Vineyards in the Verde Valley
First stop: Sedona. Next stop: wine country. It’s a day trip to the Verde Valley–one of Arizona’s hidden gems.
Called Sedona Wine Tours, this guided trip calls out to those of you who love Sedona and love to visit vineyards but didn’t know you could have both on the same day. You can.
To play it safe–no drinking and driving–let Detours take you there.
Detours, a Phoenix-based tour guide company, created this trip to give guests the opportunity to safely explore Arizona’s rich wine region in the Verde Valley. Even with four wineries open, the tasting rooms are still relatively unknown. Tourists generally bypass the roads that would lead them there.
They may not turn onto Page Springs Road where they’d see Javalina Leap, Oak Creek, and Page Springs Cellars–all three very near the Page Springs Hatchery. And they’re likely to skip the turnoff to Alcantera Winery in Cottonwood. It’s off-the-beaten path, unless you’re headed to Out of Africa wildlife park, off of Hwy 260. Yet, each of these wineries serve unique tastes of their wines–some reds, some whites–most of which are pressed, fermented, aged and bottled on the premises.
Located where the Verde River and Oak Creek flow, you’ll see the vines–on the hillsides, in front yards, and deep in the valley below. It’s a serene setting for sipping. With many of the vines so new (under four years old), not all of the vineyards use their own grapes to make the wine just yet. The cabernet, chardonnay, pinot or zinfandel used now to make the wine may, in fact, be imported from California’s Paso Robles wine region–a favorite, it seems. But, soon, these wineries will be fully independent. Next year, Javalina Leap expects to see its first mature harvest.
You’ll learn about this and more as you visit with the owners. Page Springs even offers a tour of its winery as part of Detours’ program. It’s here, at picnic tables overlooking Oak Creek, where you may even enjoy your packed lunch, purchased at a Sedona deli. That’s included in the price of the all-day tour.
Here’s a list of my favorite tastes:
Javalina Leap: 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon III, just released in 2008. It’s a smooth cab with a nice finish, $50/bottle.
Oak Creek: 2006 Zinfandel. Spicy, it would pair well with Thai food, $26/bottle.
Page Springs: 2007 La Serrana. This viognier is crisp, not too sweet, $30/bottle.
Alcantera: 2005 Chaparral. The owner says it’s a customer favorite, and I’d say that’s because this syrah blend has a nice, fruity nose with a smooth taste that makes it great for sipping alone, $32.95/bottle.
If you go:
What: Sedona Wine Tours. When: Year-round. Where: Detours arranges pick up at a resort hotel. Cost: $170/person, minimum required.
For more information, call 866-438-6877 or visit www.detoursaz.com. Or ask your resort hotel concierge about this tour. Add-ons and private tours are also available.
(Photo of wine glass taken at Alcantera by Jackie Dishner, used with permission.)
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