246 FOOD & DRINK SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2025.C0M | BEST OF PHOENIX 2025 e e e B E S T U N U S U A L B E E R MANGO LASSI GREENWOOD BREWING 922 N. FIFTH ST. 602-875-8577 GREENWOODBREWS.COM Sick of IPAs? Done with sours? Bored by the classic American Lager? Greenwood Brewing has just the brew to get you out of your comfort zone. No other beer is more distinct to Phoenix’s rapidly expanding brewery scene than the Mango Lassi. Inspired by a popular Indian yogurt-based drink made of yogurt, mango and sugar, Greenwood’s version provides drinkers with a creamy, delicious beer like you’ve never tasted before. As customers bring the yellow beer, topped with a Guinness-like creamy foam top, to their lips, they’re met with a smooth texture and burst of mango flavor through the rest of the sip. It’s a drink that truly needs to be experienced, as it leaves drinkers wondering if they just had a beer or a sweet treat. e e e B E S T W I N E B A R HIDDEN TRACK BOTTLE SHOP & WINE BAR 4700 N. 12TH ST., #118 602-314-6476 HIDDENTRACKBOTTLESHOP.COM Located on the bottom floor of The Strip off 12th Street, Hidden Track is down a few stairs and halfway underground. But despite barely peeking above the street, this wine bar’s reputation is anything but obscured. It’s known around the Valley for its enticing wine selection and knowledge- able staff who ready to make the perfect recommendation. The owners work directly with importers to source unusual, one-of-a-kind bottles you won’t find in most other places. The space is half wine bar, half bottle shop, so customers can take their selections to go or sit and stay a while. We recommend the latter. Enjoy a glass paired with some warm olives, prosciutto- wrapped apples with blueberry hot sauce, smoked oysters or one of the Flamme- kueche, an Alsatian flatbread similar to a thin-crust pizza. There’s a daily happy hour and a wine club to join, and every Wednesday evening, Hidden Track hosts wine tastings. Complete with a cozy yet modern interior, Hidden Track has every- thing we could hope for in the Valley’s top wine bar, hiding in plain sight. e e e B E S T TA S T I N G R O O M LOS MILICS VINEYARDS 4151 N. MARSHALL WAY, SCOTTSDALE 480-390-1668 LOSMILICSVINEYARDS.COM Los Milics’ show-stopping Elgin tasting room that overlooks the vineyards in southern Arizona wine country usually captures the spotlight. The vineyards’ Old Town Scottsdale tasting room may be smaller, yet it offers a true big wine experi- ence much closer to home. Low-lit with contemporary sleek seating around an L-shaped bar as the centerpiece and cozy tables along the perimeter, this tasting room is the spitting image of what you’d find in sophisticated, more-established wine regions. From the elegant wide-bowl wine glasses etched with the winery’s logo, ideal mood music playing subtly in the background and a vibe that’s calm but not sedate, it’s the perfect setting to sip on the award-winning wine selection of whites, rosés and reds — all made in Arizona. As a bonus, the pourers are not only knowledge- able about the in-house options but are happy to shed light on Arizona wine in general for anyone seeking a primer. e e e B E S T A R I Z O N A R E D W I N E MERKIN VINEYARDS, CHUPACABRA 2023 MERKINVINEYARDS.ORG It’s made by a Grammy-winning interna- tional rock star who’s dedicated a huge part of his life and resources to touting the Arizona wine industry. But Maynard James Keenan is not the reason this red blend gets the nod. For starters, the Chupacabra’s pedigree reflects its namesake, the Latin American-rooted legendary creature known for its shapeshifting qualities. The combination changes slightly with every vintage, but is usually anchored by the tried-and-true Rhone blend of grenache, mourvédre and syrah. This 2023 vintage follows suit. The grapes are from the Al Buhl Memorial Vineyard in Willcox, which is named for the founder of Dos Cabezas WineWorks, one of Arizona wine’s early visionaries. Fresh, bright fruit aromas precede juicy dark fruit flavors with just a kiss of earthy tannin on the finish. It’s chewy without being imposing and plays nicely with just about anything on the dinner table. Bottom line: It’s super friendly and just plain yummy. e e e B E S T A R I Z O N A W H I T E W I N E CALLAGHAN VINEYARDS, ARIZONA LA OSA BLANCO 2023 CALLAGHANVINEYARDS.COM From the first sip, there’s lots to love about this aromatic and refreshing white blend made with estate grapes from one of the oldest vineyards in the state. Malvasia bianca, a Mediterranean variety that thrives in the desert, does the heavy lifting — its characteristic stone fruit and accom- panying floral notes immediately dance on the palate. French grapes petit manseng and marsanne join the party, offering a little heft and creaminess, which results in a wine that is just as appropriate sipping poolside or as a partner to small bites and main courses. But what makes it special goes beyond what’s in the bottle. It’s the result of Callaghan Vineyards’ — one of the state’s largest and oldest wineries — collab- oration with the University of Arizona. Kent Callaghan is Arizona’s most tenured winemaker, and his family represents four generations of Wildcats. More history is represented in cowboy drawings on the label that were done in 1917 and 1922 by Blackfoot artist Hart Merriam Schultz, a good friend of Callaghan’s wife Lisa’s great- grandfather. And each bottle has a regis- tered number and hologram showing it was officially licensed by the U of A, adding to the cool factor. e e e B E S T A R I Z O N A R O S É W I N E DOS CABEZAS WINEWORKS, DOS CABEZAS PINK 2024 DOSCABEZAS.COM Don’t let the ultra-pale shade or notes of strawberry gently wafting from the glass of this fun rosé fool you. With bright berry and faint guava notes and hints of citrus, it’s definitely a wine that belongs on a shaded bistro table in the middle of a sun- drenched afternoon. However, with Rhone varieties garnacha and syrah that unite with a healthy splash of Spanish graciano from Dos Cabezas’ two vineyards, it can stand up to the likes of sausages, grilled veggies, barbecue chicken and carne asada tacos. Minerality on the finish makes it a great foil for fresh shucked oysters and the usual suspects on a charcuterie plate. With this combo, this Pink is a pink that vies for love from wine enthusiasts who normally shun rosés as well as those who embrace them. Want something portable and fun? Find the limited-edition canned bubbly version so you can toast while on an outdoorsy adventure.
