Fine-dining Italian restaurant Marcellino Ristorante recently received a highly coveted “Award of Excellence,” bestowed by Wine Spectator. The award is given to restaurants that offer thoughtfully chosen wine lists, containing both quality and diverse selections that are compatible with the menu’s styling and pricing.
The restaurant’s beverage program is directed by chef/owner Marcellino Verzino, whose passion for creating a memorable meal and dining experience extends to finding the perfect wine pairing for his scratch-made dishes. He takes great care in accumulating and presenting a wide range of Italian varietals, as well as a few selections from Champagne. The wine list highlights Amarone, Barolo, Brunello, and Super Tuscans. Marcellino Ristorante’s wine menu and reserve lists feature over 100 selections, in addition to a super exclusive “Secret Cellar” menu. This ultra-reserve list features a collection of rare wines that Chef Marcellino has been accumulating for the past 20 years.
This is the first year Marcellino Ristorante applied for the award.
“We serve a discerning clientele that appreciates the finest cuisine and wine,” he says. “Proudly displaying the Wine Spectator ‘Award of Excellence’ will provide our guests an even greater confidence that our wine program is meticulously curated.”
Guests are also given the opportunity to learn more about wine through regularly scheduled wine dinners, which are multi-course meals matched with the perfect wine pairings.
7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85251; open for dinner Tues.-Sat. beginning at 4 p.m.
(The restaurant will be closed for a brief summer break beginning July 16 and reopening Aug. 3.)

Courtesy Marcellino Ristorante