Food & Beverage 20 25
thought about it and it just kind of rolled off the tongue a little bit easier. Then I realized calling it Mandy’s was the act of inviting the community into that inner circle.”
MANDY’S PERSONAL SELECTIONS Not sure what to eat when you stop by Mandy’s Wine Bar? Your server will make some delicious selections, but owner Amanda Atler shared some of her favorite wines and what to eat with them.
CaViola Barolo paired with Mandy’s Family Lasagna (pictured)
‘I’m meant to do this’
Albarino paired with Greek Orzo Salad
A year later, Atler said that despite challenges and tough days that often come with running her own business — and a restaurant at that — she knows she made the right choice. “I have never once woken up and thought, ‘Oh no, I made a mistake,’ or wished I was back in my old career. Not once. I know in my heart this is what I’m supposed to be doing,” she said. Feeling at home at the start of each workday certainly adds to that confidence, as does watching the wine bar grow to include a seasonal menu, a retail shop, live
Drylands Sauvignon Blanc paired with the Herb Crusted Cod or Mac n’ Cheese Stye Spanakopita
Amanda Atler, owner of Mandy’s Wine Bar, smiles with a glass of red Aug. 7.
That feeling every day of knowing that it’s up to me to be successful is what I wanted and craved in my previous career. This is how I know that I’m meant to do this,” she said. “That success is up to me, and I get to choose it. That’s really powerful.” That’s really powerful.”
tasting dinners. But just as important is her belief in Mandy’s success from day one. “I did the hard work and planning that took about five years prior to opening. I believed in myself from its conception and always stayed positive this will be a success.
have a neighborhood feel. “Originally, I was going to use the Italian last name in my family, Gravina. However, I didn’t want it to be seen as solely an Italian restaurant,” Atler said. It was a conversation with a childhood best friend that resulted in dubbing it Mandy’s. “I was chatting with my friend Stephen about the wine bar and the concept and the name, and he just said simply to me, ‘Why don’t you call it Mandy’s? That is you. You are Mandy at the core,’” she said. The name didn’t come to her at first because it was a childhood nickname that never quite went away. “Around second grade, I decided that my name was going to be Amanda. It was grown-up. But I still had this core group of family and friends who continued to call me Mandy,” she said. “I
experiences, traveling and education with wine, wanting to bring people together and solving a need for the community, is how the whole concept and idea of establishing a wine bar grew together.”
music and upcoming wine club events and
Local gem with global flavors
Atler envisioned bringing something to Maricopa that only existed in pieces: a full-service wine bar with an elevated atmosphere, where the community could gather for dates, work lunches or brunch with friends. Most of the details fell into place quickly — she selected a well thought out wine menu, crafted a Mediterranean inspired food menu, and designed décor inspired by her travels. When it came to naming the wine bar, she considered her family’s Italian last name but wanted the wine bar to
GLOBAL TASTES A trip around the world doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. The wine options from Mandy’s Wine Bar are sourced from 11 countries, including Argentina, South Africa and Portugal.
September 2025 | InMaricopa.com
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