By Tara Fort
Wine: Vino Wine Bar
For the Love of Wine
A Refreshing New Hot Spot for Wine Lovers on Prescott’s South Side
Located in the remodeled restaurant portion of the Prescott Pines Inn, Vino Wine Bar has enjoyed instant popularity from the get-go, servicing visitors, tourists, and long-time residents of Prescott since opening in 2023.
Owner Sara Medina was inspired to open Vino in to nurture her love of wine. She also wanted to foster her education about wine and vineyards after visits to the Sonoita/Elgin region in Southern Arizona, where she experienced the variety of vineyards and new wineries that have broken ground there over recent years.
Sara, who moved to Prescott from Gilbert in 2021, is currently participating in the Viticulture and Enology program at Yavapai College Clarkdale, with “the ultimate goal of making my own wine and having a tasting room in Arizona.”
With wine and food specials Wednesday through Sunday, Vino changes it up by offering food and wine pairing events and Paint and Sip Nights. Here, Sara said, “Guests can come with friends and chat, enjoy wine, and get creative with their canvases.”
Offering an outdoor patio nestled under the pines, Vino boasts many upcoming summer events as the weather warms up including yoga classes, live music, and expanded wine dinners. Vino’s menu features a variety of flatbreads, charcuterie boards, special fondue nights, and an expansive selection of different wines presented by servers who provide knowledge and samples to ensure every guest remains comfortable and curious with their wine tasting ventures. You won’t want to miss checking out this new gem close to the pines in Prescott.
For more info about Vino, sign up for the newsletter at www.vinowine.bar, or stop by for appetizers, wine or both on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. Vino is at 901 White Spar Rd. in Prescott.
Dine: BiGA
Fresh. Modern. Local.
From Pop-Up to Full Dining Brick and Mortar
Owning a restaurant has always been a goal of Chef John Panza, so when he and Cassie Hankison found each other in Prescott, they started Senses, LLC in 2017 as a pop-up dining and catering company. Without a permanent location, the duo often used the BiGA restaurant on Miller Valley as one of their venues. Cassie said, “As we started to know the owners better while working at the restaurant full time, the opportunity for us to buy the restaurant presented itself and we jumped at the chance. We were so excited to have a brick-and-mortar business instead of setting up satellite kitchens everywhere we went!”
Since then, BiGA has expanded its offerings through special events including wine pairing dinners, sourdough painting lunches, distillers’ and brewers’ dinners, special/seasonal menus, and crafted cocktails from its full bar.
Cassie added, “We always recommend our guests try the specials, where Chef John shows off his technical skills and showcases seasonal ingredients from around the Farmers Market, which we love to support through its annual fundraising dinner and the Chef in Action program.”
With the warmer weather, BiGA’s patio for al fresco dining highlights an area where pets are welcome.
While running a successful restaurant is a full-time job, plus many extended hours, both John and Cassie have found satisfaction in their titles as second-degree brown belts in Fundamental Martial Arts. Be sure to stop by BiGA and ask about their journey and what’s in store for the future.
For more information, visit for lunch or dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. BiGA is at 623 Miller Valley Rd. in Prescott.