Three certified sommeliers walk into a gastropub
Alpharetta · Atlanta · New American / Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · February 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Citizen Soul’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
When the owner, GM, and beverage director are all certified sommeliers, the wine list is not going to phone it in. Citizen Soul is technically a gastropub on Alpharetta's town green but the wine program operates at a level that would embarrass most white-tablecloth competitors. A double-sided glass wine fridge greets you like a hallway of possibilities.
The list leans New World and California specifically, which makes sense given founder Phillip Cooper's inspiration from Northern California and Pacific Northwest taverns. Twenty wines by the glass is a strong number for a gastropub format, and the bottle list extends well beyond. Cooper also owns Vin25 in Roswell, so the wine DNA here runs deep. Expect West Coast Pinots, Napa Cabs, and Oregon selections with some Old World curveballs.
Twenty wines by the glass is gastropub territory that most gastropubs only dream about. The rotation reflects the sommelier team's current favorites rather than a static distributor deal, which means the pours change seasonally. The $15 corkage fee is one of the friendliest in Alpharetta if you want to bring something special from your own cellar.
Corkage (Bring Your Own) — $15
Fifteen dollars to drink your own bottle in a room with three certified sommeliers who can tell you exactly what to pair it with. That is the best deal in Alpharetta, full stop.
Oregon Pinot Noir by the Glass
The Pacific Northwest influence means the Oregon Pinots here are selected by people who actually travel to the Willamette Valley. Trust the staff on this one — they are not guessing.
Safe California Cab by the Bottle
With three sommeliers on the floor, ordering the most recognizable Cab on the list is like going to a sushi master and ordering a California roll. Ask for a recommendation instead.
California Pinot Noir by the Glass + Citizen Burger
A juicy West Coast Pinot against a well-crafted burger is pub dining elevated. The fruit handles the char, the acid cuts the richness, and 90 percent of the menu is gluten-free if that matters.
The Bottom Line
Citizen Soul is the Wild Card that keeps Alpharetta interesting. Three sommeliers in a gastropub, twenty wines by the glass, and a corkage policy that invites you to bring your best bottle. Do not let the casual setting fool you — this is serious wine territory.
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Start with the $14 Vostinic-Klasnic Ikons if you want to explore beyond familiar grapes, or the $16 chilled La Galoche Gamay if that's your lane. Lyla Lila's posted glass list makes trying something different a one-glass decision, not a whole-bottle commitment.
· Atlanta · New American
Siren has a wine list that punches above its weight in a few key areas — particularly the by-the-glass whites and the Champagne bottle program — but the markup structure means you're spending real money to access it. If you're the kind of diner who wants to order Furmint on a Tuesday night in Atlanta, this is one of the few places that makes that possible, and that alone earns it a spot on the shortlist.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Make Monday your bottle night at Indaco: half off bottles priced up to $100, then $50 off above that. Ask for the current bottle list before choosing; the discount has a ceiling, even if your wine budget doesn't.
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NAM Kitchen is doing something genuinely unexpected: running a thoughtful, fairly priced 68-label wine list inside a Vietnamese restaurant, anchored by a strong sparkling section and some legitimately food-smart white wine choices. If you're the kind of person who wants a real glass of wine with your bún bò Huế, this is worth knowing about.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Citizen Soul's wine program is a solid suburban effort — it won't embarrass you on a date night, and the all-glass-pour format makes grazing through the list genuinely easy. The markups lean steep and the list plays it safe, but the Muga and Chenin Blanc alone prove someone put at least a little thought into this. If you're eating in Johns Creek and want a decent glass without a lecture, you could do a lot worse.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Cork & Pig Tavern is doing more with wine than Abilene probably demands, and we respect the effort — the by-the-glass program alone is worth the stop. If you're passing through West Texas and need a legit glass of something interesting, this is your place.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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