Splash Seafood Bar & Grill
California Chardonnay Country, Iowa Edition
Des Moines · Des Moines · Seafood · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 14, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Splash reads like a California greatest hits album — familiar labels, seafood-friendly whites up front, and enough recognizable names to keep the table happy without anyone breaking a sweat. It's not trying to challenge you, and that's fine. In Des Moines, a 100-plus-bottle list anchored by legit producers is a genuine win.
Selection Deep Dive
California dominates from the first page to the last, with Chardonnay clearly running the show — Sonoma-Cutrer, Rombauer, Jordan, Cakebread, Far Niente, they're all here. The list earns its Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and has held it since 2018, which speaks to consistency if not adventurousness. You won't find much outside the Golden State — no stray Burgundies, no Albariño sneaking in to make things interesting — but what's here is well-chosen and actually suits the menu. Pinot Noir gets a nod via Meiomi, and Duckhorn's Sauvignon Blanc covers the crisp-and-coastal angle nicely.
By the Glass
With 12-20 pours running $9-$16, the by-the-glass program is solid for a seafood spot of this size. You're not going to find esoteric options or rotating guest pours, but the range covers whites for the shellfish crowd and a red or two for the steak-adjacent table. At $16 a glass, you're not being gouged for a recognizable name.
Duckhorn Sauvignon Blanc — $35
Duckhorn's Napa Sauvignon Blanc is genuinely good wine from a house that could coast on its Merlot reputation but doesn't. At the low end of this list's price range, it's the smart order for a table splitting oysters or ceviche.
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Ranches Chardonnay
Everyone reaches for Rombauer or Far Niente because the names are flashier, but Sonoma-Cutrer's Russian River Ranches bottling is consistently one of California's best-value serious Chardonnays — leaner, more precise, and better with actual food than the butter-bomb alternatives on this list.
Rombauer Chardonnay
Look, Rombauer is fine. But at restaurant markup it's almost always a bad deal — you're paying a premium for a label that's become a cultural shorthand rather than a wine worth seeking out. If you want something rich and oaky, Far Niente does it with more substance.
Jordan Chardonnay + Miso Salmon
Jordan's Alexander Valley Chardonnay has enough weight to stand up to the richness of miso glaze without overwhelming the fish. It's got a subtle creaminess that echoes the dish without turning the whole thing into a butter competition.
✔️ The Bottom Line
Splash isn't trying to reinvent wine in the Midwest — it's a polished, California-forward list that does exactly what it needs to do for a seafood restaurant with real ambitions. Send a friend here if they want a reliable bottle with their lobster mac; just don't send the natural wine obsessive.
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