Strike up a conversation with Zoya Vora-Shah about Arizona wines, and she’ll have a hard time controlling her enthusiasm. The former wine representative discovered her zeal for local vintners while working at the Carlson Creek Tasting Room in Old Town Scottsdale. “I started tasting local wines at other tasting rooms and it inspired me,” she says. “I was very impressed.” That inspiration led Vora-Shah to open The Wine Collective, a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop in Old Town Scottsdale showcasing Arizona wines.
Vora-Shah is no stranger to the local wine scene. Before opening The Wine Collective, she owned My Wine Cellar in Ahwatukee and a sister location, MWC Wine Bar in Gilbert, but sold them to go in a new direction. Eventually, she worked her way back to wine. “I enjoy talking about wine and passing my excitement on to other people,” she says. “I know that wine can be intimidating, but I want to make it approachable and fun.”
The Wine Collective, which opened in April, currently features around 40 different wines from 20 Arizona wineries. Vora-Shah keeps an open bottle of every wine on hand, so customers can sample the full gamut. All her employees have a wealth of knowledge about the wines they’re serving and encourage guests to try different varieties. “But the proof is in the glass,” she says.
Vora-Shah will continue to add different varietals and more winemakers into the mix, with a goal of featuring 40 Arizona wineries and vineyards. “There are now 130 wineries in Arizona,” she says.
She also sells wines by the glass and wine flights paired with charcuterie, and hosts a Meet the Winemaker series. The next event will take place Sept. 8 and will feature Jules Dixon of 1764 Vineyards, a winery and vineyard located in Pearce, Arizona. The cost to attend is $25 per person and participants will taste five wines.
The Wine Collective is located at 4020 N. Scottsdale Rd. in Scottsdale. For more information, visit the-wine-collective.com.
