge behind it — the markups sting on the entry-level bottles, but Wednesday half-price wine night changes the math entirely. If you're going any other night, aim high on the list where the value is better.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Country Club Plaza · Kansas City · Steakhouse Bar
The Capital Grille bar is a reliable destination if someone else is picking up the tab or you're cherry-picking by the glass. The list is deep and well-managed, but the markup math is hard to ignore when you're the one signing the check.
Solid Range
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
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