Order a Beer. Seriously, Just Order a Beer.
Downtown · Springfield · Sports Bar & Grill · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at The Dugout is less a list and more a hostage situation — two options, both unnamed house pours, both the kind of thing you find in a box next to the cash register at a gas station. We respect the honesty of a sports bar that knows what it is. The wine program, however, did not get that memo.
Two wines. That's it. A house White Zinfandel and a house Merlot, both almost certainly bulk California product that arrives in the back in something larger than a bottle and smaller than a barrel. There are no regions worth discussing, no producers worth naming, and no depth to dive into. The Dugout's wine 'program' exists to check a box on the menu, not to actually serve anyone who cares about what's in their glass.
Both wines are available by the glass, which is technically a 100% by-the-glass program — a stat that means absolutely nothing here. At $4–$7 a pour, the prices are low, but so is every other bar in Springfield. You're not getting a deal; you're getting exactly what you pay for.
House Merlot — $7
If you absolutely must order wine at The Dugout, the Merlot is the safer bet over the White Zin. It's cheap, it won't embarrass you, and at $7 you're not out much when you inevitably switch to a beer.
House White Zinfandel
Look, it's not a gem by any stretch — but if you're splitting a plate of house smoked wings and want something cold and slightly sweet that costs less than a soda at a movie theater, the White Zin delivers on that exact narrow brief.
House Merlot
We know we just told you it was the 'best value,' but the bar is truly subterranean here. Any unnamed bulk Merlot at a sports bar is going to be flat, forgettable, and served too warm. Skip wine entirely and order a cold draft.
House White Zinfandel + House Smoked Wings
The slight residual sweetness in the White Zin actually cuts against spicy wing sauce better than you'd expect. It's not a pairing we'd brag about, but it's functional — and at The Dugout, functional is the ceiling.
❌ The Bottom Line
The Dugout is a perfectly fine sports bar where wings get eaten, games get watched, and wine gets ignored — and that's the right call. Come for the BBQ Bacon Burger, leave the wine glass at home.
South Springfield · Springfield · Farm-to-table gastropub
Farmers Gastropub is a reliable neighborhood stop where the food gets more attention than the wine list — and that's okay. Order the Tempranillo, enjoy the locally sourced kitchen, and don't come here expecting to geek out on wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
East Springfield · Springfield · American Grill
FD's Grillhouse isn't trying to be a wine destination, and it knows it — the list is safe, the markups lean steep, and the by-the-glass selection does most of the heavy lifting. If you're here for burgers and a decent pour, you'll leave fine; just skip The Prisoner and let Catena or Chapoutier do the work.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Fremont · Springfield · Upscale Italian
Avanzare isn't reinventing the wine list, but it's doing the right things in a market where that's not guaranteed — real Italian producers, a few adventurous picks, and a happy hour wine deal that's genuinely one of the better values in Springfield. Take someone you want to impress, order the Barbaresco, and get there before 6 PM.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown · Springfield · Upscale Steakhouse
Flame is doing what a downtown Springfield steakhouse should do — keeping the room happy with a recognizable, well-stocked list and an unusually strong by-the-glass program. It's not breaking new ground, but if you know what you want and pick carefully, there's a solid night of wine to be had here.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Springfield · Springfield · Wine Bar / Tapas & Small Plates
Cellar + Plate earns its Wild Card badge by doing things a mid-Missouri wine bar has no obligation to do — stocking real producers, offering genuine specials, and building a list with an actual perspective. It's not a destination in the national sense, but for Springfield? Send your friends on a Wednesday.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Springfield · Springfield · American
Ocean Zen has held a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence since 2019, and the list earns it by being consistently fair and food-friendly, even if it never surprises you. Come on a Wednesday, order the J. Lohr, and enjoy the sea bass — you'll leave happy.
Crowd Pleasers
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.