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Each year, Wine Spectator releases awards recognizing restaurants around the country and the world for stellar wine programs. This year, a strong selection of Arizona eateries earned the distinction.
The awards started 44 years ago and “recognize restaurants whose wine lists offer interesting selections, are appropriate to their cuisine and appeal to a wide range of wine lovers,” according to Wine Spectator.
Restaurants must apply and submit an application fee to be considered for the awards.
The magazine ranks the award-winning restaurants on three levels. The highest honor is the Grand Awards, which no Arizona restaurants earned this year. The second tier is the Best Award of Excellence, of which we have 20 Valley winners.
Here are the Valley’s top spots for wine in 2025 as ranked by Wine Spectator:
Anhelo
7007 E. First Ave., Scottsdale
Bourbon Steak at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
7575 E. Princess Drive, Scottsdale
Wine completes the elegant experience at Cafe Monarch.
Cafe Monarch
Cafe Monarch
6939 E. First Ave., Scottsdale
Elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain
5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley
Ember at We-Ko-Pa Casino & Resort
10438 Wekopa Way, Fort McDowell
Flour & Thyme opened in late December in downtown Phoenix’s Orpheum Lofts.
Georgann Yara
Flour & Thyme
114 W. Adams St.
Geordie’s at the Wrigley Mansion
2501 E. Telawa Trail
J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician Resort
6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
La Zozzona at the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort
7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Scottsdale
Lon’s at the Hermosa is a gorgeous spot to sip some delicious wine.
The Hermosa Inn
Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn
5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley
Maple & Ash
7135 E. Camelback Road, #130, Scottsdale
Mastro’s City Hall Steakhouse
6991 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
Three Mastro’s locations, including the Ocean Club, earned Wine Spectator honors.
Mastro’s Ocean Club
Mastro’s Ocean Club
15045 N. Kierland Blvd., Scottsdale
Mastro’s Steakhouse
8852 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale
Orange Sky at Talking Stick Resort
9800 E. Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale
Prime, A Shula’s Steakhouse at Wild Horse Pass Resort and Casino
5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler
The Capital Grille
2502 E. Camelback Road
16489 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Whether you’re drinking wine or cocktails, Fat Ox offers a stellar selection.
Geri Koeppel
Fat Ox
6316 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Vincent on Camelback
3930 E. Camelback Road
Virtu Honest Craft
3701 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale
Outside of the Valley, a few spots in Sedona, Flagstaff and Tucson earned Best Award of Excellence distinction. And the third-tier award, the Award of Excellence, went to restaurants around the state. In total, Arizona earned 66 Wine Spectator awards in 2025. Check out the full list on the magazine’s website.
