The Sommelier Behind Dandy Rose Is Opening Her Own Wine Bar in Austin

Austin wine company Wine for the People, known for its ever-popular Dandy Rose, is opening its own wine bar and bottle shop, Citizen Wine. Founder, winemaker, and sommelier Rae Wilson launched the Kickstarter campaign last week to raise funds for the brick-and-mortar space with no known address, but will open next year.

Citizen Wine will work as a tasting room and wine bar, bottle shop, wine cellar, and general wine community and education space. It will also house Wine for the People’s wine club meetings. “We want to create an inviting space where you don’t feel you need special vocabulary or superpowers to participate,” explained Wilson in a statement, “as well as offer Austin a new way to interact with the world of wine.”

The Kickstarter campaign seeks to raise money to help find and build the space. Rewards include invitations to its eventual preview night, apparel, future pop-up event tickets, wine consultations, and “street cred.”

Wine for the People/Citizen Wine is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day event at Sour Duck Market on Sunday, March 17 from 3 to 6 p.m., where Wilson and staffers will talk about the Kickstarter campaign.

Under Wine for the People’s wine portfolio are also Dandy Bubbles and the Grower Project. Wilson started the winery in 2010.

Rendering: Citizen Wine [Official]

• Citizen Wine [Kickstarter]
• Wine for the People [Official]