Great Views, Wine List Phoning It In
The Buttes / West Tempe · Tempe · Upscale New American / Southwestern · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 29, 2026
Wingman Metrics
The view from this hilltop perch is genuinely stunning — valley sprawl, desert sunsets, the whole cinematic deal. Then you open the wine list and the magic fades a little. It reads like a Marriott property wine list because, well, it is one — safe, recognizable names designed to move bottles without raising any eyebrows or any real excitement.
The list leans hard on California workhorses and a handful of recognizable French and Italian names to round things out. You've got Cakebread, Jordan, Prisoner — bottles you'd find at any hotel steakhouse from Phoenix to Pittsburgh. There's no real regional story being told here, no Arizona producers, no nod to the adventurous end of American winemaking. If you came hoping to discover something, you're going home empty-handed.
Roughly 10 to 15 pours by the glass in the $13–$22 range, which is a decent spread on paper. In practice, it's the predictable rotation of Chardonnay, Cab, Pinot Noir, and a Rosé or two — nothing that's going to make you linger over a second pour for its own sake. No evidence of seasonal rotation or anything approaching an active glass program.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon — $120
Still overpriced at 85% over retail, but Jordan is at least a genuinely good bottle of Alexander Valley Cab — food-friendly, well-structured, and built for a steak dinner. If you're going to spend money here, this is where to spend it.
Veuve Clicquot Brut NV
At a romantic, sunset-view restaurant, ordering Champagne is actually the right call — and Veuve Clicquot holds up. It's the most contextually appropriate bottle on this list given the setting, and the markup, while still steep, is the least egregious of the bunch.
Cakebread Chardonnay
At $85 a bottle — more than double retail — this is the most aggressively marked-up wine on the list. Cakebread is a fine Napa Chard, but it's also available at your local Total Wine for $40. The view doesn't justify this math.
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon + Grilled Steak
Jordan's Alexander Valley Cab is built for exactly this moment — a properly seared steak, a desert sunset, and a wine that won't fight the beef. Classic for a reason.
❌ The Bottom Line
Top of the Rock is a place you go for the view and the occasion, not the wine list — and the list knows it. If you're celebrating something and need a bottle, Jordan Cab and the setting will carry you through; just don't expect the wine program to pull its weight.
Downtown / Mill Avenue · Tempe · Cocktail Bar
Filthy Animal is the last place you'd expect to find a real wine list, which is precisely what makes it a Wild Card — the selection punches above the bar's party-school energy, and if you know what to order, you can drink well while everyone else is doing kamikazes. Just don't come here for the value; come for the vibe and the pleasant surprise.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
South Tempe · Tempe · Wine Bar / Mediterranean Small Plates
Bar Capri isn't trying to be a destination wine program — it's trying to be a really good neighborhood wine bar, and it mostly nails that. The Pasta Night deal alone is worth bookmarking, and the Barolo on a short list is the kind of detail that tells you someone cares.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
South Tempe / Warner & Rural · Tempe · Modern Southwestern
Ghost Ranch is a reliable neighborhood option if you're here for the food and want a decent glass of something familiar to go alongside it. Don't come expecting a curated wine program — but don't skip the wine either; just order smart and keep expectations calibrated.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown / ASU Campus · Tempe · Wine bar serving Italian- and Mediterranean-influenced cafe fare
Postino Annex isn't where you go to drink seriously — it's where you go to drink smartly, and there's a difference. With Monday-Tuesday bottle deals, markups that border on generous, and a by-the-glass list that earns its breadth, this is the rare casual spot where the wine program actually respects your wallet.
Crowd Pleasers
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Downtown / ASU Campus · Tempe · Italian and Mediterranean-inspired contemporary American
Society Tempe isn't here to change how you think about wine — it's here to make sure you drink well while you eat pasta at 10pm on a Sunday, ideally at half price. Show up on Sunday, order the Chianti, skip the Cakebread, and you'll walk out happy.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Active Program
Acceptable
Tempe · Tempe · American
A senior living community in Tempe earning a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and actually backing it up with California classics and legit Arizona producers is the kind of surprise we live for. If you're near ASU and sleeping on this list, wake up.
Solid Range
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.