Cellar Rat Wine Merchants

The Cellar Rat is THE best wine store in the city. With so many selections in stock, reasonable prices, you can’t go wrong. You’ll definitely be able to find what you’re looking for here. The best part is that if you need a certain wine & they happen to not have it, they’ll find it & order it for you! The staff at Cellar Rat is extremely knowledgeable about EVERYTHING that they have! They also have a nice collection of a few unique liquors & beer.

These guys know there stuff! Great selection, good prices and discounts on cases. We were particularly interested in French wines and the staff was able to discuss the region, house, style and flavor– and even suggest a few new favs. We’ll be back!

This place totally rocks! They know all about wine, and happy to share their knowledge. Very nice to see their employees have so much passion, and great customer service. They’re willing to help with the same level of eagerness, no matter if you’re asking for champagne on a beer budget. :) Highly recommend you check Cellar Rat out!

I spent the Christmas-​New Year break in the Florida Keys, soaking up sunshine and upping my knowledge of French wine (Wine Bible, World Atlas of Wine, and a slew of YouTube vids). I’ve now got some basic knowledge on the French wine regions and the varietals grown. When I got back to Kansas City, it was time for a field trip. I chose Cellar Rat.
I’d been a couple times in the past, but just out of curiosity. This time I had purpose.
For Kansas City, I think Cellar Rat provides a good wine opportunity. Plus, I like urban shopping. I’ve been to wine stores in Boston and Seattle. They’re impressive but Cellar Rat fits my knowledge of wine and my wallet.
The staff has it down. They’re there if you need them; just ask. Otherwise, they let you explore on your own. One of the mega wine-​beer-​n-​spirits stores in KC has a great selection but the staff only hovers around the checkout counter to take your money. At Cellar Rat they want to help and they want you to come back. Remember customer satisfaction? They do.
I ended up with a couple hundred bucks of French wines. Since I’m married to a teetotaler I have to wait until wine drinking friends or family come over. Not to worry. The Chateauneuf du Pape is racked and ready to be uncorked. .. very soon.

It seems I can’t pass through the Crossroads without stopping at Cellar Rat, whether I need any drinking material or not. It’s just fun to look around in here, even if I don’t buy anything (which is rare). The staff are friendly, not pushy, and they know their stuff. Plus they have a cool name and a cute little mascot.
Wine, obviously, is their strong point, and they do have a bunch. It’s arranged mostly by region, with lots of helpful shelf tags to help you along. They pretty much cover the globe, with prices ranging from a little over $ 10 to a something over a hundred if you’re really in a splurgy mood. The beer and spirits selections are small compared to some other places, but here they’ve chosen quality over quantity. You don’t come here for Bud and McCormick.
Then once you’ve chosen your bottle of wine or whatever, you can pick out some fancy snacks from the meat and cheese counter or some chocolates, and whatever booze-​related knick-​knacks you might need. They also do tastings and a wine club. Prices are a little higher than some, but the experience and service are better than most.

This is where I do my bi-​daily alcohol shopping. The beer selection is average but they exceed my expectations in spirits. There wine offerings are tremendous. The staff is willing to help no matter what you want.

I’m going to start this review off on a little different pace by telling you all that I don’t really come to the Cellar Rat that often and this really doesn’t have anything to do with this establishment.
The Cellar Rat is known for its wine and it has a lot of wine. The thing is I’m not a wine drinker. I never really have been and except for a few rare occasions I don’t think I ever will be. My friends who are wine drinkers love the Cellar Rat because of its variety and selection as well as some of the wine tasting events they have.
Now that we’re down here in paragraph three, I know what you’re thinking… why the heck are you giving this place a four star review if you don’t shop here and you don’t drink wine? The reason is the Cellar Rat offers a small (very small) collection of locally brewed beers. This is key when there’s a popular beer like the Boulevard Lemon-​Ginger Radler (summer of 2015,) some of the Boulevard special releases and other local releases (Free State, Mother’s, KC Bier, etc…) Some other stores sell through quickly while The Cellar Rat is almost (well, probably not too much longer) my own little secret.
And while I’m oozing some praise, I’ll also note that the Cellar Rat offers up a nice little greeting card stand filled with offerings from local stalwarts like Hammerpress and Easy Tiger. It’s a nice little touch just in case you need a little something for the special occasion that you’re celebrating.

Good selection of wine, fair prices, different selection that what you see in most stores. Do great wine tastings, and the $ 100 case is a good deal.

We love this place and come here if we are looking for a bottle of wine or an interesting beer when we are in KC. The staff is very helpful with a recommendation and is very knowledgable. Great, wide selection. Highly recommended!

I can not say enough good things about Cellar Rat: The owner is almost always on site. They remember your name. They never make you feel silly. You always leave with exactly what you’re craving. And if you’re a member of the wine club you don’t even have to leave – they’ll serve your bottle up with no corkage fee! (There’s even a little to-​go bag if you can’t finish the bottle)
I trust Cellar Rat completely.

I hope places like Cellar Rat never go away. Cellar Rat offers a respite from an era of big chains and faceless big box retailers. I stopped in for a couple bottles of good beer, wine, and spirits for the volunteers of an event to share. I ended up spending way less time there than I wanted to because I was in a hurry but I can’t wait to go back.
The staff wasn’t just knowledgeable — they were on the inside of the beer, wine, and spirits culture. They know things you just don’t need to know. They won’t try to school you but you get the feeling that their recommendations are very calculated. I was expecting to pay a premium for the knowledge but everything I bought was completely in-​line with what I’d paid elsewhere.
Again, can’t wait to go back.

1. Awesome selection of wines, beer, and a few essential liquors.
2. Beautiful interior with cool wine-​related items/​gifts for purchase.
3. Friendly staff who are happy to help answer questions.
I could not be more thankful I biked past Cellar Rat — it is my new official go-​to for all things vino.

When the occasion is a little too fancy for Gomer’s, Cellar Rat is the only place to go. We stopped in this weekend for a bottle of Rieger Whiskey (which, just, wow) and they are so polite and smart and cool. Cellar Rat is one of those stores where I would feel weirdly intimidated by the staff, except they’re so nice that you don’t have to. They don’t make you feel stupid if you have questions, and are always happy to make suggestions.
It’s a lovely store to be inside, too — not just clean, but gorgeously designed.

Great wine store, go on a Saturday from 2 – 4 for wine tasting for $ 5, you can buy a case of the tasted wines mix or match for $ 100! Great Deal.
We love the place

A friend introduced me to this place. LOVE the variety this place has, and the layout by where the wine comes from is definitely nice if you’re looking for a specific region. The staff has always been friendly and helpful. Their salami here is incredible. Definitely know where I will be when wine-​shopping.

I was lucky enough to win a day as a Cellar Rat employee through an auction with Make A Wish. We got to spend the day sitting with about 5 distributors (1 an hour) and taste the wines that they brought in. Kevin got us some Lulu’s Thai (always had wanted to try it) and we had an amazing time. Getting to see what goes into the behind the scenes was amazing. If you ever get the opportunity to do this, you most definitely should! Since then, we’ve been in several times, people remember our name and Kevin is the best. I’ve also since signed up for their wine club, that gets two bottles they chose a month. This is a great way to experience wines I wouldn’t have picked on my own! This is now my go-​to place to get wine!

What a great find! Get on their mailing list stat! If you want it they have it. If you have only heard rumors of it they have it. Even cigars, check!
Talk with Kevin, he’s the guy to know!
They partnered with the Irish Center in Union Station for an Irish Whisky tasting and we all Loved it!
Had. A. Blast.
There should also be a premium tasting before Father’s Day, can not wait!
The store has a very «chill vibe» I can only say it’s like the store belongs in Austin TX to do it a little justice.
Just love this place!!!

I’ve lived in the Crossroads for a year now and just discovered this awesome place due to Groupon.
After looking at their schedule and realizing that a wine tasting was on for a Weds night, I called to see if it was an RSVP or Groupon sort of thing and they said it was FREE. No time requirements besides it just happening between 5 and 7 and no RSVP necessary.
Showed up around 5:30 to very friendly wine lovers and tasted 5 different wines. It was quite interesting, I felt like I learned a little something and we got a wine that perfectly paired with our pizza that we made for dinner.
We walked out with 2 bottles of yummy wine for $ 45 and I felt like the place was not only cool on the inside but the people who work there could not have been more friendly and helpful.
A++

I’ve been here a few times now and I love, love, love the wine choices.
They carry a great variety of wines at all different price points.
They also offer a very small, carefully curated selection of liquors and wine.
The staff is extremely knowledgeable.
Cellar Rat also carries a tempting selection of wine accessories and doodads and a small, but enticing case filled with excellent cheeses.
A group of friends and I bought a Groupon for one of their wine classes and those too are very fun.
They brought in an outside expert for our class which was New World vs. Old World wines.
We learned a lot, drank some good vino and tried a few delicious cheeses.
Their 100-​dollar case deal is not to be missed.
I’d be here all the time if I could afford it.

I like wine. It makes me happy. On good days, and bad, a glass (or bottle) of wine will make everything better. Cellar Rat has amazing wines with a knowledgeable staff, so that alone probably get’s them to 4 stars in my book. What bumps them up to five is everything else!
1) Their liquor selection. It’s small, and you don’t come here looking for a bottle of Absolut Kotun Kande, or whatever the kids are drinking these days. You come here for a smartly curated collection of reliable and recognizable classic spirits, mixed in with a few surprises that might become your new favorite. On my last visit I picked up a bottle of ginger liquor that goes great with lemonade and soda, and a couple of bottles of moonshine that go with root beer so well that you’d think you were drinking from the teat of a magical unicorn. The beer selection is similarly small, but thoughtful.
2) Their staff is laid back, and aren’t pushy with the sales, but they know their product well. I needed something random and stylish for a party, and was promptly directed to the bottles I mentioned above. They’re here to educate, not to rub your nose in wine and spirit snobbery. That’s pretty awesome in my book!
3) The space itself is beautiful! It has a ton of windows, and during the daylight hours the natural light is fantastic. They have a really cool table that is made up of old doors, and I imagine it’d be a great place to sample some vino. It’s clean, open, and smartly merchandised.
4) Cellar Rat gets props for being a pioneer in the Crossroads. They were one of the fist major retail tenants in the neighborhood, and they’ve thrived ever since. I’m always interested in supporting a business that in turn supports a great neighborhood.
Hooray Cellar Rat!