The AZ Wine Company is a relaxed yet stylish wine bar with a large and varied selection of wines. Dozens of wine bottle can be enjoyed by the bottle, and the bar is a great place to discover new favorites, or pick up a bottle of your favorite variety. The small food menu includes cheese plates with sausage and baguettes, pork sliders, fresh pulled mozzarella and a handful of other small plate options. The AZ Wine Company frequently hosts tasting events (including a Thursday evening tasting) and hosts a popular happy hour every week day from 5-7 pm. Custom group tastings can also be arranged.
Recommended for Wine Bars because: The AZ Wine Company offers a relaxed setting for discovering and buying new wines.
Patricia's expert tip: Check out the popular weekly tastings every Thursday at 6 pm.
This elegantly hip restaurant is famous for its burgers, sandwiches, and "galettes," a crispy flat bread topped with cheese, olives, bacon, and onions. Although the fare is simple, the preparation is perfection. Expect to be impressed by fresh ingredients, plentiful sides, and hamburgers that feature over a half pound of choice ground sirloin grilled to order. Located conveniently in Old Town Scottsdale at the Civic Center Mall, AZ88 provides rich ambiance with views of fountains and green spaces. Cocktails are served until 1:30 in the morning, while late-night dining continues 12:30 am. Perfect place for a relaxing nightcap with friends.
Recommended for Wine Bars because: Late-night specials, gourmet snacks and a hefty selection of fine wines makes AZ 88 a welcome stop for wine-lovers.
Patricia's expert tip: Try AZ 88's famous martini with your lunch.
Located in two-story, modernist-industrial building in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, this stylish gastropub is a popular destination for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night eats. There are 30-plus TVs so you can catch the game, or sit on the patio and enjoy some of the best people-watching in Old Town. The chefs at RnR have crafted a fun, innovative menu full of sharable small plates and modern takes on American comfort food. There is also a long menu of specialty cocktails, imported and domestic beers on tap, imported Italian coffee and a wine cellar filled with more than 1,800 bottles.
Recommended for Wine Bars because: RnR is home to an impressive wine cellar with more than 1,800 bottles.
Patricia's expert tip: RnR is open until 2 am on Friday and Saturdays.
Grape Wine Bistro is a stylish bistro and wine bar that specializes in Italian food and steak. Casual yet refined, Grape Wine Bistro features more than 200 wines that were carefully curated for their memorable flavors. From California to Italian wines, the list features more than 35 wines by the glass. The dinner menu offers pasta, seafood and steak entrees in a fine dining room. If you just want to relax with a glass of your favorite wine, the restaurant also features a comfy pet-friendly patio, so you can bring along your four-legged best friend to the daily happy hour.
Recommended for Wine Bars because: Grape Wine Bistro is a stylish wine bar and restaurant with a wine list featuring more than 35 wines by the glass.
Patricia's expert tip: Enjoy half-off select bottles of wine every Tuesday night.
Su Vino Winery is a family owned and operated winery and wine bar located in Scottsdale's bustling arts district. The wine made at Su Vino has won more than 40 medals. Su Vino is the first winery in the Phoenix Metro area and the first to offer customers the chance to create their own custom wine. Guests can sample and buy wine created at Su Vino, or choose from the bar's extensive tasting list. Su Vino is dedicated to tearing down the barriers of wine snobbery, so feel free to ask the friendly sommeliers questions. The Old Town location is also group-friendly.
Recommended for Wine Bars because: Su Vino winery offers custom wines in an unpretentious, group-friendly Old Town location.
Patricia's expert tip: Check out the custom Su Vino wines, which feature seasonal flavors.
Sorso Wine Room is a stylish wine bar and cafe at the posh Scottsdale Quarter shopping center in north Scottsdale. The bar is home to a state-of-the-art WineEmotion wine dispenser, which features an eclectic selection of 32 wines. Simply grab a wine glass, insert your key card (similar to hotel key cards), and pour yourself a glass (or a sip - the dispenser lets guests selection from a sip, sample or full glass). If self-serve wine is not your thing, Sorso also has an extensive cellar list with wines from around the world. The cafe side of the bar serves gourmet charcuterie boards, bruschetta, salads, sandwiches and locally-made desserts.
Recommended for Wine Bars because: Sorso Wine Room is a spacious wine bar featuring self-serve wine dispensers and an expansive wine list.
Patricia's expert tip: The self-serve wine dispenser at Sorso is a must-try.
If wine bars rub you the wrong way, it's time to give it another go with a visit to the Terroir Wine Pub in Scottsdale. The first house rule is: leave snobbery at the door. The second house rule? Have fun. This friendly wine pub features an exciting wine list that changes every day, fun theme nights, and a happy hour that goes on all day. There is also a dog-friendly patio, and if you ride your bike to the pub, you are automatically rewarded with a discount on all glasses of wine. Game nights, open mic nights and tasting nights have made this a vibrant, community-oriented wine pub.
Recommended for Wine Bars because: Terroir Wine Pub is a laid-back place to discover new wines with friends and locals.
Patricia's expert tip: Ride your bike to Terroir and all wines by the glass are only $8.
Tucked away from the bustle of Scottsdale, this wine bar has a distinctly subterranean feel, thanks to subdued lighting, softly-playing jazz, and wine casks that line the walls. The decor is heavy on stained glass and stone, imbuing the spot with a sense of mystery. Select from a truly staggerring wine list – over 1,500 varieties are available. Management has thoughtfully whittled the gargantuan list down to a top 50 list, and servers provide additional guidance if you're still overwhelmed. Nothing so mundane as a happy hour here; instead, you'll catch drink specials during the "early evening hours of joy."
Recommended for Wine Bars because: Kazimierz is an Old World-inspired wine bar featuring late-night snacking and more than 1,500 wine varieties.
Patricia's expert tip: Stop here for late night gourmet snacking--the kitchen stays open until 1:30am.
Simple food and great wine make for a winning combination at 5th and Wine, one of the most popular wine bars in downtown Scottsdale. The restaurant/wine bar features a 60-seat dining room (which fills up fast on the weekends), a comfy soft seating lounge area, bar area, and a tasting room that can accommodate up to 40 people. This is a great spot to gather a group of friends for a night of tasting in the heart of downtown. Come for the popular happy hour, which features gourmet appetizers and well drinks at great prices. Gather a crowd of wine-lovers for a tasting night they won't soon forget.
Recommended for Wine Bars because: 5th and Wine is a lively wine bar with one of the largest tasting rooms in downtown Scottsdale.
Patricia's expert tip: Enjoy $4 appetizers and well drinks during Happy Hour, 3pm to 6pm Monday through Friday.
The Toasted Cork is a modern neighborhood wine bar with an approachable wine list designed to appeal to both newcomers and connoisseurs. Executive Chef Jaime Ramirez offers a menu of elevated bar bites, including cheeses and small plates that are designed to pair well with the house wines and craft beers. The bar features a large open-air patio, two full service bars and a stylish interior full of plush seating and board games for a relaxed, fun evening with friends. The Toasted Cork hosts a popular happy hour every day from 4 pm to 7 pm where guest scan enjoy $3 off all glasses of wine.
Recommended for Wine Bars because: The Toasted Cork is a popular neighborhood wine bar with an expansive wine list designed to appeal to both newcomers and oenophiles.
Patricia's expert tip: Enjoy live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.