Suburban wine bar that actually tries
Johnston · Des Moines · Wine bar / American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 20, 2026
Wingman Metrics
You walk into Louie's Johnston and the wine list feels like it was built for people who know what they like and don't want a lecture about it. It's approachable in the best sense — not dumbed down, just not showing off. For a suburb of Des Moines, the ambition here is real.
The list runs 100-150 bottles deep with a heavy lean toward California, France, New Zealand, and Washington State — reliable wine country all-stars, no real surprises. You'll find the expected crowd-pleasers anchoring the list, which is fine for the audience, but anyone hunting for a grower Champagne or a weird Jura white will leave empty-handed. Italy and Washington State show up with enough presence to keep things from feeling like a grocery store endcap, but the list plays it safe more than it takes swings. Still, at this price point in this zip code, the depth is more than respectable.
Forty to sixty pours by the glass is legitimately impressive for a neighborhood spot — this is where Louie's earns its wine bar badge. Rotation appears to happen with some intention, and the sheer volume of options means you're not stuck choosing between two Chardonnays. The tradeoff is that the BTG list trends heavily toward crowd-friendly names, so expect familiarity over discovery.
Bread & Butter Pinot Noir — $
Reliably well-made Central Coast Pinot at a price that doesn't make you wince. It's the kind of bottle that drinks above its weight class, especially if you're splitting it over small plates.
The Prisoner Red Blend
Most people gloss over California red blends as safe and boring, but The Prisoner is genuinely interesting — Zinfandel-forward with enough Cabernet, Petite Sirah, and Syrah in the mix to keep it from being one-note. It plays well with a crowd and doesn't require a wine education to appreciate.
Veuve Clicquot Champagne
Veuve is a fine bottle, but restaurant markups on this label are almost always brutal — it's the Champagne equivalent of a house burger at a steakhouse. You're paying for the yellow label, not for a deal. If you want bubbles, push the staff to see what else is on the list.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc + Small plates
Kim Crawford's Marlborough Sauv Blanc is bright, citrusy, and high-acid — it cuts right through anything rich or fatty on the small plates menu and keeps your palate fresh between bites. It's not a revelation, but it does the job cleanly every single time.
✔️ The Bottom Line
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.
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
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.