Django

The wine list at Django looks exactly how you'd want it to in a French brasserie — it leans hard into France, with Burgundy, Rhône, Bordeaux, and Alsace all showing up in force. It's a legitimately thoughtful list for Des Moines, and it fits the bistro energy without trying to be something it's not. The problem announces itself once you start doing the math on prices.

Django's list runs 80–130 bottles deep, anchored by French classics: Côtes du Rhône, Mâcon-Villages, Bourgogne Pinot Noir, and a handful of Bordeaux blanc and rosé options fill out the middle. Chapoutier, Jadot, Jaboulet, and Bouchard are all represented — reliable producers, if not exactly adventurous ones. There's a California presence rounding out the back half, which feels slightly out of place but gives non-French drinkers an easy on-ramp. What's missing is any real depth in grower Burgundy or independent Rhône producers — this is a list built for recognition, not discovery.

The by-the-glass program runs an estimated 12–18 options, priced in the $10–$16 range, which lands about right for a downtown dinner spot. The selection tracks the bottle list — mostly French with a California cameo — and there's no evidence of a rotating program or regular glass refreshes. It gets the job done, but don't expect to be surprised.