Tinajas Wine and Beer
Welcome to Tinajas Wine and Beer — a space where the rich heritage of Mexican Art Deco design meets the spirit of modern wine and craft beer culture. Every interior detail was carefully curated to create a warm, vibrant atmosphere that feels both timeless and unforgettable.
Hidden throughout Tinajas are a series of "secreto" design elements — secret features crafted to enhance the wine tasting experience. From concealed bottle displays and private tasting alcoves to architectural surprises tucked into the walls and fixtures, each discovery invites guests deeper into the story of Tinajas. These intimate, playful details were designed to create a sense of wonder and make every visit a new adventure.
Beautiful Wine Storage Makes and Entrance
secreto #1
In the entry area of the wine tasting room, we used the waste cuts from the large tile pattern to create the triangle and diamond pattern to continue the geometry used in Mexican Art Deco Style Design.
Setting the bar
secreto #2
The bar header was a structural challenge for Reliance Construction to provide support for. It was designed to look like it was floating but if you happen to sit and the bar and look up, you can see a continuous hidden soffit for a decorative display of previously enjoyed wine bottles.
secreto #3
Intrepid wanted to introduce a concept connecting the sommelier and the guest from the very early stages of the project. By creating an 8” step down behind the bar, the patron and bartender can communicate eye to eye. This brings a sense of connectedness but also allows for the use of counter height bar stools, making it more comfortable to sip and taste longer. This is Tucson’s only sunken bar.
secreto #4
The padding on the front of the bar serves as both a way to keep the guests from hitting their knees or damaging the bar, but also baffles sound so that your intimate conversation over a glass of sauvignon isn’t over heard.
secreto #5
Intrepid included brass and gold metal accents to incorporate the art deco feel, but we chose to include a copper coffered ceiling and the bar header to honor the location of the bar in the copper state.
secreto #6
Intrepid is all about providing spaces that have low or no maintenance. The back-lit eight-foot-wide by five-foot-tall water feature was handcrafted in San Diego, California, and installed with a proprietary water substance that does not need maintenance for years, even in an arid climate.
Lounge Area
secreto #7
Comfort is key when enjoying a wine tasting. These fabulous chairs not only envelop you, they also provide a discreet space for ADA accessibility, making the space more inclusive.
Banquette Seating
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Whether you are a party of two or with a large group, the curvilinear banquette seating accommodates both while providing a sense of connectedness to your neighbor.
secreto #9
Sometimes, texture is all you need. Intrepid was inspired to create the unique drywall texture behind the banquets when visiting Los Angeles for a design event. There was a space that looked as though they forgot to finish the walls but the subtle texture created a place for your eye to rest as it does here in the wine tasting room.
Custom Tables
secreto #10
The ultimate secreto found at Tinajas is the custom-designed and Colorado Springs manufactured walnut tables. The tables have a secret compartment at the top to hold the wine chillers, creating less clutter and immersing you into the experience. The tables also have a magnetic spot under the front of the table that holds the lid of this compartment when it is in use.
something cool
secreto #11
The glass wine storage room in Tinajas is temperature-controlled by units in the ceiling above, making the space a fully stocked and functional storage room. The undercounter storage includes wine lockers that can be used by wine club members.
secreto #12
Since the meaning of Tinajas translates to watering hole, the arched wallcovering in the wine storage and restroom hallway was chosen to look like beads of water on the ceiling. The wallcovering was hand-beaded with thousands of tiny glass orbs and then installed by two installers because it is so heavy. Even the exit lights in the hallway have a Art Deco feel and were made in Port Townsend, Washington.
Best Bathroom in Tucson
secreto #13
Named best bathroom in Tucson by Tucson Foodie the bathrooms include a multitude of features inside and out. The lights around the arched doors light up only when the bathroom is in use. No need to stand in line and take time away from tasting.
secreto #14
This interior mural wallpaper that was custom-sized and manufactured in Spain, invites you into the well-lit bathroom once you unlatch the green marble door handle. The idea is that you are walking outside onto a terrace. Even the light fixture was chosen to look like art deco rays of sunshine.
secreto #15
This bathroom also boasts Toto self-cleaning toilets. The lids even open when you approach, making these barrier-free for ADA guests, but also just seem happy to see you. They self-clean between each guest, making sure that the bathroom is always ready and alleviating the need for staff to constantly check the bathrooms for cleanliness.