Arizona's Wine Scene, No Apologies
Old Town · Scottsdale · American · Visit Website ↗
Updated April 2026
Reviewed March 16, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at FnB reads like a love letter to the Sonoita AVA — and it's a good letter, not the kind you cringe reading years later. This is one of the rare restaurants in the country that has built an entire wine identity around Arizona producers, and it lands with conviction. The backup list of Beaujolais, Austrian Riesling, and Corsican rosé tells you the person curating this thing actually has taste.
The primary list leans hard into Arizona's emerging wine country — Dos Cabezas, Page Springs, Pillsbury, Callaghan, Canelo Hills, and Cimarron all make appearances, spanning the Sonoita and Cochise County AVAs with real depth for a region most diners couldn't find on a map. If Arizona wine isn't your thing or you want a break, the 'Plan B' list pulls in Cru Beaujolais, Aligote, Barbera del Monferrato, and California Pinot Noir — small but pointed choices that signal range without abandoning the local mission. There are gaps: no deep Old World cellar, nothing for the Burgundy obsessive, and the list skews toward crowd-pleasing styles within the Arizona tier. But for what it's trying to do — champion a nascent wine region with confidence — it punches well above its weight.
By-the-glass specifics aren't fully published, but given the list's architecture and a sommelier on staff, you can expect the Arizona producers to anchor the pours. The markup data on the Arizona bottles suggests glass pours are priced reasonably relative to retail, especially on the local labels. If the Vino del Barrio Blanca or Roan Red are available by the glass, order them without hesitation.
Page Springs 'Vino del Barrio Blanca', Cochise County — $36
A 44% markup on an Arizona white is nearly charitable by restaurant standards. This is the list's clearest signal that FnB actually wants you to try something local without making you feel like you're being taxed for the privilege.
Callaghan Back Lot, Elgin, Sonoita
Callaghan is the most credible name in Arizona wine and most out-of-towners have never heard of it. The Back Lot is a serious red from one of the country's most underrated wine regions — skip the California Pinot and try this instead.
Casa Lapostolle Cuvée Alexander Chardonnay, Casablanca
A Chilean wine at a 160% markup surrounded by Arizona producers doing more interesting things for less money is a strange choice. At $52, you're paying a premium for a label you can find at any grocery store. There's no reason to order this here.
Pillsbury 'Roan Red', Cochise County + Braised Lamb Shoulder
The Roan Red is a Southern Rhône-style blend with enough structure to stand up to braised lamb and enough fruit to keep it from getting too serious. It's the kind of match that feels obvious once you try it and makes the whole Arizona wine argument click.
🎲 The Bottom Line
FnB is making a real case for Arizona wine — not in a defensive, regional-pride way, but in a 'this is actually good, order it' way. If you're curious about what's growing in the Sonoita Valley and you want smart food to go with it, this is the room.
Old Town Scottsdale · Scottsdale · American
Frasher's isn't reinventing the steakhouse wine list, but it's doing the job with a Wine Spectator credential and a Wednesday half-price night that makes the steep markups a lot easier to live with. Send a friend here if they want a reliable California Cab with their red meat — just tell them to go on Wednesday.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
DC Ranch · Scottsdale · American, Small Plates
The Living Room isn't trying to reinvent wine — it's trying to make California Cab and Chardonnay feel like an event, and it mostly succeeds. Send your friends here for a comfortable, well-staffed wine experience; just remind them to drink the Duckhorn.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · French
The Mick Brasserie is a dependable, well-staffed wine destination dressed up as a casual neighborhood spot — a genuinely rare combo in Scottsdale. The markups keep it from being a great deal, but the sommelier team and the quality of the list make it worth showing up for.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · American, Steakhouse
STK Scottsdale is a reliable California wine destination — not a discovery, but a dependable one. If you're here for Wagyu and a bottle of Stag's Leap, you will not leave disappointed; just don't expect the list to surprise you.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Italian
Marcellino is doing something genuinely uncommon in Scottsdale — a disciplined, Italy-first wine program with real producers and a sommelier who clearly cares. Markups tip steep on the prestige bottles, but the depth of the list earns it a spot on your list if Italian wine is your thing.
Small but Thoughtful
Steep
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
Scottsdale · Scottsdale · Brazilian Steakhouse
Fogo de Chão Scottsdale isn't trying to be a wine bar, and it doesn't need to be — the list is purpose-built for red meat and it delivers. Markups lean steep on the trophy bottles, but the Argentine and Chilean selections give you a real path to drinking well without getting gouged.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Proper
Southwest / Time Corners · Fort Wayne · American
Catablu is exactly what it needs to be for its neighborhood — a reliable, thoughtfully maintained list that won't embarrass you on a date night or bore you entirely. It's not a destination wine list, but it's a solid supporting act for a kitchen that clearly takes food seriously.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Otay Ranch Town Center · Chula Vista · American
BJ's is a fine place to drink a craft beer and eat a Pizookie. It is not a place to drink wine. Order a Brewhouse Blonde, skip the wine list entirely, and save your wine night for somewhere that cares.
Grocery Store
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
SanTan Village · Gilbert · American
The Cheesecake Factory is a perfectly fine place to eat — the wine list just isn't a reason to go. Order a cocktail, split a bottle of Santa Margherita if you must, and save your wine curiosity for somewhere that earned it.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.