Views Deliver, Wine List Plays It Safe
University of Kansas Campus / The Oread · Lawrence · Rooftop Bar / American
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 10, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Oread Hotel - Nest on Ninth’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're up on a rooftop above the KU campus with a solid view and a cold breeze, and the wine list feels exactly like that setting: easygoing, uncomplicated, and not trying to impress anyone. Twelve bottles by the glass, familiar names from coast to coast, and a price ceiling that won't make you wince. This is a place built for cocktails and crowd energy, and the wine list knows its lane.
The list clocks in at 12-20 bottles and reads like a greatest-hits of approachable American labels — California dominates with Sea Sun, DAOU, La Crema, and Unshackled, with Argentina and France making token appearances via Kaiken Malbec and AIX Rosé. There's no real depth here: no single-vineyard surprises, no old-world rabbit holes, no natural wine curiosity to reward the adventurous drinker. What you do get is reliability — these are wines people recognize, order without overthinking, and finish without complaint. Gaps are obvious: zero Champagne, no Italian reds, no Rhône, nothing to make a wine-focused guest linger on the list.
All 12 bottles pour by the glass, which is genuinely the right call for a rooftop bar format where groups are splitting options and sipping slowly. Prices land between $5 and $15 per glass, which is honest money for Lawrence, Kansas. Rotation appears to be static — don't expect anything new next visit.
AIX Rosé — $15/glass
AIX is a legitimate Provence rosé that punches above its category — dry, structured, and actually interesting. At the top of the glass-pour ceiling here, it's still competitive, and it's the most curated pick on the list.
Kung Fu Girl Riesling
Most people at a sports-adjacent rooftop bar are reaching for Cab or the red blend. Kung Fu Girl is Charles Smith's off-dry Washington Riesling — bright acidity, stone fruit, and a little sweetness that works surprisingly well against salty flatbreads. Nobody orders it. They should.
Conundrum Red Blend
Conundrum is a perfectly drinkable wine that you can find at any grocery store for around $18-20. At restaurant markup, you're paying hotel-rooftop prices for something that offers zero occasion-specific value. There are better picks on this very list.
Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc + Charcuterie
Matanzas Creek brings enough citrus and herbaceous snap to cut through the fat in cured meats without overwhelming the subtler flavors. It's a clean, classic match that works especially well when you're grazing rather than committing to a full entrée.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Nest on Ninth is a view bar with a wine list that does its job without embarrassing itself — fair prices, recognizable pours, and nothing to get excited about. Come for the rooftop, order the AIX Rosé, and don't expect more than that.
West Lawrence · Lawrence · American bar & grill
Set'em Up Jacks is a great sports bar that has absolutely no interest in being a wine destination, and that's fine — but don't come here thirsty for anything other than beer. Order the wings, grab a pint, and leave the wine list for the person who forgot to bring cash for a cocktail.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
West Lawrence · Lawrence · Italian
Basil Leaf isn't a wine destination, but with half-price bottle nights on Thursdays and Sundays and markups that are genuinely fair, it's the rare neighborhood Italian where you won't resent your wine bill. Order the Chianti, get the pasta, come back on Sunday.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
South Lawrence · Lawrence · Tex-Mex
Cactus Grill is genuinely fun for what it is — a casual Tex-Mex spot with solid food and good margaritas — but the wine list is purely ornamental. Come for the tacos, drink the cocktails, and don't overthink the wine.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Massachusetts Street · Lawrence · American Brewpub
Free State is a Kansas institution and one of the best craft beer experiences in the Midwest — come for the beer, stay for the burger, and leave the wine to someone else. The list is fine in the way a gas station sandwich is fine: it exists, it won't hurt you, but it's not why you're here.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / 9th & Massachusetts · Lawrence · European-style café, coffee and cocktail bar
The Bourgeois Pig isn't a wine destination, but it's not trying to be — and that's what makes the wine list a pleasant surprise rather than an embarrassment. If you're in the neighborhood for coffee or cocktails and the mood strikes, the rosé is a legit pour at a fair price.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / Massachusetts Street · Lawrence · Wine Bar / New American Small Plates
Meadowlark is punching so far above its weight class for a college town wine bar that it almost feels unfair to the rest of Kansas. The list is small but the vision is sharp — if you're anywhere near Lawrence and care even a little about natural wine, you owe this place a visit.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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.