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elements at Sanctuary – XII Within elements, there is an expansive corridor lined with wines from around the world. If you slink past the seemingly endless display – boasting brands and varietals upwards of $1,000 per bottle – you will find XII. This ultra-private dining room offers custom culinary experiences for up to 12 guests at a time. Designed with a glass wall that opens to the kitchen, XII gives guests a bird’s-eye view of Executive Chef Beau MacMillan and his team at work, creating one of the most intimate, interactive dining experiences in the Southwest. www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com.
elements at Sanctuary
Sierra Bonita Grill
FOLLOW THAT BOTTLE
Cool down with VIP dining experiences at four wine cellars BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
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et’s face it, for the next few months patio dining is out. So, what’s in when it’s this hot? Escaping somewhere that has to be cool (literally and figuratively) – a wine cellar! Try these hidden VIP dining experiences beyond Valley restaurants’ cellar doors. Sassi
LON’s at The Hermosa Inn – Underground Wine Cellar The return of triple-digit heat also ushers in a cool reprieve in the form of a one-of-a-kind culinary experience in the underground wine cellar at LON’s at The Hermosa Inn. Through Sept. 9, LON’s will open up its subterranean wine cellar – kept at just 57 degrees and normally only available for private functions – to offer hotel guests and Valley residents alike a special tasting menu prepared by Executive Chef Jeremy Pacheco starting at $65, with wine pairings for an additional $35. The cellar boasts 3,000 bottles of wine and has been recognized consistently since 1996 by Wine Spectator magazine. The experience is offered Thursday through Saturday nights. Reservations can only be booked within seven days and must be done via phone at 602.955.7878. www.hermosainn.com. Sassi – Wine Cellar Sassi’s Wine Cellar dining experiences (custom options abound) offer up to 14 guests the chance to tour a private collection of Italian wines with an expert guide or on-site sommelier as well as the chance to enjoy a glass of wine or bubbly on the balcony before gliding through the restaurant to the wine cellar. Here, guests can view the impressive, 2,500-bottle wine collection through glass windows while enjoying a custom cellar menu (with wine pairings) at a palatial dining table among Old World-inspired ambiance and a world away from any of the other dining rooms. www.sassi.biz. Sierra Bonita Grill – Private Wine Room Sierra Bonita Grill has a secret – and it’s just a staircase away. Hidden beneath the actual restaurant itself lies a subterranean wine room with private seating in their formal wine cellar for up to 10 guests. And while the space does require reservations in advance, there is no additional fee to book the room, except for a gratuity minimum. A bonus: Your basement VIP party gets its own dedicated server and the option to choose from the traditional menu or create a custom menu in advance for the evening. www.sierrabonitagrill.com.
LON’s at The Hermosa Inn
SO SCOTTSDALE! |
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| JULY 2017