Approachable Mediterranean Sips, No Drama
· Tempe · Mediterranean / Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · August 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Salut Kitchen Bar’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Salut Kitchen Bar is short and unpretentious — 21 labels organized into the classics people actually order without overthinking it. It's not trying to impress you, and honestly, that's fine. This is a neighborhood wine bar that wants you to relax, not study.
The list leans heavily on accessible, crowd-friendly varietals: Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio — you know the drill. There are a few bright spots breaking up the mainstream, including the Naia Verdejo from Rueda, which is a legitimately solid Spanish white that earns its spot. The Yalumba Sangiovese Rosé is a welcome detour from the standard pink Pinot, and the Bodini Malbec gives you an Argentina option worth considering. Beyond those picks, the list doesn't take many risks — names like Chateau La Paws, Hip Merlot, and Glory Days Cabernet signal approachability over ambition.
The list doesn't distinguish clearly between by-the-glass and bottle-only options, which is a minor frustration. Based on the structure — with 'House' versions of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet, and Pinot Noir — it's reasonable to assume pours are available across multiple price tiers. The house lineup gives budget-conscious drinkers an easy out, while the step-up options like Fernlands Sauvignon Blanc and Maggio Chardonnay offer a bit more personality for a few dollars more.
The Bottom Line
Salut Kitchen Bar isn't going to make a wine lover's heart race, but it's a perfectly decent place to drink something approachable with Mediterranean food without getting gouged or lectured. Stick to the Naia Verdejo or Yalumba Rosé and you'll leave happy.
· Tempe · Italian
Vincitorio's has put in real work on this list — 155 labels and 60 by-the-glass options is a serious commitment. It's not a destination wine program, but it's a genuinely solid one that earns your trust more often than it loses it.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Elliot Road · Tempe · Sports Bar / American
Vine Tavern is a sports bar first and a wine destination never — the seven-bottle list exists as a checkbox, not a commitment. Order a beer, order a cocktail, or bring your wine expectations somewhere else entirely.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Tempe · Tempe · American / Neighborhood Bistro
The Hudson is a fine place to eat a burger and drink a beer, but the wine list is on autopilot — familiar labels, steep markups outside of Wednesday's deal, and no evidence that anyone on staff is losing sleep over it. Send a friend here for the food, tell them to drink a cocktail.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Novus / ASU Campus District · Tempe · American Burger & Craft Bar
Eureka! Tempe is a craft beer bar first, a burger spot second, and a wine destination never. Order a local draft, enjoy your Truffle Cheese Fries, and save the wine for a place that's actually trying.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Tempe / Tempe Marketplace · Tempe · Modern Mexican
Blanco is a tequila bar that serves wine as a courtesy, and the list reflects exactly that level of commitment. Come for the cocktails and the Short Rib Machaca Enchiladas — if you want wine, order the bottle with the lowest markup and don't overthink it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
The Buttes / West Tempe · Tempe · Steakhouse-Lean New American
Top of the Rock is a safe, predictable wine list dressed up in a genuinely spectacular setting — you're paying a resort premium for Napa's greatest hits, and the view is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. Send a friend here for the scenery and the steak, but tell them to pick their bottle carefully.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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