Stellar food? Check. An extensive wine program that includes the nation’s largest wine club? Check. A taste of home for the largest population of Chicago natives outside of the Windy City? Check.
This triple threat has proven to be an immediate hit for Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, the beloved Illinois-based chain that brought its tried-and-true culinary menu and expansive wine offerings to the desert last December.
Selecting Scottsdale as the city for Cooper’s Hawk was not a coincidence for the Chicago-based hospitality group.
“So many people have migrated here from Chicago, and it’s a great culinary community known for its fine dining, beautiful weather, and scenic surroundings,” says Area Culinary Operations Manager Edmund Vogel, who oversees several of Cooper’s Hawk regional restaurants, including Scottsdale.
Like its others in the Cooper’s Hawk family, the Scottsdale restaurant—located near the corner of Scottsdale Road and Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard—seats about 380, guests with a patio that accommodates more than 100. Although, the company is adhering to the state’s current guidelines so those capacities will not be reached for now.
The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired architectural design that flaunts a multi-tiered exterior and an interior enhanced by furnishings and color schemes in desert region shades, however, were created to give it a distinctive Southwest touch.
The modern casual dining space exudes a warm hospitality vibe in an inviting upscale setting. The contemporary American menu highlights dishes infused with flavors from around the world that are made fresh in the from-scratch kitchen and incorporate peak-of-season ingredients.
The Napa-style tasting room embraces the legendary American wine region while providing patrons the opportunity to explore and expand their palates. Guests can browse the inventory and purchase items like high-end decanters, wine accessories, and gifts to continue the experience at home or share it with friends.
The Cooper’s Hawk Winery sources its fruit from across the globe, spanning Napa Cabs to Tempranillo from Spain. The wine is produced in its Woodridge, Illinois, facility.
Wine enthusiasts will have the chance to join the 450,000-member wine club, which comes with a bevy of perks like prix-fixe menus composed to accompany wines developed monthly exclusively for members; curated trips to the Napa Valley and wine regions in France; and other events, deals, and rewards.
Arizona patrons have embraced the winery’s big and bold reds, like its Cabernet-Zinfandel blend, which is aged in American oak, giving it a bolder classic palate and mouth feel that plays perfectly with steak and short rib plates.
“We’re a lifestyle brand centered on wine and memories with wine and food,” Vogel says.
A menu that features a recommended wine pairing with each dish and—for those who wish to do some tastings before dinner—an easy guide to what appetizer or main course would partner well with their Cooper’s Hawk wine of choice, are part of that recipe.
“Our concept is a fusion of familiar elements,” Vogel says. “But what sets us apart is how we made wine and food approachable for everyone.” CHWinery.com
