Solid Sips for the Gastropub Crowd
Old Town Scottsdale · Phoenix · Gastro Pub · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 15, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Citizen Public House won't blow your mind, but it won't embarrass you either. Thirty-some bottles lean into safe California and Pacific Northwest picks with a sprinkle of French and Italian classics—perfectly serviceable for a gastropub that knows its lane.
The list plays it safe but shows some thought. You'll find Pinot Noir from Oregon's Eola-Amity Hills, Washington Cab from Gramercy Cellars, and a Scribe Una Lou from Sonoma that suggests someone cares beyond the usual suspects. There's an orange wine from Enderle & Moll—a pleasant surprise for a gastropub—and a Roero DOCG representing Italy. The Pacific Northwest focus makes sense for the vibe, but the list lacks depth in any single region. No natural wine section, no deep cellar cuts, just a curated-enough selection that pairs well with pork belly pastrami.
Four pours by the glass at $8 each is admirably priced and covers the bases: sparkling, white, rosé, red. The rotation appears static—this isn't a place flipping new pours weekly—but for a casual dinner where you're more focused on the Amaro Meatloaf than vinous exploration, it works fine.
Roero DOCG — $46
At 53% markup, this Italian red is the fairest play on the list—Nebbiolo-based wines from Roero offer complexity without Barolo's sticker shock
Enderle & Moll Weiss & Grau Orange Wine
Orange wine at a Scottsdale gastropub? Someone on staff has good taste—this German skin-contact white adds adventure without alienating the crowd
Sandy Cove Sauvignon Blanc
A 145% markup on a $20 Marlborough Sauv Blanc is highway robbery—there are better values even on this compact list
Scribe Una Lou Pinot Noir + Original Chopped Salad
Scribe's elegant California Pinot has enough brightness to complement the salad's freshness while holding up to richer ingredients—and at 44% markup, it's one of the fairer bottles
✔️ The Bottom Line
Citizen Public House knows what it is: a gastropub where wine supports the experience but doesn't steal the show. The markups lean steep, the list plays it safe, but there's enough here to drink well if you choose wisely.
Downtown Phoenix · Phoenix · American, Seasonal
Flour & Thyme earned its Wine Spectator credential, and the Tuesday half-price night makes this one of the better wine value plays in downtown Phoenix. Steer clear of the Caymus, order the Jordan, and let the wood-fired kitchen do the rest.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Proper
Desert Ridge · Phoenix · Southwestern American
Tia Carmen is a reliable, well-executed resort wine program that earns its Wine Spectator nod without doing anything particularly daring. Send a friend here for a solid California Cab and a great meal — just don't expect the wine list to match the kitchen's ambition.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
Phoenix · Phoenix · American
Rusconi's isn't trying to reinvent the wine list — it's trying to be the best California-focused neighborhood wine program in north Phoenix, and it largely succeeds. Send your friends here when they want a reliable, well-sourced bottle without having to think too hard.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Phoenix · Phoenix · Japanese, Mediterranean
Pa'La is the kind of place that earns a Wine Spectator credential by actually caring — the list is tight, Old World-focused, and priced fairly for what you're getting. Send a friend here and tell them to skip the Super Tuscans and drink Sicilian.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Camelback Corridor · Phoenix · French
Vincent's is one of the few restaurants in Phoenix where the wine list is genuinely worth the trip on its own terms — deep where it matters, staffed by someone who knows the inventory, and built to last. The markups sting, but you're buying into a program that has been maintained at a high level for nearly three decades.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Biltmore · Phoenix · American Steakhouse
The Capital Grille Phoenix is a serious wine destination dressed up as a steakhouse — the list is deep, the storage is proper, and the Wednesday half-price program makes it occasionally accessible. Markups run steep across the board, but if you know where to look, there are real wines worth ordering here.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
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