Come see the Best of the Valley all in one place in Downtown Phoenix on Saturday, Aug. 13.
From the high-desert vineyards of northern New Mexico to the Michelin-starred restaurants of the Las Vegas strip, these 11 Southwest food and wine adventures are ripe for the picking.
Photo courtesy Tarbell’s When you dine at Tarbell’s, you will embark on an odyssey of opposites. This, you’ll soon learn, is a large part of its lasting charm. Mark Tarbell opened the restaurant in 1994 to immediate acclaim. The eatery soon became synonymous with fine dining in the Valley, attracting a welter of well-heeled patrons and possessing a certain je ne sais quoi that generated a positive buzz. Nearly three decades later, the Tarbell’s...
It’s easy to get overwhelmed at the Valley’s new Cooper’s Hawk location in Chandler, which opened its doors on Monday. Those doors lead you into an expansive tasting room lined with every varietal you can imagine on one side, a glass case displaying glistening chocolate truffles on the other, and an array of upscale wine accessories splayed out on tables in the middle of the room. Before you even set foot in the dining area,...
On Tuesday, May 25, oenophiles everywhere will raise a glass of their favorite vino in honor of National Wine Day. Here are six Valley businesses offering deals for wine lovers to sip and celebrate. CRUjiente Tacos A modern taqueria might not be the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “stellar wine selection,” but CRUjiente is a hidden gem for wine lovers. Its extensive wine program specializes in labels sourced from Spain. CRUjiente’s...
Alison Bailin is a fixture in wine country, and the Valley-based PR pro and food and beverage writer says she’ll never grow tired of it. Bailin visits the Sonoma County area with her mom, Carol, and her boyfriend, Cory, every year. In all of her “spirited” adventures, she says there is nowhere better than Healdsburg and Dry Creek, where she went this past November. Bailin shares some of her favorite restaurants, wineries and experiences with...
Last time I wrote about Los Milics Winery was back in September of 2020 – after the hurricane known as “harvest.” Construction on our winery in the Southern Arizona town of Elgin was completed and my wife, Carla (pictured), and I processed 36 tons of fruit by ourselves. From our vineyard a few miles away in Elfrida we got some beautiful Graciano, Grenache and Mourvèdre. However, the Tempranillo from that site was not yielding the...
Bruschetta trio | Photo by Leah LeMoine THE SCENE North Phoenix’s 32 Shea is both the worst and the best place to drink and dine during a pandemic. Its famously cozy (OK, a bit cramped) interior is anathema for social distancing, so only a handful of people at a time can be seated inside. The petite coffee shop and eatery’s idyllic patio is another story. Outdoor dining is easy, breezy and beautiful (CoverGirl ref intended) in the lush outdoor oasis, which boasts gobs of greenery, a Buddha statue, a constellation of string lights and plentiful umbrellas. It’s dog-friendly, too. ...
Looking for a new place to wine and dine? Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant just opened in North Scottsdale and it’s the perfect place for date nights, family dinners and catching up with friends. Upon entry, you immediately find yourself in a tasting room with more than 40 varietals. And if vino isn’t your vibe, there are amazing cocktails and beer and even non-alcoholic options for the teetotalers in your tribe. Location: The Promenade in Scottsdale...
Damien Kanser and Jonathan Coppins aim to make wine accessible to everyone and close the gap between the beer and wine worlds. The business partners and best friends are well-versed when it comes to wine – Coppins was the winemaker at Su Vino Winery in Scottsdale for 10 years and Kanser worked in the distribution and sales of high-end wines for 15 years. “We’re two really big wine guys who figured it was time to...
In early August, my fledgling winery, Los Milics, harvested our first pick of Tempranillo. It could have gone horribly wrong, because just two days prior we had a hailstorm in Sonoita. Thankfully we lived to pick our fruit and avoid disaster. A helluva start to our 2020 vintage, and par for the course for a challenging and emotionally straining year. Before we could harvest, we had to prepare the winery for the incoming fruit. Though...
THE SCENE While I love our new office at The Quad business/restaurant complex in the south Scottsdale/Arcadia area, there are quite a few things I miss about our old office at Scottsdale Quarter in north Scottsdale. Chief among them are Press Coffee (where I was a daily visitor) and Sorso Wine Room, the first wine bar I fell for as a nascent wino and a frequent happy hour haunt for PHOENIX and Phoenix Home &...
A monthly look at Arizona wine with Valley dining impresario Pavle Milic.
Bubbly, still, semi-sparkling or frozen, rosé is decidedly the go-to drink of the summer. Here are a few places to get your sip on in the Valley.
The beloved Jerome winery sets up shop in the Valley.