Citizen Public House
A Scottsdale Bar That Actually Gets Wine
Old Town · Scottsdale · American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 21, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
You walk into what looks like a well-dressed neighborhood bar and then the wine list hands you a Jolie-Laide Melon de Bourgogne and a German orange wine — not exactly what you'd expect in the middle of Old Town Scottsdale. This list has a point of view, and someone here clearly gives a damn. The price range keeps things accessible without feeling like they're embarrassed by what they're pouring.
Selection Deep Dive
Twenty-five-plus labels doesn't sound massive, but the curation is doing serious work here. California anchors the list with smart picks like Ridge Vineyards Grenache Blanc from Paso Robles, I. Brand Cabernet Franc from Bates Ranch in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and the underrated Scythian Wine Co. out of Cucamonga Valley — not exactly the safe Napa playbook. Oregon gets a nod with Bethel Heights Estate Pinot Noir from Eola-Amity Hills and Gramercy Cellars from Columbia Valley rounds out the Pacific Northwest. The international reach is lean but intentional: a Roero DOCG from Italy, Sandy Cove Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, and that Enderle & Moll orange wine from Germany show they're not just filling slots.
By the Glass
Four by-the-glass options is thin — no getting around it. At $8 a glass the price is honest, but the program doesn't rotate enough to give regulars much to chase. If they'd open up even two or three more pours from this list, it'd be a genuine by-the-glass destination.
Bethel Heights Estate Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills Oregon — $115 bottle
Bethel Heights is one of the Willamette Valley's most consistent producers and Eola-Amity is gaining serious traction — finding it on a gastropub list at this price point instead of a marked-up fine dining menu is the kind of win you come back for.
Scythian Wine Co. The Scythians Red, Cucamonga Valley
Nobody orders this because nobody knows Cucamonga Valley exists, which is exactly why you should. Old-vine Cucamonga fruit with a producer that knows what they're doing — it's the kind of weird, confident pour that earns a wine list its stripes.
Valravn Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County
Valravn is fine, but it's the kind of wine you find at every hotel bar in America. With I. Brand Cabernet Franc and Gramercy Cellars on the same list, spending your money here is just leaving value on the table.
Jolie-Laide Melon de Bourgogne, Monterey County + Original Chopped Salad
Melon de Bourgogne is tart, saline, and cut with enough acidity to handle a dressed salad without disappearing — Jolie-Laide's version from Monterey has the texture to actually be interesting alongside the crunch and brightness in their signature chopped.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Citizen Public House is punching well above its gastropub weight class with a genuinely interesting wine list that rewards the curious. Four by-the-glass options holds it back from a higher badge, but if you're willing to commit to a bottle, this list will not let you down.
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