Safe Harbor for Seafood, Not Surprises
Country Club Plaza · Kansas City · Seafood and Steak · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 26, 2026
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.
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
Downtown · Madison · Seafood and Steak
Tempest is a reliable downtown option for wine with your oysters — the list has genuine highlights and the glass count is respectable, but the markups are steep and the program isn't pushing itself. Go for the Sancerre, go for the Riesling, and don't overthink it.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lake Mary · Orlando · Seafood and Steak
FishBones delivers a competent, sommelier-backed program that plays the hits without taking risks. The markup stings on celebrity bottles, but the staff knows their stuff and the by-the-glass selection keeps things accessible. Your reliable Lake Mary option when you want wine with dinner, not a wine destination.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Stemless Casual
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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