Iowa's Quietly Adventurous Wine List Nobody Expects
East Village · Des Moines · Farm-to-table American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 12, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk into HOQ expecting the wine list to match the modest East Village zip code — a few California cabs, a safe Pinot Grigio, and you're done. Instead, you're looking at Austrian Grüner, Spanish Tempranillo blanc, and a sparkling from Burgenland. For Des Moines, this is a quiet act of rebellion.
Thirty to fifty bottles doesn't sound like much, but HOQ earns every slot. Spain, Austria, Italy, and Australia share real estate with a local Iowa producer — Jasper Winery — which signals that whoever built this list actually thought about it rather than just calling the Sysco rep. The Austrian and Spanish selections lean old-world and food-friendly, which makes sense given the farm-to-table menu. There are gaps — no serious red Burgundy, no deep domestic options — but for a restaurant of this size and price point, the intentionality is hard to argue with.
Eight-plus by-the-glass options in this price band ($13–$16) is genuinely solid. The fact that you can get the Meinklang 'Epic' Sparkling from Burgenland by the glass at a farm-to-table spot in Iowa is the kind of thing that makes you text a friend. The glass pour list skews toward lighter, food-compatible styles — which is exactly right for how this kitchen cooks.
Gorgo Chardonnay, Verona, Italy — $35–$49 (bottle)
Italian Chardonnay from Verona tends to be leaner and more mineral than its Burgundian cousins — less butter, more drive. At this price point, it's the kind of bottle that makes the table feel fancy without the check doing the same.
Jasper Winery Un-Oaked Seyval Blanc, Des Moines, Iowa
Most people will scroll past the Iowa wine without a second look, which is a mistake. Seyval Blanc is a hybrid grape that does surprisingly crisp, citrusy work in the right hands, and supporting a local Des Moines producer at a Des Moines restaurant is the whole point of a place like HOQ. Order it and brag about it later.
Col Di Luna 'Flora' Prosecco, Veneto, Italy
Prosecco is Prosecco. There's nothing wrong with it, but when the Meinklang 'Epic' Sparkling from Burgenland is sitting right next to it on the list, paying for a bottle of Flora feels like ordering a side salad at a barbecue joint. Skip it.
'Christina' Grüner Veltliner, Weinland, Austria + Wild Alaskan Salmon
Grüner Veltliner's white pepper snap and clean acidity cut right through the richness of salmon without fighting it. Austria's answer to food wine meets one of HOQ's best proteins — this is the move.
🎲 The Bottom Line
HOQ is doing something quietly impressive in a city that doesn't always demand it — a focused, globally curious wine list at prices that don't make you wince. If you're passing through Des Moines and care about what's in your glass, this is your dinner.
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
Clive · Des Moines · American, Brewpub
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.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
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
South Wedge · Rochester · Farm-to-table American
Lento isn't trying to be a wine destination, but the list punches well above its weight for a South Wedge farm-to-table spot — especially if you lean into the Finger Lakes selections or take a shot on the Burgundies. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Zionsville · Indianapolis · Farm-to-table American
The Loft is a farm restaurant that outran its own concept on the wine side — a small but genuinely considered list in a barn setting that could have easily gotten away with a grocery store lineup. If you're anywhere near Zionsville and you haven't been, go for the Gimonnet and stay for the cheese.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.