Gram & Dun
Plaza Patio Wine That Won't Embarrass You
Country Club Plaza · Kansas City · Creative American with Southern influences · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 26, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
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.
Selection Deep Dive
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.
By the Glass
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.
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