Three certified sommeliers walk into a gastropub
Alpharetta · Atlanta · New American / Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed February 22, 2026 · How we review
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.
Brookhaven · Atlanta · New American/Southern
Roc South is a genuinely fun restaurant — the food sounds great and the vibe is undeniable — but the wine program doesn't give us enough to work with or get excited about. Until there's a verifiable list with real producers and fair pricing, let the bartender guide your evening instead.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · New American/Southern
Park 82 has a wine list in the same way a gas station has a wine selection — technically present, practically limiting. If you're a Pinot Noir devotee who doesn't mind paying restaurant markup for bottles you've seen at Kroger, you'll survive. Everyone else should probably lead with cocktails and ask what's on tap.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Asian
Tabla's wine list punches above its weight for an Asian restaurant in Atlanta. The white-heavy, aromatic-focused selection makes genuine sense with the food, pricing at the entry level is fair, and the BTG depth is real. We'd send a friend here for wine without hesitation — just order the Grüner first.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Other
MCK isn't trying to be a wine destination — it's a bar and restaurant with a list built for toasting and crowd comfort. The sparkling program punches above the list's weight, the by-the-glass selection is generous, and the markups on still wines are steep but not outrageous. Send a friend here if they want Champagne and something easy to sip; send them somewhere else if they're chasing a wine experience.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Gastropub/Tavern
Blue Moon Brewery & Grill is a beer bar first, second, and third — the wine list exists so your friend who doesn't drink beer doesn't feel stranded. If that's the situation, the Cava at $9 or the Elouan Rosé at $10 are perfectly fine. But if wine is the reason you're going out, go somewhere else.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Atlanta · Thai
Pink Lotus has built a wine list that takes its cues from the food — acid-forward, bubbles-heavy, and genuinely curious — which is more than most Thai spots in town bother to do. Markups are fair, the by-the-glass selection is wide, and there are real finds here if you look past the Dom Pérignon showpiece bottles at the top. If you're eating Thai in Atlanta and you want something interesting in your glass, this list deserves your attention.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Johns Creek · New American / Gastropub
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
· Livermore · New American / Gastropub
Rebel Kitchen's wine list doesn't rebel against anything — it's eleven safe bottles with steep markups in a region that's literally surrounded by wineries. Order a cocktail, which is clearly what they actually care about.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Abilene · New American / Gastropub
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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