Steins and Sancerre in Old Springfield
Downtown · Springfield · German and American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed July 1, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Walking into The Student Prince feels like stumbling into a Bavarian time capsule — dark wood, steins stacked to the rafters, and the smell of schnitzel in the air. The wine list, printed and compact at 27 labels, doesn't try to be anything it isn't. That's actually a good thing.
Despite the German beer hall branding, the wine list leans New World with a handful of thoughtful European callouts. You've got Oregon Pinot from Maison L'Envoye, a solid Super Tuscan in the Volpaia 'Citto', and a proper J De Vilebois Sancerre sitting next to Napa Cabs and Russian River Chardonnay. The Banfi Chianti Classico and Pieropan Soave add some old-world texture without pretension. The list won't win awards for depth, but it's curated enough that someone clearly gave it thought — which is more than you'd expect from a place this focused on bratwurst and lagers.
Here's the actual surprise: all 27 bottles are available by the glass, which is rare and genuinely useful. Prices run $9 to $19 a pour, covering everything from entry-level California reds to the Scattered Peaks Napa Cab at the top end. No rotating specials or chalk-board additions, but the full-list-by-the-glass approach means you can explore freely without committing to a bottle.
Bedrock Wine Co. 'The Whole Shebang' California Red Blend — $12/glass
Bedrock's 'The Whole Shebang' consistently punches above its price point — it's a field blend from some of California's oldest vines, and finding it at $12 a glass in a Springfield beer hall is genuinely unexpected. Order two.
Pieropan Soave 2024
Most people at this table are ordering Pinot Noir or Cab, but Pieropan is one of the benchmark producers in Soave and their wine is crisp, mineral, and built for exactly the kind of food this kitchen makes. It'll get skipped. Don't let it.
Scattered Peaks Napa Cab 2022
At $19 a glass or $70 a bottle, you're paying Napa trophy-wine prices for a label that doesn't quite deliver at that tier. The Justin Cab next to it costs $4 less per glass and drinks just as well in this setting.
Banfi Chianti Classico 2019 + Sauerbraten
Sauerbraten's sweet-tart braised beef is rich and acidic all at once, and Chianti Classico's bright cherry fruit and firm acidity cut right through it. Sangiovese and slow-braised meat is a match that works across cultures.
🎲 The Bottom Line
The Student Prince isn't a wine destination, but it's a better wine stop than it has any right to be — fair prices, full-list glass pours, and a few genuinely smart picks hiding behind the beer hall curtain. If you're in Springfield, you could do a lot worse.
Downtown · Springfield · Tapas / Wine Bar
The MGM Springfield Tapas Lounge is a perfectly acceptable place to drink wine if you're already at the casino — just don't expect the list to excite you or the markups to be kind. Order by the glass, keep it simple, and save your serious wine curiosity for somewhere else.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Outer Springfield / Boston Road · Springfield · Italian-American casual dining
We wouldn't send a friend here for wine — we'd tell them to order a beer or a cocktail and enjoy the pasta. The Bertani Amarone is a genuine curiosity, but one interesting bottle surrounded by corporate-approved crowd-pleasers at steep markups doesn't make a wine program; it makes a footnote.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverfront · Springfield · Tex-Mex and American casual dining
Chili's Springfield Riverfront is not a wine destination — it's a place where wine exists so the menu isn't technically dry. Order a margarita, enjoy your ribs, and leave the wine list alone.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Riverfront / Hall of Fame · Springfield · Bar / Steakhouse
Max's Tavern is a reliable steakhouse wine program that punches slightly above its tourist-anchor location — the sommelier presence and European inclusions keep it from being generic, even if the pricing reflects the zip code. Send a friend here for dinner and tell them to skip the Cakebread.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown · Springfield · Wine Bar / German
The Fort Cellar Bar is doing more than most in Springfield, but steep markups and a list built for comfort over curiosity keep it from being anything more than a reliable neighborhood stop. Order the Pieropan, skip the top-shelf Napa, and enjoy the fact that this place exists at all.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Basketball Hall of Fame / Riverfront · Springfield · Casual American / Chicago-Style Pizzeria
UNO Springfield isn't a wine destination and makes no pretense of being one — come for the deep dish, order a beer, or grab the Wairau River if you need something in a glass. Sending a friend here specifically for wine would be a strange thing to do to a friend.
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.