Merkin Vineyards wine bar, a spinoff of the Verde Valley winery owned by rocker Maynard James Keenan and his partners, has opened in Old Town Scottsdale.
It takes over the original FnB space next to Drunk Munk tiki bar (formerly Cowboy Ciao) on the northeast corner of Stetson and Sixth Avenue.
The 75-seat wine bar focuses on food and drink produced in Arizona, including wines from Merkin Vineyards and Caduceus Cellars, also owned by Keenan, his wife Jennifer, and winemaker Tim White.
“In order to truly understand Arizona wines, we feel it is essential to visit these magical regions and experience them firsthand,†Keenan says.
“However, not every visitor to the greater Phoenix area has the extra time to visit these semi-remote areas. The Merkin Vineyards location in Old Town Scottsdale is meant to be an introduction to that magic.â€
Chef Dirk Flanigan’s vegetable-driven tapas menu relies heavily on Merkin Vineyards greenhouses tended by Keenan’s father, Mike, and Randee Larremore.
Merkins Vineyards wine bar is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a,m,-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
