Come for the beer, skip the wine
Clive · Des Moines · American, Brewpub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 20, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Granite City reads like it was built by someone whose actual job is ordering beer kegs. It's short, generic, and clearly an afterthought in a place that has its own on-site brewery doing the heavy lifting. Nothing here will surprise you — and not in the good way.
We're talking 10-20 bottles, tops, anchored by unnamed house pours and a couple of token Italian gestures. There are no producers listed, no appellations worth noting, and no indication that anyone curated this list with any intention beyond 'cover the basics.' The US selections are vague catch-alls — a house Chardonnay, a house Cab — and the Italian presence is limited to Moscato and Prosecco, neither of which is identified beyond the varietal name. If you're hoping for a regional discovery or a small producer find, you're in the wrong building.
Six to ten options by the glass, priced $7–$12, which is at least honest about what you're getting. Rotation doesn't appear to be a thing here — this list has the energy of something that hasn't changed since the location opened. Order what you know because the menu won't help you decide.
House Cabernet Sauvignon — $9
At the lower end of the glass price range, it's the least risky call on a list with no producers listed. You know what you're getting with a generic American Cab — it's inoffensive and works with a burger.
Prosecco
Nobody comes to a brewpub for bubbles, which means it probably moves slowly and may actually be served cold and fresh. If you want something lighter while everyone else debates IPAs, this is your quiet move.
Moscato
A generic Moscato at a sports-adjacent brewpub is a wine that exists purely to tick a box. No producer, no story, no reason to order it when a craft lager is made on the same premises.
House Chardonnay + Flatbread
A simple, unoaked-leaning house Chardonnay won't fight a flatbread the way a bigger red might. It's neutral enough to stay out of the way while you actually enjoy the food.
❌ The Bottom Line
Granite City is a brewery that tolerates wine, and the list reflects that perfectly. Drink the beer — it's the whole point of being here.
Johnston · Des Moines · Wine bar / American
Louie's Johnston is exactly what a suburban wine bar should be — a big by-the-glass list, fair prices, and zero pretension. Send your friends here when they want to drink well without a side of attitude.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Seasonal Rotation
Acceptable
Clive · Des Moines · Steakhouse & American
Club Car is a reliable steakhouse wine list doing exactly what it was built to do: keep Cab drinkers happy and nobody walking out complaining. Don't come here for discovery, but don't leave without ordering the Jordan.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Waukee · Des Moines · Japanese / Asian Fusion / Sushi
Wasabi Waukee is a genuinely good sushi restaurant that treats its wine list like an afterthought — familiar names, steep markups, and zero curiosity about what wines might actually sing alongside the food. Order the cocktails or sake instead, and save the wine discussion for somewhere that cares.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Ingersoll / Grand · Des Moines · Contemporary American
Louie's Wine Dive is the kind of place Des Moines needs more of — a real wine program in a no-pretense room, with Tuesday half-price deals that make experimenting genuinely low-stakes. It's not a destination list, but it's absolutely a destination night.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
West Des Moines / Jordan Creek · Des Moines · Italian
Bravo! is a fine dinner out if the pasta is what you're after, but the wine list is purely functional — corporate-designed, safely marked up, and entirely forgettable. Order a glass of bubbles or the Chianti, make peace with your choices, and let the food do the heavy lifting.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Des Moines / Jordan Creek · Des Moines · Chinese, Asian, Pan-Asian
You're not coming to P.F. Chang's at Jordan Creek for a wine revelation, and that's fine — but show up on a Wednesday, grab a half-price bottle of Whispering Angel or the Browne Family blend, and you'll drink better than the list's full-price reputation deserves. Just don't pay full freight.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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.