Great Views, Forgettable Wines
VAI Resort · Glendale · Rooftop Bar / Small Plates · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 27, 2026 · How we review
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.
· Glendale · Mexican
Barrio Queen Glendale is a margarita destination that happens to have a wine list as a formality. If you're coming for wine, recalibrate — order a cocktail, enjoy the food, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that returns the favor.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · American breakfast and lunch
The Place is clearly here for the breakfast plates, not the wine program — and there's nothing wrong with that. If you need a glass of something bubbly with your brunch, the Val D'Oca Prosecco will do the job. But don't come here expecting a wine experience; come here expecting eggs.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Italian and wine bar
Dolce Vino earns a Wild Card badge not for a documented deep cellar, but for being the kind of owner-run, food-forward wine bar that punches well above its strip mall address. Pricing on food runs $20–$32 for entrees, and the overall vibe suggests a kitchen and front-of-house that actually cares. We'd send a friend here for a low-key date night with the clear instruction: ask the staff what to drink, order the Osso Buco, and let the room do its thing.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Italian, pizza, and seafood
Pizzicata is doing more with its wine list than the format demands, and the Italian-focused selection with fair pricing makes it a genuinely good option when you want something better than house red with your pizza. The Mazzei and the Nebbiolo alone put this list ahead of most competitors in the neighborhood. Send a friend here if they want honest Italian wine without the markup headache.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Prime steakhouse
Fleming's Glendale is a reliable steakhouse wine program that earns its keep on the strength of an unusually deep by-the-glass selection and a few smart international picks. Pricing is on the steeper side across the board — this is a chain steakhouse, so no surprises there — but if you know where to look (start with the Loosen Bros.), you can drink well without regret. Send a friend here if they want options; just don't expect to be surprised.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Glendale · Italian
Lil' Capo isn't a wine destination — it's a pizza destination with wine available, which is exactly what it should be. If you're grabbing a pie before a Westgate event and want something in a glass that won't embarrass the food, the Italian-leaning list does its job without asking too much of you or your wallet.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
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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