Kansas is a rural state that is primarily known for its farmland, wide open spaces and winning college basketball teams.
Many people are unaware that Kansas is home to some of the best-kept secrets in the wine world, and wine tasting in Kansas can be an unforgettable experience!
Where to Go For Wine Tasting in Kansas
Wichita
Wichita is the largest city in the state of Kansas, with a population of just over 390,000 people. The area is home to many airplane manufacturers, and there are also ties to the famous film “The Wizard of Oz.”
Wine tasting in Wichita can be a great time by visiting some of these local favorites.
Chesters Chophouse & Wine Bar features a beautiful lakefront view with a fantastic food menu featuring high quality steaks and seafood. Their wine cellar holds over 1000 bottles, and their wine list features a large variety of both new world and old world wines.
Alzavino Wine Tavern is carefully designed to achieve a warm and cozy wine bar with a friendly and inviting atmosphere. The staff is very knowledgeable, and love helping customers who are new to the world of wine find the best glass for their taste preferences.
Fleur De Vin is located within the Revolutsia shipping container complex, and it is one of the most unique wine concepts anywhere in the country. The focus is primarily on barreled wine that is poured by tap. The food menu features bites optimized for wine pairings with plenty of selection.
Kansas City
Kansas City, Kansas is often confused with nearby Kansas City, Missouri. While much smaller than its sister city across state lines, Kansas City, Kansas is large enough to house a rapidly growing and exciting wine scene full of young wine enthusiasts and unique wine bars
The Mockingbird Lounge Features a fantastic menu of Southern favorites, as well as one of the best patio seating areas in the entire Kansas City area. Their full bar features a solid selection of different wine choices, as well as beer on tap and craft cocktails served in mason jars.
Wandering Vine at the Castle Is located inside a castle that is over 100 years old, making it one of the most unforgettable dining experiences in the entire United States. Their world-renowned chef and sommelier curate a well-thought-out menu featuring worldly selections.
Sarah’s on the Hill specializes in homemade comfort food, and their laid-back atmosphere makes it a perfect place to grab a glass of wine with friends after work. The menu features plenty of variety and vegetarian options, and all of the wine and beer are very reasonably priced
Topeka
Topeka is the capital city of the state of Kansas and is home to the famous Brown vs Board of Education Supreme Court decision of 1954, which ended segregation in public schools.
Today, Topeka is home to a steadily growing wine scene, and wine is growing in popularity Statewide.
Fedeli’s Steak and Pasta are located right in the heart of downtown Topeka, just one block from the Kansas State Capitol building. Fedeli’s is one of the most highly rated and popular restaurants in the Topeka area, and its wine list is on par with New York City restaurants.
The White Linen is a unique upscale concept that serves a limited tasting menu that changes frequently. They serve multiple courses of refined plates that showcase seasonal ingredients. The wine list features a good variety of by-the-glass selections as well as high-priced bottles.
Norsemen Brewing Company is a locally owned and operated Viking-themed Topeka brewery that also serves local wines. They offer “Norse-inspired American Fare” that is both hearty and refined, and their emphasis on local wines showcases some great local Kansas producers.
Paola
Paola, Kansas is located south of Kansas City and is home to the Somerset Wine Trail. The wine trail is a collection of five local wineries that are all located fairly close to one another.
It is common for visitors to go wine tasting at multiple wineries in one day as transportation is easy.
Somerset Ridge Vineyard and Winery has been in operation for over 20 years and was the first winery to be established in the Kansas City era post-prohibition era. Before the American prohibition on alcohol, the area was a well-established wine-producing region with limestone soil.
The limestone-heavy soil in this area makes for a perfect wine grape growing environment, and Somerset Ridge Vineyard and Winery is responsible for bringing grape vines back to the region. They are now home to over 9,000 grapes and produce over 5,000 cases of wine yearly.
Nighthawk Vineyard & Winery is a local winery with a focus on the environment and sustainability. They grow many different varietals of grape, with some being very unique to the area. They have been producing wine commercially for over 12 years.
Nighthawk produces enough different styles of wine that there is sure to be a glass for everyone to enjoy. They host three-hour live music events every Saturday from two to five pm, and they feature a variety of different local musicians as performers.
Isinglass Estate has won multiple awards and has been voted “Best Winery” and “Best Agritourism Destination” in Miami County, Kansas. Their large tasting room is elegantly designed and features cozy seating arrangements and televisions for sports fans.
All of their wines are produced using 100 percent grapes that they have grown, and they make over a dozen different styles of wine. They also serve small plates and flatbread pizzas which pair great with a bottle of wine, making Isinglass Estate a full-service winery for wine tasting.
Paxico
Paxico, Kansas is located west of Topeka and is home to a handful of Kansas wineries. Time seems to move a bit slower in the town of Paxico, and a day of wine tasting is often supplemented by leisurely antique shopping by visiting wine enthusiasts.
Wyldewood Cellars Tasting Room has been in business since 1994 and is one of the most heavily awarded and recognized wineries in the entire state of Kansas. The winery has received over 500 different awards, and their spiced wine was served at the Olympic Village in 2002.
Wyldewood offers over 40 different styles of wine for sale, and they have a solid variety of kosher options. They also produce a variety of nonalcoholic drinks and offer new selections seasonally. The beautiful grounds are also available to be rented as a wedding venue.
Prairie Fire Winery and Candle Company call themselves a “Dirt to Glass” operation, as they handle everything from the planting of the grape vines to the tending of the land and wine production. They also bottle their own wines on site and handle all label design and production in-house. They also focus on sustainable wine production and lessening environmental impact.
They produce white, red, rosé, and sparkling wine varieties, and the sprawling grounds are also available to be toured with a reservation. The friendly staff also hosts private guided wine tastings, and they host events like outdoor concerts on occasion.
Oz Winery is a quaint operation with a “Wizard of Oz” theme. They produce a solid variety of high-quality, Kansas-grown wines, and their cozy tasting room is a great place to go wine tasting in the Paxico area. Seating in the tasting room is limited, so calling ahead is recommended.
This local winery is also home to one of the most popular wine clubs in the Paxico area and features two different wine club options that offer a variety of monthly bottles and merchandise at a generous discount. Oz winery is a truly one-of-a-kind experience that can only be found here.
Conclusion
Kansas is home to some of the most unique and charming wine bars and wineries in the entire Midwestern United States.
From upscale downtown restaurants to rustic local wineries, there is plenty of variety available when it comes to wine tasting in the state of Kansas.
Be sure to drop a comment below and let us know your favorite places to go wine tasting in Kansas, as there are so many hidden gems across the state that there is always somewhere new to try!
