• Sample great wine at wine bars in Mesa, Arizona.wine image by Christopher Hall from Fotolia.com
  
  "What is the definition of a good wine?" New York wine merchant William Sokolin once asked in 1989. "It should start and end with a smile." Read on for some of the wine bar options that are prepared to make sure you leave with a smile in Mesa, Arizona.
  
  

D'Vine Bistro and Wine Bar

• The contemporary D'Vine Bistro and Wine Bar provides a relaxing atmosphere in which to sample hundreds of wines. The bar offers 40 different wines by the glass and more than 100 by the bottle. Servers here are well versed in the wine options and are more than willing to recommend a few choices to you. If you're interested in sampling a variety of wines, D'Vine offers wine flights that typically feature three or four smaller pours of the bar's high-end wines. D'Vine's wine tastings are another great learning opportunity. A D'Vine staff member or wine representative explains, and allows you to sample, a variety of different wines each Tuesday evening. In addition to wine, D'Vine also serves up full lunch and dinner menus. For those trying to save money, D'Vine offers a happy hour menu, as of October 2010, from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday that includes a small selection of red and white wines by the glass for $5 and an assortment of appetizers for $5 or less.
  
  D'Vine Bistro and Wine Bar
  
  2837-101 N. Power Road
  
  Mesa, AZ 85207
  
  480-654-4171
  
  dvinebistro.com
  
  

Il Vinaio

• Il Vinaio, which translates to the wine merchant, is a casual restaurant and wine bar open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. A family-owned restaurant located in downtown Mesa, Il Vinaio offers American-Mediterranean cuisine, but the real focus is the wine. More than 40 wines are available by the glass and nearly 100 by the bottle, and as of October 2010, Il Vinaio hosts monthly winemaker dinners, featuring multicourse dinners paired with wine. The restaurant also holds wine tastings. In addition, you many join the wine club for discount sales (20 percent off bottles, 40 percent off mixed six packs of wine, as of October 2010) for off-site consumption. Tuesday's special is 30 percent off of bottles of wine to pair with your dinner.
  
  Il Vinaio
  
  270 W. Main St.
  
  Mesa, Arizona 85201
  
  480-649-6476
  
  ilvinaio.com
  
  

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar

• Located just 12 miles away in nearby Scottsdale, Arizona, Fleming's is known for its award-winning collection of 100 wines by the taste, glass, flight or bottle, called the Fleming's 100. This selection is personally selected by Fleming's director of wine, and features 30 wines for $10 or less (as of October 2010). A wine flight---a trio of two-ounce servings from the list of 100---allows you to experiment. The staff at Fleming's are masters at matching wine with the restaurant's signature dishes, so be sure to ask your server for recommendations. In fact, try a Discover Dinner, which is practically custom made for wine lovers. As of October 2010, choose from three four-course menu options ($75, $100 and $150); each course comes with a chef-approved wine pairing. One caveat: The Discover Dinner is served only to groups of six or more and must be reserved in advance.
  
  Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
  
  6333 North Scottsdale Road
  
  Scottsdale, AZ 85250
  
  480-596-8265
  
  flemingssteakhouse.com