Citrus Grove Hideout With a Serious Wine Brain
Red Mountain / NE Mesa · Mesa · New American with Italian-inspired dishes · Visit Website ↗
Updated September 2026
Reviewed June 22, 2026 · How we review
RagingWine reviewed Board & Batten’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
You don't expect to find Niepoort and Frédéric Esmonin tucked into a cozy bistro off a citrus grove in Mesa, Arizona — and yet here we are. The list is compact, maybe 30 bottles deep, but whoever built it was paying attention. This is not a wine list assembled by someone ticking boxes; it reads like a personal collection.
Board & Batten is fishing in waters most suburban Arizona restaurants don't even know exist. You've got Björnson Gamay from Oregon sitting next to Niepoort's 'Drink Me' Baga from Portugal, a Piccolomini Super Tuscan, and a Torbreck Sémillon from the Barossa — that's a genuinely interesting cross-section of the wine world. The Italian and French leanings make sense given the kitchen's direction, and the Spanish presence (Marqués de Riscal Verdejo, Scaia Rosé) rounds out the approachable end of the list without dumbing it down. The California presence is thin but intentional, and the Henri Perrusset Chardonnay from Mâcon is exactly the kind of pick that signals a curator who knows their Old World.
Ten options by the glass is a solid number for a room this size, with pricing running $12–$19 per pour and bottle or carafe equivalents listed so you can do the math yourself — which is a transparency move we respect. The range covers sparkling, white, rosé, and red with enough personality that you're not just choosing between 'red' and 'white.' Rotation frequency is unclear, but the current lineup punches well above the neighborhood average.
Henri Perrusset Chardonnay — $14/glass
Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay at this price point is a quiet steal — you're getting Burgundian terroir without the Burgundy markup, and it's the kind of wine that makes everyone at the table happy without anyone having to compromise.
Niepoort 'Drink Me' Baga
Baga from Portugal is one of the most underrated red grapes on earth — tannic, savory, and deeply interesting — and Niepoort is one of the producers doing it right. Most people at this restaurant will order the Cabernet. Don't be most people.
Obsidian Cabernet Sauvignon
Nothing wrong with it, but in a list this interesting, ordering the California Cab feels like going to a great taco spot and ordering a burger. Save this one for a restaurant that doesn't give you better options.
Piccolomini Super Tuscan blend + Short rib ragout pasta
A Super Tuscan's Sangiovese backbone and dark fruit grip is built for braised meat and pasta — the acidity cuts through the richness of the ragout and the savory depth in both the wine and the dish just reinforce each other.
The Bottom Line
Board & Batten is the kind of place wine-curious people in the East Valley have been quietly hoping would exist — a neighborhood bistro that actually thought about the list. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially one who thinks they don't like anything outside Napa.
· Mesa · Beer & Wine Bar
Divided Vine earns its Wild Card badge by doing something most casual Mesa bars don't bother with: building a wine program around Arizona producers alongside solid global options, inside a space that actually makes you want to linger. We'd send a friend here, especially one who thinks Arizona wine means nothing — Divided Vine might change their mind.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Agritopia · Mesa · Pizza / Wine-Friendly
Garage-East is a genuine Wild Card: a relaxed farm-adjacent pizza spot in Gilbert that bets its wine program on Arizona producers rather than playing it safe with the usual suspects. We don't have full list details to make specific bottle calls, but the regional commitment and easygoing setting make it worth showing up curious, asking questions, and ordering a pour alongside the charcuterie board. If you want a deep cellar and Zalto stems, go somewhere else — but if you want to drink local wine in a backyard with good food and better company, this one delivers.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · Modern American / Winery Restaurant
Cooper's Hawk Gilbert is a brand experience first and a wine destination second — possibly third. The $8 flat-glass pricing keeps the night affordable, but six house-only labels with no rotation, no independent producers, and no depth to explore earns a Lazy List badge. Order the Tempranillo or the Super Tuscan, enjoy your dinner, and don't expect the list to surprise you.
Grocery Store
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · Wine Bar / Small Plates
Cork & Craft is exactly what it looks like: a comfortable, unthreatening wine bar for people who want good-enough wine without homework. Not the spot for discovery, but a solid neighborhood pour in a town that doesn't have many.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · French Steakhouse / Bistro
A French bistro in the East Valley that runs an all-sparkling wine list anchored by Grower Champagne and topped with Egly-Ouriet and Selosse is not something you expect to exist, and yet here we are. If you're a Champagne nerd, this list is worth the trip; if you wanted a Cab with your steak, you're going to have a rough night.
Surprising Depth
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Mesa · American Grill / Wine Bar
Il Vinaio is a reliable neighborhood wine bar punching slightly above its weight with a few smart, unexpected picks tucked into an otherwise crowd-pleasing list. If you're in Mesa and want a real glass of wine with dinner, this is where we'd send you.
Crowd Pleasers
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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