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๐ŸŽฒThe Wild Card

Pago

SLC's Natural Wine Anchor in a Historic Pocket

9th and 9th ยท Salt Lake City ยท New American & Mediterranean ยท Visit Website โ†—

natural-wineorange-winehidden-gemdate-night

Reviewed March 31, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietyDeep & Eclectic
MarkupFair
GlasswareBasic Stemmed
StaffKnowledgeable & Friendly
Specials & DealsOccasional
Storage & TempProper

First Impression

Walking into Pago inside the old Woodman Building, you get the immediate sense that whoever built this wine list actually gave a damn. Ninety bottles covering natural, sustainable, and conventional wines from California to Alsace to Champagne โ€” in Salt Lake City โ€” is not something we take for granted. This isn't a list that happened by accident.

Selection Deep Dive

The list leans heavily into natural and low-intervention producers, with a serious California presence anchored by names like Bonny Doon, Field Recordings, and Ridge's Lytton Estate Petite Sirah from Dry Creek Valley. There's a genuine orange wine section โ€” Nanit from Castilla, Bel a Ciao Semillon from Bordeaux, and Bonny Doon's 'Le Cigare Orange' โ€” which is a rare and welcome commitment for the Mountain West. The Champagne section punches above its weight with small grower producers like Fresnet-Julliet Special Club Grand Cru and Vincent Joudart Blanc de Blanc, not the usual Veuve-or-nothing situation. The one soft spot is a thinner presence from Italy and South America, but what's here more than compensates.

By the Glass

By-the-glass specifics weren't published at time of review, which is a minor frustration for the indecisive or solo diner. What we can say is that with a sommelier on staff and a list this intentional, the glass pours almost certainly rotate and reflect the same natural-leaning philosophy as the bottles. Worth asking your server what's open.

๐Ÿ’ฐBest Value

Field Recordings 'Domo Arigato' '23, Pinot Gris, SLO Coast, CA โ€” null

Field Recordings consistently delivers wild-card quality at honest prices, and SLO Coast Pinot Gris is still flying under the radar nationally. This is a bottle that drinks well above its station โ€” bright, textured, and genuinely interesting โ€” and it fits Pago's menu like a glove.

๐Ÿ’ŽHidden Gem

Grenache Blanc, Paso Robles (Adelaida Vineyard) '23

Most diners will walk right past a Grenache Blanc without blinking, and that's exactly why you should order it. Adelaida Vineyard in Paso is doing serious work with this grape โ€” it's rich but not heavy, and has an herbal, almost savory quality that makes it one of the most food-friendly whites on the list.

โ›”Skip This

Domaine Ansen 'Edelzwicker' '22, Alsace, France

Edelzwicker is Alsace's catch-all blend category โ€” historically a way to move everyday juice. It can be charming, but it's rarely the move when there are more specific and compelling options on the same list. Save your dollars for the grower Champagnes or the Adelaida Grenache Blanc.

๐Ÿฝ๏ธPerfect Pairing

Fresnet-Julliet 'Special Club' Grand Cru Brut '17, Champagne + Local Burrata

Grand Cru grower Champagne and fresh burrata is one of those combinations that seems almost too simple until you're halfway through both and can't imagine doing it any other way. The wine's fine bubbles and toasty complexity cut the fat of the burrata while amplifying its creaminess. Order both without overthinking it.

๐ŸŽฒ The Bottom Line

Pago is doing something rare in the Mountain West โ€” running a genuinely thoughtful, natural-leaning wine program in a neighborhood spot that feels approachable rather than precious. Send your wine-curious friends here with confidence; they'll leave having discovered something they didn't know they needed.

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