Sel
Indigenous cuisine meets serious Italian wine
Old Town Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Modern Native American · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed March 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
Sel is doing something genuinely unusual in Scottsdale — celebrating Indigenous American cuisine in a space that feels like a serious restaurant, not a novelty act. The wine list lands with about the same surprise: more European depth than you'd expect, and more Italian than anyone ordered. It's an odd pairing on paper, but it mostly works.
Selection Deep Dive
The list runs 80-130 bottles and leans heavily on Italy — specifically Piedmont and Veneto — alongside a Left Coast contingent from California and Oregon. That means Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Corvina blends sharing pages with West Coast Pinots and Cabs. The Italian anchor is unexpected but genuinely interesting given the food's bold, earthy flavors. The gaps show up in Southern Hemisphere coverage and anything that might speak directly to the Southwest's own terroir — no Arizona wines in sight, which feels like a missed opportunity for a restaurant built around Indigenous identity.
By the Glass
Multiple by-the-glass options are available, though exact counts and rotation schedules aren't clearly published. What we can say is the glass program pulls from the same Italian and Left Coast DNA as the bottle list. Pricing by the glass wasn't specified, but with bottles starting at $90+, budget accordingly.
Viberti 'La Gemella' Barbera 2019 — N/A
Barbera d'Alba from a solid Piedmontese house — bright acidity, dark cherry, and enough savory grip to hold up against bison or bean-forward dishes. If it's priced anywhere near fair, it's the move.
Damilano 'Marghe' Nebbiolo 2017
Most tables will skip past the Nebbiolo because it sounds intimidating or unfamiliar. Don't. This is Barolo's approachable cousin — earthy, structured, and genuinely interesting next to the heirloom bean dish. Most people will reach for something safe and miss it entirely.
Cesari Valpolicella Corvina 2017
Cesari is a large commercial producer, and at Sel's price tier, you can do better. The Valpolicella is fine, but it's the kind of wine that coasts on a recognizable label and asks you to overpay for the privilege.
Damilano 'Marghe' Nebbiolo 2017 + Bison Tenderloin
Nebbiolo's firm tannins and iron-edged fruit are built for red meat with character. Bison is leaner and gamier than beef — exactly the kind of protein that makes Nebbiolo sing rather than clash.
🎲 The Bottom Line
Sel is a Wild Card in the best sense: a restaurant doing something culturally distinct with a wine list that swings Italian and mostly connects. The markup will sting, and there are real gaps in the list, but the pairing of Piedmontese reds with Native American cuisine is genuinely worth exploring.
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