Safe Harbor for Seafood, Not Surprises
Country Club Plaza · Kansas City · Seafood and Steak · Visit Website ↗
Updated October 2026
Reviewed March 26, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed McCormick & Schmick's Seafood - Kansas City’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at McCormick & Schmick's Plaza reads exactly like you'd expect from a national seafood chain — familiar faces, no curveballs, nothing to stress about. It's the vinous equivalent of a well-pressed button-down: not exciting, but you're not embarrassed showing up in it either. If you walked in hoping for a deep dive into Burgundy or a funky natural wine, you've taken a wrong turn.
The list leans heavily on California workhorses — Mondavi Cab, Sterling Merlot, Storypoint Cab — with token representation from Washington (Chateau Ste. Michelle), Oregon (Acrobat Pinot Gris), New Zealand (Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc), and a surprise back-bench of Graham's Ports ranging from 10 to 30 Year. That port selection is genuinely the most interesting thing on the list and feels almost accidental next to the Ecco Domani and Mark West. Old World presence is essentially nonexistent beyond the port corner and a Michele Chiarlo Moscato D'Asti. You're not finding anything to brag about to your wine group, but you're also not drinking badly.
Ten options by the glass, all priced between $7 and $9, which in 2024 is practically a steal for a sit-down restaurant with tablecloths. The selection covers the obvious bases — bubbles, white, rosé, red, even a Malbec — though rotation appears to be nonexistent; this looks like a set-it-and-forget-it pour program. What it lacks in dynamism it makes up for in accessibility: nobody at this table is going home broke.
Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc — $9
Retails around $17 and it shows — this is a proper Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with real zip and grapefruit character, not a watered-down house pour. At $9 a glass it's the best deal on the list, especially next to a plate of Alaskan Halibut.
Graham's 20 Yr Tawny Port
Most people at a seafood chain never think to order port, which is exactly why you should. Graham's 20 Year is a legitimately excellent tawny — nutty, complex, worth every penny — and it's sitting right there on the menu being ignored by everyone ordering another Mark West.
Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio
A grocery store staple dressed up in a restaurant setting. There's nothing wrong with it exactly, but at a seafood-forward spot with a Wairau River Sauvignon Blanc available for the same price, ordering Ecco Domani is leaving flavor on the table.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling + Hawaiian Mahi Mahi
Ste. Michelle Riesling brings bright stone fruit and just enough residual sweetness to play off any tropical or citrus preparation on the Mahi Mahi without bulldozing the fish. Washington Riesling and Pacific fish is a reliable combo for a reason.
The Bottom Line
McCormick & Schmick's isn't a wine destination, but it's not a wine disaster either — fair prices on recognizable pours make it easy to drink well without thinking too hard. Send a friend here if they want good seafood with a decent glass of wine; send a wine geek somewhere else.
· Kansas City · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Kansas City isn't a wine destination, but it's not a wine disappointment either. Prices are fair, the South American focus makes thematic sense, and the VIK and Lapostolle picks show there's a ceiling here above the house pour. Come for the beef, drink the Eulila, leave happy.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Stockyards District · Kansas City · Steakhouse
A steakhouse list with a 22-pour glass section at $12 to $20 and a Bottle List that runs from 46 to 348. Start with the Emilio Moro Tempranillo at $12 or the Amigoni Urban Drover at $14, and put a glass of the Daou Cabernet next to the Kansas City Strip. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups, so confirm what is pouring.
Crossroads / Westside border (Southwest Boulevard) · Kansas City · Spanish tapas / small plates
A tapas-bar drinks sheet with glass/bottle pairs starting at 9/36 and a separate sherry-by-the-glass list. Start with the Reino de la Vina Tempranillo Reserva at 12/48 alongside the Paella Valenciana, or the Venta Morales Tempranillo at 10/40, and confirm prices because the sheet is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
River Market · Kansas City · French
A French-led list with 25 two-price wines up front and a long run of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhône bottles behind them. Start with the Chinon Le Garenne at 42 or the Cornas 'Granit 60' at 88, ask which number is the glass price, and confirm prices, since the page is undated. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
Country Club Plaza · Kansas City · Winery Restaurant / American
A long, bin-numbered list that mixes dry wines, sweet wines and flavored sparklers on one page, with a Cakebread Cellars wine as its priciest bottle. Start with the $12.00 Pinot Noir or the $12.75 Winemaker's Barrel Reserve, and confirm prices at the Plaza location before you go. This unrated guide covers the posted wine list, not service, storage or markups.
North Kansas City · Kansas City · Italian-American
A glass list that fits an Italian menu: 24 wines from $8 to $13, with Barolo, Amarone and Brunello available by the bottle. Start with the $8 Capasoldo Pinot Grigio, or the $13 Banfi Chianti Riserva if you are ordering the Veal Parmigiana, and confirm current prices. This unrated guide covers the posted drinks list, not service, storage or markups.
Mission Bay · San Francisco · Seafood and Steak
Miller & Lux is a dependable, well-run wine program for a high-end steakhouse — backed by knowledgeable staff, proper storage, and a focus on the regions that make sense with the food. The markup is steep and the list plays it safe, so this isn't where you go to discover something new. If you're celebrating and want a bottle that feels appropriate to the moment and the room, you'll land on something good — just go in knowing you're paying a premium for the setting as much as the wine.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Cannery Row · Carmel By The Sea · Seafood and Steak
Fish Hopper is a reliable waterfront pour — not a destination for wine lovers, but not an embarrassment either. Go for the view, drink the Bernardus or the Roar, and save the deep cellar hunting for somewhere down the coast.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Vail Village · Vail · Seafood and Steak
Montauk is a reliable stop for wine in Vail Village — it won't blow your mind or your budget in a good way, but it won't embarrass you either. Send a friend here knowing they'll drink fine; just don't expect them to come back with a story about the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
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.
List Variety
Markup
Glassware
Staff
Specials & Deals
Storage & Temp