Suburban gastropub that actually tried
· Johns Creek · New American / Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Citizen Soul’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Nineteen wines, all available by the glass — that's either a very thoughtful program or a very cautious one. At Citizen Soul, it's a bit of both: the list is tight, well-branded, and skews toward crowd-pleasing names that Johns Creek regulars will recognize without squinting at the menu.
The whites show the most personality — Burgans Albariño, Dry Creek Chenin Blanc, and the Mason Alain de la Treille Sauvignon Blanc give the list some actual range beyond the usual California Chardonnay parade, though ZD and Singing Tree are there too if you need them. Reds are heavier on Napa and Napa-adjacent picks: DAOU Cab, Leviathan's Cab Blend, and Turley Juveniles Zinfandel anchor the right side of the list with familiar weight. The international detours — Muga Crianza, Ferrari-Carano Sangiovese, Piatelli Malbec — add welcome texture but feel more like menu decoration than a real commitment to Old World exploration. There are no half-bottles, no rare producers, and no deep cuts; this is a list built to sell, not to surprise.
Every single bottle on this list is available by the glass, which is genuinely useful for a gastropub crowd that wants flexibility without committing to a full bottle. Prices run $12–$20/glass with most clustering around $14–$16, which is reasonable for the market. Rotation appears fixed rather than seasonal, so don't expect the list to look different next month.
The Bottom Line
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.
Johns Creek · Johns Creek · Italian / Wine-focused
Siena is a legitimate wine-bar effort in a zip code that rarely demands one. The by-the-glass selection is genuinely broad, a few bottles show real buying instincts, and the sparkling focus gives the list a clear personality. Markups are not the most generous, and the red wine situation needs investigating before a dedicated wine dinner — but for a suburban Italian night where you want to drink something better than the usual suspects, it's worth the stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Johns Creek · Johns Creek · Argentine
Pampas is the real deal — a Best of Award of Excellence wine list matched to a kitchen that can actually back it up with the right cuts of beef. Markups aren't a bargain, but the depth and quality of what's on offer makes this one of the better wine destinations in the Johns Creek corridor.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Proper
· 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
· Irvine · New American / Gastropub
Bosscat is a solid spot for craft cocktails and a good time — the wine list just isn't the reason to come. If you're committed to wine, go Emmolo or Austin Hope and call it a night; everything else is paying a premium for the familiar.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.