Mediterranean soul, Monday bottles for the win
Westgate · Glendale · Mediterranean and California-inspired · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 27, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Olive & Ivy Restaurant & Marketplace’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The wine list at Olive & Ivy feels like the restaurant itself — warm, well-traveled, and put together with some actual intention. Forty-five by-the-glass options is a serious commitment, and the Mediterranean spine of the list matches the food in a way that feels deliberate rather than accidental. This isn't a list that was phoned in.
The list covers real ground: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and France anchor the Old World side, while California and the Pacific Northwest round things out without overwhelming the narrative. There's a sommelier on staff, and you can feel it — the Louis Latour Grand Ardèche Chardonnay showing up as a featured selection tells you someone is paying attention to value rather than just brand recognition. Gaps exist at the high end of the cellar, and the bottle ceiling of around $150 keeps this from being a destination for serious collectors. But for a lively Scottsdale waterfront spot, the range is genuinely respectable.
Forty-five by-the-glass options is the headline here, and it's not just filler — you can move across regions and styles without repeating yourself all night. Prices in the $10–$15 range keep things accessible, which matters when you're grazing through a meal of flatbreads and handmade pastas. We'd love to know more about the rotation frequency, but the sheer volume suggests this program gets regular attention.
Louis Latour Grand Ardèche Chardonnay — $14/glass
Retails for around $18 a bottle, and you're getting it by the glass here at a markup that's practically neighborly. This is a proper Chardonnay from the Ardèche — bright, unoaked, with real Burgundian lineage — for less than the price of a cocktail. It's the sommelier's pick and it shows.
Spanish Rioja Crianza
Most people default to Italian or California reds on a list like this, and the Rioja gets overlooked. At the price point Olive & Ivy is running, a solid Crianza offers structure, oak, and Tempranillo character that outperforms its position on the menu. Don't skip the Iberian section.
California Cabernet Sauvignon (mid-tier bottle)
At $60 a bottle against a ~$25 retail price, this is where the markup math gets uncomfortable — nearly 2.5x. There's nothing wrong with drinking California Cab, but there are better-value rides on this list. Order the Rioja or something from the Mediterranean side and put the savings toward dessert.
Provence Rosé + Bruschetta
A dry, herb-forward Provence rosé and a well-made bruschetta is one of those combinations that's obvious once you do it. The acidity in the wine cuts through the olive oil, the fruit plays off the tomato, and suddenly you're eating on a terrace somewhere that costs a lot more than this.
Monday — Half-price bottles of wine all day every Monday. Happy hour (3–6 PM) in the bar and lounges also features half-price bottles. One of the better standing wine deals in the Scottsdale area.
The Bottom Line
Olive & Ivy earns its spot as a reliable go-to — fair prices, a sommelier who clearly cares, and a by-the-glass program that gives you room to explore. Show up on a Monday and half-price bottles make this one of the better wine deals in Scottsdale.
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