I am honestly not sure what brought me to the intersections of Bell Road, Scottsdale Road, and Frank Lloyd Wright on this day. I think I was going to meet someone, or I had an appointment somewhere nearby, but regardless I had a couple hours to kill and was looking for a place to squander some time. I found a nail salon in this corner shopping center on N. Scottsdale Rd. and I went on in for a pedicure. It was lovely [as a pedicure should be] and as I was walking back out to my car, I saw the sign for “Uncorked Wine Lounge.” My curiosity was peaked!!
Don’t you just love it when you come across something that's entirely coincidental!? I had a little more time before my meeting [or lunch date or whatever] so what the wine... I stopped in for a quick tasting!! I remember thinking at first how dark it seemed inside… but I mean when you come inside from a full sunny Arizona day, [and it turns your transitional glasses really dark] I guess that can make anything seem dark. Once my eyes adjusted, [or my glasses lightened] I was totally taken in by its charm, especially the sign that read “Love the wine you’re with!”
I made my way to sit up at the bar to see what was what, and I proceeded to pick my flight wines!! [pictured below] I practically had the place to myself, but it was early yet. [though it's 5 o’clock somewhere… LOL] I loved the "spec sheets" they used as the wine placemat. A spec sheet is usually published by the wine's producer, and lists the wine's name, varietal, and geographic origin. [give or take other information about the wine, like how it was aged, what it was aged in, and its rating, etc.] It made things seem tidy, like you didn't have to keep looking at the menu to see the information about your next wine!!
After looking over the food menu, I knew I had to come back when I had a little more time to try their charcuterie… [cause by now I know that nothing goes better with a wine flight or tasting than a good ole charcuterie board!!] I did go back and have actually been back several more times, you know... to share this great find with several different wine friends. I’d have to say this was one of the best charcuterie boards [pictured below] that I’ve ever had to date. [and probably still that I’ve had to this day!!]
Ok, so while I was there [back to the first time] I saw a sign posted for an upcoming event.. A 10 for 10 night. It went on to explain that you paid 10 dollars to receive 10 tastes of wine. Sounded like a pretty good deal to me, so I dragged Shawn back with me to try it out. It kinda made me think of a mini wine festival!! [which I am comparing to the one and only wine festival I had attended thus far.. Hahaha] When you walked in the door, you could see little stations set up throughout the tasting room, each with a different wine and a little something that “paired well” with that wine.
After giving your ticket to the sommelier behind each table, they would tell you a little about and then pour you the "taste" of the wine they were featuring, and then you could help yourself to the “little something” that was available to pair with it. Even though there seemed to be a ton of people milling about, it really didn’t take that long to work your way around the tasting room. There was soft music playing in the background and it was an enjoyable atmosphere. [plus... there was wine!!]
Once you used all your tickets, you could then purchase a glass or bottle of one of the wines served from the 10 stations. If you were able to find an open spot to lounge and sip your drink, you could also order food off the menu. If not, you had a good idea of what you liked, so go ahead and purchase a bottle or two and take it home with you. I had so much fun that when I went back to work, [at my assignment with CISH - Core Institute Specialty Hospital] and told my co-workers about it, we decided to go back for the next scheduled 10 for 10 event!! We were lucky to find a few open couches to lounge around and we had a total blast!!
Sometime in April of 2021, I took my work daughter [pictured above] Haley Hodges-Little-Lapore [hahaha] to experience the ambiance of the place and their amazing charcuterie board. Sadly, I did not know that this would be my last time... after 15 years in business Tim and Ali Amundson decided, with heavy hearts to sell the wine bar. Without getting into the nitty gritty, the effects of the pandemic had taken it's irreversible toll. On June 12, 2021 the “saga that is Uncorked” came to its end. I am now tasked to find another charcuterie board that can compare. Challenge accepted!!
Next Wednesday join Wine with Wixy and some of my CISH co-workers, as we tour a few [and by a few... I mean more than a few... HA!!] wineries in Cottonwood, AZ!! We kinda looked at this trip like it would be a "team building" exercise for work!!
Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!
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