Sunshine Wine officially opens Wednesday, June 11, at 15 N. Santa Rita Ave. on Tucson’s Sunshine Mile. The bungalow-style wine bar blends intimate hospitality with curated wines, draft cocktails, and local-centric small plates.
Inside the cozy adobe bungalow, warm wood floors and soft lighting invite guests to linger. A central bar anchors the space, surrounded by shelves stocked with unique bottles, making it easy to sip and shop. The staff pours with ease behind a sleek counter, adding a vibrant hum to the compact interior.
In the adjoining dining room, original artwork and windows lend light to quiet tables tucked away for conversation. Outside, a lush patio with yellow umbrellas, herb gardens, and a firepit welcomes sunset sips and neighborhood hangs. The space offers both lively communal energy and serene corners for slower-paced evenings.
A Bottle Shop and Sip-Spot in One
Patrons can enjoy curated wines by the glass or purchase bottles to-go. The wine list includes Old World Rieslings, Grüner Veltliner, natural Syrahs, and domestic standouts like Dr. Konstantin Frank and Fogscape Vineyards. Among the menu Spritzes, the options including refreshing melon and grapefruit variations alongside the berry-forward Pasubio Spritz.
Beyond wine, the bar offers draft cocktails such as a smoky mezcal Negroni, cucumber-forward Aloe Me, and house Sunshine Sour with bourbon, peach, saffron, and bitters. A tight beer list features local favorites like Dragoon IPA and Pueblo Vida Cereus along the classic Weihenstephaner Helles Lager and other regional brews. For non-drinkers, mocktails like the St. Agrestis Phony Negroni and Parch Spirits Co. Desert Margarita keep things festive.
Seasonal Small Plates Made to Pair
The kitchen turns out a focused menu of snacks and shareables ideal for pairing. Expect creative salads like Little Gem with miso dressing and Shaved Veg with cucumber and chili crisp. Tartines, house pickles, and olives aguachile round out lighter bites.
Heartier plates include goat cheese-stuffed Gilda skewers, house-made gougères with chive and Dijon, and barbacoa beets with feta and pepita dukkah. Local produce features prominently — including squash with ricotta and chamomile oil. Desserts like roasted wheat ice cream or sugar-preserved mulberry sherbet end the evening on a sweet note.
Plan Your Visit
Sunshine Wine opens its doors from 4–9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4–10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 4–9 p.m. Sundays. Whether you’re picking up a bottle, sharing a tartine, or enjoying a sunset spritz on the patio, Sunshine Wine brings a warm new glow to the Sunshine Mile.
Sunshine Wine is located at 15 N. Santa Rita Ave. For more information, visit thetapandbottle.com/sunshine-wine and keep up with Sunshine Wine on Instagram.
Article written by:
Jackie Tran
More about JackieJackie Tran is a Tucson-based food writer, photographer, culinary educator, and owner-chef of the now-closed food truck Tran’s Fats. Although he is best known locally for his work for Tucson Foodie, his work has also appeared in publications such as Bon Appétit, National Geographic, and the New York Times.
An adventurous foodie, he enjoys culinary experiences ranging from seasonal omakase to sloppily devouring green chili patty melts in his car afterhours. His favorite foods include aguachile, garlic noodles, and leftover fried chicken illuminated by the fridge light. His favorite drinks include morning micheladas, fireside imperial stouts, candle-lit negroni, and grassy mezcales.
Outside of food, he also loves playing musical instruments, karaoke, Tetris, Super Smash Bros. Melee, and petting Addie’s dog Spaghetti.
If you’d like to stalk him, visit his Instagram @jackie_tran_ or jackietran.com.
