Starker’s Restaurant Wine
A recipient of Wine Spectator’s Grand Award from 1992-2005, Starker’s Restaurant is dedicated to excellence in wine and food. Chef/Owner John McClure has a passion for wine above and beyond what most restaurants are willing to invest, both financially and in time. The present wine list covers more than 60 pages with an emphasis on California wines, 35 pages alone are dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s Sonoma and Napa Valley. With over 1665 labels, and a cellar containing in excess of 12,000 bottles maintaining one of Kansas City’s finest wine lists requires dedication, perseverance and deep pockets
In an effort to remain on this list, Chef/Owner John McClure and General Manager Dean Smith participate in wine education seminars and training throughout the year. Both are dedicated to enhancing your dining experience with a wine from major producers and small boutique vineyards. Some service staff members have obtained sommelier status and regularly attend continuing education events.
The restaurant is designed with wine racks as walls to display and house a major portion of the wine inventory. The wine racks store 8,000+ bottles throughout the restaurant and maintains additional storage in an underground cellar. A combination of information from purveyors, guests and staff is used to maintain the wine list and keep it current. Guests tastes change yearly just as the wine they drink. New vineyards and new vintages keep the wine list vibrant and exciting year after year.
The wine racks are filled with wines from California, Oregon, Washington, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. The wine is stored according to region, maker and vintage. Many of the world’s best vineyards are represented along with new boutique wineries that produce wines of special interest. There are vertical vintages of several vineyards that show the depth and dedication to wine that the restaurant has invested in over the years.
Our dedication to maintaining one of the premier wine lists in the region shows the passion for wine that the restaurant offers to its guests.