Great Views, Forgettable Wines
VAI Resort · Glendale · Rooftop Bar / Small Plates · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Amara Rooftop at VAI Resort’s wine list and gave it The Lazy List — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You're up here for the skyline views and the Insta-worthy sunset — and that's fine, but the wine list makes no attempt to compete with the scenery. What you get is a short, safe roster of names you've seen at every hotel bar from here to LAX. It's a list built for vibes, not for drinkers.
The list clocks in at around 20-40 bottles and leans hard into the holy trinity of approachable crowd-pleasers: Champagne, Provence rosé, and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Whispering Angel and Veuve Clicquot anchor the sparkling and pink side, Kim Crawford handles the white — and that's pretty much the story. There's no sense of regional curiosity, no Arizona local producers taking advantage of their home turf, and no real reason to stray from whatever cocktail the bartender is shaking. It's the kind of list that was built to minimize complaints, not to inspire orders.
With 8-14 pours on offer, the by-the-glass program technically covers the bases — sparkling, rosé, white, and presumably a red or two. But when your anchors are Whispering Angel and Kim Crawford, you're not exactly pushing anyone to explore. Expect solid pours at resort-inflated prices with no real rotation or seasonal intention behind the selections.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc — null
It's not exciting, but it's the most honest pour on the menu — crisp, consistent, and at least priced in a tier that won't make you wince quite as hard as the Champagne options. On a hot Arizona rooftop, it does its job.
Veuve Clicquot Brut NV
Most people default to Veuve everywhere and take it for granted, but on a warm Phoenix evening watching the sun drop behind the White Tank Mountains, a glass of properly chilled Veuve actually earns its keep. It's the one bottle on this list that genuinely fits the moment.
Whispering Angel Rosé
You will pay a significant resort premium for a wine that retails for $25 at your nearest Total Wine. The bottle looks gorgeous on the table, which is exactly why they charge what they charge. The wine itself is fine — fine — but you're paying for the label and the altitude, not the liquid.
Veuve Clicquot Brut NV + Charcuterie
Bubbles and cured meats are a timeless call, and the salt-fat punch of a charcuterie board cuts right through the Champagne's yeasty richness. It's the closest this rooftop gets to a genuinely inspired wine moment.
The Bottom Line
Amara Rooftop is a place you go for the view and a cocktail — the wine list is an afterthought dressed up in a resort price tag. If wine is your thing, drink something fun downstairs and come up here for the sunset.
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Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Entertainment Restaurant
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Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
MIA
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.
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