Missouri grapes doing things you didn't expect
Historic Hwy 165 Corridor · Branson · Winery Tasting Room · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 23, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Ozark Hills Winery’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Walk in expecting Branson kitsch and instead find a genuinely earnest tasting room built around Missouri-grown grapes most people have never heard of. The vibe is relaxed and unpretentious — no velvet ropes, no wine-snob energy, just a cozy space that wants you to try something new. It's the kind of place that reminds you wine doesn't have to come from France or Napa to be interesting.
The list is anchored entirely in Missouri and Ozark Hills estate production, which is either a bold move or a refreshing one depending on your perspective — we'd argue both. You'll find French-American hybrids like Traminette, Vignoles, Chardonel, and Vidal on the white side, alongside red hybrids including Norton, Noiret, and Chambourcin that actually have some structure and personality. Norton in particular is the state grape of Missouri and Ozark Hills takes it seriously. There's even a wine called Super Sweetie that signals they're not above playing to the crowd, and Firefly that leans into the sweeter, fruit-forward lane without apology.
With somewhere between 10 and 20 options available by the glass or as part of a flight, the pour program is the main event here — this is a tasting room, after all. Flights are the smart move: you get a structured tour through the range without committing to a full bottle of something unfamiliar. The flight format also means staff actually walk you through what's in the glass, which makes a real difference when you're navigating grape varieties you've never encountered.
Chambourcin — Flight included
A red hybrid that punches well above its regional reputation — earthy, a little tannic, genuinely food-friendly. Getting it as part of a flight means you're paying almost nothing to discover a grape variety most American wine drinkers have completely overlooked.
Noiret
A relatively new hybrid developed at Cornell that almost nobody outside of Midwest wine circles knows exists. Ozark Hills growing it is a small act of bravery. It tends toward dark fruit and pepper with decent structure — worth asking specifically for if you want to drink something genuinely off the beaten path.
Super Sweetie
The name tells you everything. If you want dessert, order dessert. This one exists for people who don't really want to drink wine, and that's fine — but if you're here to actually explore what Missouri can do, spend your pour on almost anything else.
Vignoles + Charcuterie snack board
Vignoles tends to land somewhere between off-dry and semi-sweet with good acidity, which means it cuts through cured meats and soft cheeses without getting lost. It's the kind of pairing that works at a tasting room because it doesn't require a full kitchen to execute — just a board and a pour.
The Bottom Line
Ozark Hills won't satisfy anyone looking for an Old World deep-dive, but if you're curious about what Missouri wine actually looks like when someone gives it real attention, this is the place to find out. Send a friend here with an open mind and low expectations — they'll leave pleasantly surprised.
· Branson · Barbecue
Come to Gettin' Basted for the barbecue — not the wine. The $5 house pour is a service item, not a program, and there's no evidence anyone is minding the cellar (or even has one). Order a beer, enjoy the smoke, and don't think about wine until you're somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Branson · Italian-American
Pasghetti's isn't trying to be a wine destination, and the list makes that abundantly clear. If you're here for the pasta and the family-friendly Branson vibe, grab a Lambrusco and call it a night — but don't expect the wine program to be part of the reason you come back.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Branson · Seafood
Landry's Branson keeps its wine program simple to the point of invisibility — fair prices, familiar names, no bottles, no story. If you're here for the seafood and just want a glass of something reasonable alongside it, you won't suffer. But if wine matters to you even a little, this list wasn't built with you in mind.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Pointe Royale / State Highway 165 corridor · Branson · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Pointe Royale isn't a wine destination, but it's not an embarrassment either — fair prices, drinkable pours, and a list that serves its purpose alongside a good steak. Send a friend here for the food; just tell them to skip the Meiomi.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Table Rock Lake / Marina area · Branson · Seafood / American
White River Fish House is not your wine destination in Branson, but it doesn't pretend to be — the list is safe, priced fairly, and sensible enough for what the kitchen is serving. Send a friend here for the lake views and the catfish; just tell them to stick to white wine and keep expectations calibrated accordingly.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Branson Hills / north Branson · Branson · Steakhouse
Saltgrass Branson isn't a wine destination, and it knows it — the list exists to serve the steak, and at these prices, it does that job competently. Send your wine-curious friends here without hesitation; send your wine-obsessed friends to dinner somewhere else first.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Old Town Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Winery Tasting Room
A one-producer Arizona list that is easy to read: 18 wines, $15 to $45 online, and a $25 five-wine tasting. Put the 2023 Sangiovese or the 2023 Malvasia Bianca in your five, and ask the room which wines are open since no pour list is posted. This unrated guide covers the winery's posted online shop prices and tasting fee, not the Scottsdale room's pours, service or markups.
· San Francisco · Winery Tasting Room
If you're driving through Sonoma and want to understand why Chardonnay still matters in California, Kistler's tasting room makes a strong case — but you need an appointment and you need to want exactly what they're pouring. The cheese, dips, and crackers are incidental; the wines are the entire point. Book ahead, show up curious, and let the vineyard-specific lineup do the work.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Newport · Winery Tasting Room
Greenvale Vineyards is a legitimate reason to detour off Bellevue Avenue. The estate list is small but not lazy — the Ramato alone earns the visit — and at $25 to $40 a bottle, you're paying tasting room prices, not restaurant markups. If you're spending a day in Newport, this is where you buy a bottle for the waterfront, not where you linger over a three-course dinner.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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