Beer Town, Wine's an Afterthought
Lindale Mall area · Cedar Rapids · American / Brewpub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 3, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list here reads like someone grabbed whatever was on sale at a grocery store and called it a day. This is a brewery first, a burger joint second, and a wine destination approximately never. If you're here for the house-brewed beer, you're in the right place — if you're here for the wine, you've made a wrong turn.
The list is a California greatest hits of the mid-2000s: Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, Robert Mondavi Private Selection Merlot, J. Lohr Cab, Barefoot Moscato — all perfectly drinkable, none of them particularly interesting. There's no Old World presence, no regional diversity, no small producers, nothing that suggests anyone here thought hard about wine. It's a list designed to check a box, not to excite anyone. If you're hoping for something beyond grocery-store staples, this list will disappoint you consistently.
Roughly 8-12 pours by the glass, ranging from $7 to $11, which sounds reasonable until you notice the bottles retail for $6-$15 at your local Total Wine. The glass program doesn't rotate — what you see today is what you'll see in six months. No surprises here, in any sense of the word.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling — $8
At $8 a glass, this is the most honest pour on the list. Chateau Ste. Michelle makes a genuinely food-friendly Riesling, and it's the one wine here that actually has something to say. The markup is still steep relative to retail, but it's the least offensive option on the menu.
J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
Seven Oaks is one of those bottles that gets underestimated because it's everywhere. It's a solid, well-made Paso Robles Cab with real structure — better than anything else on this list and capable of standing up to the burgers and flatbreads. Most people here order the KJ Chard out of habit; the J. Lohr is the smarter move.
Barefoot Moscato
At $7 a glass on a bottle that retails for $6, this is genuinely the worst value on the list by percentage. It's a fine $6 bottle of Moscato — emphasis on fine and $6. You are not at a wine bar. This is not a Moscato moment.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Flatbread
The Riesling's slight sweetness and crisp acidity cut through the richness of any flatbread topping — especially anything with caramelized onions or a sweeter sauce. It's the one pairing on this menu where the wine actually does some useful work.
❌ The Bottom Line
Granite City is a perfectly fine place to drink a pint brewed on-site — that's genuinely the move here. The wine list exists as a formality, not an invitation, and the markups on grocery-store bottles aren't doing anyone any favors.
Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids · Italian
Biaggi's isn't a wine destination, but the Italian-forward list does enough right that you can drink well if you know where to look. Stick to the Italian bottles, avoid the obvious crowd-pleasers, and you'll leave satisfied.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Cedar Rapids · Cedar Rapids · Upscale Steakhouse / Fine Dining American
Midtown Reserve is doing more with wine than anyone in Cedar Rapids has a right to expect, with a list that actually has some range and genuine finds if you look past the house pours. The markups are real and the glass program plays it safe, but for a serious dinner in Iowa, this is absolutely where you want to be drinking.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
NewBo · Cedar Rapids · Steakhouse / Butcher Restaurant
Butcher's Block is a reliable steakhouse wine list that does exactly what it's supposed to — get Napa Cab on the table with a great piece of beef. It won't excite the adventurous drinker, and the markups sting a little, but if you're here for the meat, the wine will do its job.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Czech Village · Cedar Rapids · Pub food and American
Parlor City is a genuinely fun neighborhood pub, and the daily happy hour makes the wine situation tolerable — half-price Moscato d'Asti at 4pm is a perfectly fine life choice. But if wine is your priority tonight, this isn't your stop.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Active Program
Acceptable
Lindale Mall area · Cedar Rapids · Sports Bar
Buffalo Wild Wings Cedar Rapids is not a wine destination — it's a sports bar that technically serves wine the way a gas station technically sells food. Order a beer, enjoy the wings, and save your wine curiosity for literally anywhere else in Cedar Rapids.
Grocery Store
Steep
Red Flag
MIA
Set & Forget
Hot Mess
Westdale · Cedar Rapids · Tex-Mex / American
Chili's Cedar Rapids is not a wine destination, and it has absolutely no interest in becoming one. Order the margarita, enjoy the ribs, and save your wine curiosity for a restaurant that shares it.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.