Put a cork in your workday at one of these bargain-forward wine bars.
Vines & Hops
As the name suggests, this small, low-key spot on a quiet side street in Old Town specializes in both wine and beer, featuring more than 70 global wines by the glass and 20 Arizona craft beers on tap. At happy hour, select reds, whites and rosés are priced at $5 and select beers at $4.50 – which leaves more than enough moolah for nibbles such as creamy burrata, drizzled with balsamic and served with marinated tomatoes, pesto and crunchy toast ($9.50), or jalapeño and artichoke dip sided with corn chips for scooping ($9). The budget-minded might settle for Marcona almonds ($4) instead, saving their money for wine flights or a glass of something really special, say, a $100 pour of Opus One. This likable little gem boasts friendly staff and a dog-friendly patio (think alleyway), where Fido gets his own “beer” (beef broth). 1-10 p.m Su-Tu, 3-7 p.m. W-F.
Raven’s View
Situated 10 miles northeast of Cave Creek, this modern-looking outpost is well worth the trek for its spectacular views of the Mazatzal Mountains, not to mention starry night skies and cooler temperatures. The happy hour menu offers snacks as well as dinner-like dishes: French onion soup, perhaps, or creamy deviled eggs with a Parmesan tuile (both $5). Bavarian pretzels and addictive jalapeño corn dip with carrots and corn chips both go for $6, while heartier items such as meatball sliders and flatbreads, including a playful variation on the Margherita, topped with buffalo mozzarella, pesto and tomatoes, set you back $7. Meanwhile, five bucks grants access to a fine variety of vino, including decent house sangria, Prosecco or Moscato. Bargains are valuable, but sitting on the patio and drinking in the desert? Priceless. 3:30-5:30 p.m. M-F.
The Whining Pig
When the first Whining Pig opened on Bethany Home Road in 2013, the focus was more on wine than beer, but the concept has evolved – the rotating selection of 50 global wines is eclipsed by 125 craft beers, many of them damned good. The newest and fifth location in Desert Ridge is subterranean without being dungeon-like (credit the small, open-air patio), and the atmosphere is super chill (Trivial Pursuit, anyone?). There are exactly two things to eat at happy hour, or anytime: a meat and cheese board with apricots, nuts and olives ($13) or six varieties of grilled cheese sandwich, marked down from $7 to $6. Go for the macho Star (pepperoni, capicola, provolone, cherry peppers and sriracha) or the femme Heart (prosciutto, fig and goat cheese). Wines are reduced by $3, beers by $1-$2. Day-drinkers, this one’s for you. 1-8 p.m. daily.
