Sherry and Cava on Southwest Boulevard
Southwest Boulevard · Kansas City · Spanish Tapas · Visit Website ↗
Updated June 2026
Reviewed March 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at La Bodega doesn't try to be everything to everyone — it's unapologetically Iberian and proud of it. You're not going to find a Napa Cab or a Sancerre hiding in the back pages. What you will find is a focused, personality-driven selection that actually matches the food on the table.
The list leans hard into Spain and Portugal, with some Argentina and California rounding out the edges for the less adventurous. Port and sherry anchor the program in a way you almost never see at a restaurant that isn't actively trying to be a wine bar — Graham's 6 Grape Ruby and Fonseca Bin 27 represent solid, approachable entry points into fortified wine, while Lustau's 'Jarana' Fino brings a bone-dry, saline precision that belongs next to anything briny on the table. The Tarrida Cava and Udaca Dao add Iberian breadth without overcomplicating things. The list isn't deep, but it's curated with intention.
Happy hour is where La Bodega earns its stripes — 10-plus options running $3 to $8 a glass, including ports, sherries, and wines that you'd normally pay real money to try anywhere else. Fino sherry by the glass for happy hour prices is practically a civic service. We'd love to see more rotation and a clearer by-the-glass program outside of happy hour, but what's here is genuinely exciting.
Lustau 'Jarana' Fino — $8
A world-class fino sherry at happy hour pricing is absurd value. Crisp, dry, and nutty in the best way — this is the kind of pour that converts skeptics.
Udaca Dao
Dao is one of Portugal's most underrated regions, and most diners will scroll right past it. Don't. It's structured, earthy, and interesting in ways that a generic Spanish red never will be.
Graham's 6 Grape Ruby
Fine for what it is, but it's the most supermarket-friendly bottle on the list. If you're already at a place with Lustau fino on the menu, aim higher than the entry-level Ruby Port.
Lustau 'Jarana' Fino + Gambas al Ajillo
Fino sherry and garlicky shrimp is a classic Andalusian combination for a reason. The sherry's saline, yeasty edge cuts right through the olive oil and makes the shrimp taste even more like the sea.
🎲 The Bottom Line
La Bodega is the rare restaurant where the wine list actually has a point of view — Iberian-focused, aggressively priced during happy hour, and quietly educational if you let it be. Send your friends here, especially the ones who think they don't like sherry.
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
Blue Back Square / West Hartford · Hartford · Spanish Tapas
Boqueria West Hartford won't surprise wine geeks, but it delivers a coherent, fairly priced Spanish list that genuinely serves the food. If you're eating tapas and drinking well, this is a solid neighborhood call.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
North Naperville · Naperville · Spanish Tapas
Mesón Sabika is a reliable destination for anyone who wants their wine and food to speak the same language — it's not a deep or adventurous list, but it's honest and appropriate. Send a friend here if they want a romantic Spanish evening in the suburbs without stressing over the wine list.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Southwest Boulevard · Overland Park · Spanish Tapas
La Bodega isn't trying to be a wine bar, but the half-price Monday and Thursday deals, Spain-focused list, and food-friendly pours make it the most fun you can have drinking wine with tapas in Kansas City. Go on a Thursday, order the Marqués de Cáceres, and don't overthink it.
Solid Range
Fair
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.