Solid pours in a steel city tavern
Downtown · Pittsburgh · American Gastropub · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · March 22, 2026
RagingWine reviewed The Commoner’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 The Commoner fits the room — approachable, not trying too hard, with enough range to keep things interesting past the first glass. It's not a destination list, but for a warm gastropub tucked into a hotel on William Penn Place, it holds its own. Flip through and you'll find familiar names next to some legitimately interesting picks you wouldn't expect.
The list spans Italy, California, France, Oregon, and New Zealand across 40-60 bottles, which is respectable for a gastropub setting. Italy shows up well — Ca'del Baio's Dolcetto d'Alba and Cantina Mesa's Cannonau from Sardinia are the kinds of regional picks that signal someone actually thought about this list. California leans on the expected anchors (Duckhorn, Siduri), and France gets a nod via Louis Jadot and Laurent-Perrier. The gaps are real — no German whites, no Spanish reds to speak of, and the Southern Hemisphere is basically just Mohua holding down the fort — but what's here works.
Ten-plus options by the glass is solid, with prices ranging from $13 to $40, which is a wide enough spread to meet most budgets at the table. The glass list pulls from the best parts of the bottle list — Siduri Willamette Pinot, Marotti Campi Verdicchio, Cantina Mesa Cannonau — so you're not stuck with generic pours. No obvious rotation program in place, which is a missed opportunity, but the standing lineup is better than most gastropubs in its tier.
Cantina Mesa Cannonau di Sardegna — $13
Cannonau — Sardinia's answer to Grenache — is earthy, spicy, and genuinely interesting at any price. At $13 a glass, it's the easiest yes on this list and the kind of wine that makes you feel like you found something.
Marotti Campi Verdicchio
Most people at a gastropub reach for Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. The Marotti Campi Verdicchio is the smarter move — leaner, more textural, with a savory edge that plays well against food. It flies under the radar every time.
Moët & Chandon Imperial
At $40 a glass, you're paying a serious hotel premium for a bottle that retails around $50. Laurent-Perrier is the better Champagne value here if you need bubbles, but even that stings a little. The Moët markup is hard to justify.
Ca'del Baio Dolcetto d'Alba + Dry-Aged Beef Tartare
Dolcetto's bright acidity and low tannin cut through the richness of the tartare without bullying the delicate beef flavors — it's the kind of pairing that feels obvious once you try it, and at $14 a glass, you can order a second round without guilt.
The Bottom Line
The Commoner's wine list is a reliable companion to a solid gastropub meal — thoughtful enough to reward curious drinkers, approachable enough to not alienate the Cabernet-only crowd. Just watch the markups on the prestige pours and lean into the Italian selections where the real value lives.
Robinson Township · Pittsburgh · American, Italian
Ditka's Pittsburgh is a dependable play for a California-centric steakhouse night out — just don't come looking for adventure. If your crew wants big Napa Cabs with a serious cut of beef, this list will keep everyone happy without anyone learning anything new.
Plays It Safe
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Mt. Washington · Pittsburgh · American
Altius is a reliable wine destination if you want California classics in one of Pittsburgh's best dining rooms — just don't expect the list to surprise you the way the skyline will. Send a friend here for a special occasion, not a wine adventure.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Strip District · Pittsburgh · Market / Wine Library
The Pennsylvania Market Wine Library is the rare place where the pricing alone justifies the trip — near-retail bottles in a casual market setting is a concept more cities need. It's not polished, but it's genuinely on your side.
Solid Range
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Lawrenceville · Pittsburgh · Spanish
Morcilla isn't trying to be a wine bar, but the list reads like it was built by someone who wishes it were — in the best possible way. If you're in Pittsburgh and want to drink serious Spanish wine with your food, this is your spot.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Pittsburgh · American, Steakhouse, Seafood
Eddie V's is the kind of wine list that earns its Rager badge on depth, staff, and execution — even if the pricing leans into the occasion-dining model hard. If someone else is expensing it, drink well. If you're paying yourself, pick strategically.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Downtown · Pittsburgh · Continental-American Fine Dining
The Carlton has the bones of a Rager — deep cellar, knowledgeable staff, serious glassware — but the markups keep it from earning that badge. Go for the wine list experience, but go in knowing you're paying a downtown Pittsburgh premium for every bottle.
Deep & Eclectic
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Broadway at the Beach · Myrtle Beach · American Gastropub
Liberty Tap Room is a solid spot for cold beer, a burger, and a game on the screen — but the wine list is an afterthought and the pricing reflects zero effort to earn your wine dollars. Come for the beer, skip the bottle.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown · La Crosse · American Gastropub
The Crow is a legitimately fun bar — just come for the bourbon and craft beer, not the wine. If you need a glass, grab the Elmaro Rosa to support a local producer and call it a night.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
College Area / Mount Royal · Duluth · American Gastropub
Tavern on the Hill is not a destination wine spot, but it's a fair, unpretentious list that earns its keep in a fun room. If you're in the neighborhood and want a decent glass with your pizza, you won't leave disappointed — just don't come in expecting anything beyond the basics.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
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