Stop and smell the rosés at these wine shops
National chains such as Total Wine and BevMo might be the go-to choice for purchasing wine, but they’re by no means your only options in the Valley.
A growing number of local and independently owned wine stores deliver value, service and a great wine selection around Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale.
In August, Sauvage Bottle Shop opened at The Churchill, bringing a simple price-driven, wine-shopping experience to downtown Phoenix. For oenophiles who need room to roam, 14-year-old Phoenix Wine offers an inventory that rivals that of any big-box store.
Whether you’re restocking your cellar or bringing a bottle to a holiday party, try one of these top 10 local wine stores in Phoenix.
Sauvage Bottle Shop
Sauvage owner Chris Lingua knows his wine. He worked for years at now-closed Kazimierz World Wine Bar before a long stint with a liquor distributor. Now, you can find him tending shop at his own tiny wine store inside The Churchill, a shipping-container marketplace that opened in August. His selection is limited but ever-changing — and always exciting. Wines are conveniently arranged from left to right by price (starting at $15 on the low end and up to $30 on the high); and from top to bottom by type (lightest whites on top, heaviest reds at the bottom). When a bottle is sold, Lingua replaces it with something completely different, but similar in style, so you’re not likely to get the same thing twice. Want something in particular? Just ask and he can order it for you.
Details: The Churchill, 901 N. First St., Suite 109, Phoenix. 602-935-4947. Search “Sauvage Bottle Shop” on Facebook.
Arcadia Premium
Take everything you know about the corner store and then ratchet it up a notch and you have Arcadia Premium. This market offers more than 300 kinds of craft beer and 100 wines, along with a handful of other locally made items such as cookies, popcorn, cocktail mixers, hot sauce, honey and coffee. But the best thing about Arcadia Premium is the delivery service. You can get anything on the store’s website brought directly to your house if you live in the designated zone — roughly from Loop 101 on the east and 32nd Street to the west between Lincoln and University drives. The fee is minimal if you’re ordering multiple bottles, which is easy to do with some priced at $15 or less.
Details: 5618 E. Thomas Road, Suite 100, Phoenix. 602-464-9000, arcadiapremium.com/arcadiapremium.
Hidden Track Bottle Shop
Its location inside The Monroe building lobby makes Hidden Track Bottle Shop’s name all the more appropriate, though the store’s website says it’s a reference to the hard-to-find wines sold here. And it’s true: What Hidden Track lacks in size, it more than makes up for in selection. Not only are all the major wine-making regions represented, the shop also has a robust Arizona wine section. If you’re a real downtown aficionado, try the store’s exclusive Historic District Series. Partnering with winemaker Michael Pierce of Willcox’s Bodega Pierce, Hidden Track owners Craig Dziadowicz and Danielle Middlebrook created a red and white wine, each named after a historic Phoenix neighborhood — Coronado Petite Sirah and F.Q. Story Chardonnay.
Details: The Monroe, 111 W. Monroe St., Suite 120, Phoenix. 602-566-7932, hiddentrackbottleshop.com.
The Wine Store
Some may remember when Sportsman’s Fine Wine and Spirits resided on the southeast corner of Camelback Road and 32nd Street before closing in 2013 after 50 years. But when local restaurateur and chef Mark Tarbell of “Check, Please! Arizona” fame announced his plans to take over the shop, which is adjacent to his namesake restaurant, we knew things were in capable hands. Today, you can still count on an extensive wine selection at The Wine Store. Affordability is not this store’s primary draw. More likely, you’re here to find high-end bottles from all over the country and globe.
Details: 3205 E. Camelback Phoenix. 602-955-7730, tarbellswinestore.com.
AZ Wine Company
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From a strip-mall storefront in south Scottsdale, this shop has offered one of the Valley’s largest selections of wines for more than two decades. Italian wines, in particular, are well-represented, but think of AZ Wine Company as your local substitute for larger box stores like Total Wine and BevMo. Not only will the staff be willing and able to help you find the perfect bottle for your budget and taste, there’s also a wine bar in the store where you can taste some varietals and discover something new.
Details: 2515 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 15, Scottsdale. 480-423-9305, rayklemp.wixsite.com/azwine.
La Grande Orange Grocery & Pizzeria
Need a card to go with that bottle of wine? How about a scented candle? Then Le Grande Orange Grocery is your stop. It’s always almost crowded, if not chaotic. But in the corner, you’ll find a well-curated wine collection that has everything, from affordable bottles for a casual dinner party to elegant libations for the best hostess gift. The staff can help you navigate the shelves, which are, admittedly, not particularly wellmarked.
Details: 4410 N. 40th 602-840-7777, lagrandeorangegrocery.com.
ODV Wines
St., Phoenix. Wine lovers looking for something rare may have no better destination in town than ODV Wines in Tempe. The wine store shares the same space as Tracey Dempsey Originals, the desert shop the pastry chef opened in 2015 on the south side of University Drive just east of Priest Drive. ODV specializes in Arizona wines and small-production wineries. Fittingly, the store stocks a fair amount of sweet selections including Champagne, rosé and vermouth to pair with the pastries and confections available next door. Price points start as low as $10 and increase up to $100 for rarer finds. Looking to expand your palate? The store hosts regular events like pairing classes and blind tastings that are typically quite affordable — think $15 for a tasting and lunch.
Details: 1325 W. University Drive, Tempe.602-376-9021, odvwines.com.
Duck and Decanter
Open since 1972, Duck and Decanter is nothing short of a Phoenix institution known for its cozy atmosphere and topnotch “nooners,” the restaurant’s nickname for sandwiches. But the Duck is more than just a great sandwich shop. It’s also a haven for those seeking local products including cookies, hot sauce, cheese and, yes, wine. There’s a separate entrance for the small wine shop where the shelves are stocked with bottles from Willcox to Italy to Argentina. Low ceilings and stained glass make it feel like you’ve stepped back in time, and with the bottles being so reasonably priced — many range from $20 to $30 — your bill might make you feel like it, too.
Details: 1651 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-274-5429, duckanddecanter.com.
Phoenix Wine
Fans call this wine store a diamond in the rough, since its strip-mall location can be underwhelming on the exterior. Once you step inside, however, you’ll find a carefully selected inventory of wines and prices that rival those found at big-box liquor stores. There’s a good mix of Old and New World wines, and the owners are often around to help customers find the perfect bottle. The store even lists some of its inventory online for those who don’t want to make the trek to Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard without having some idea of what they’re looking for — though pricing is not listed on the store’s website. Regular tasting events hosted at the store often cost just $8 and include several wines from a particular region.
Details: 10634 N. 71st Place, Scottsdale. 480-948-9202, phoenixwine.com.
Bottleshop 48
This Tempe craft beer and wine store is more than just a place to pick up your next dinner party pairing. Bottleshop 48 invites shoppers to some, too. The store offers a 12-tap bar for beer lovers and gives you the option to purchase any bottle of wine and enjoy it in the cozy wine room. The selection is well-organized by varietal, and each bottle is clearly marked to avoid sticker shock when you get to the counter to pay. If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, the staff will help you find something you’ll enjoy, be it a collectible bottle of 2014 Chappellet “Pritchard Hill” Cabernet Sauvignon or a can of wine for your next outdoor adventure.
Details: 3318 S. McClintock Tempe. 480-820-0804, bottleshop48.com. Drive,