Yes Virginia, they make wine in Arizona. Pretty good wine. I have watched the industry grow over the years from a novelty to a fun fact, but now they are actually kicking butt and starting something pretty cool. The city of Cottonwood, AZ has set up several wine tasting rooms in their old downtown and are inviting us city folk to partake. It is very similar to Murphys, CA for those reading my blog.
The first stop on the Verde Valley Wine Trail was Page Springs Cellars. Yes, they have a spring. They even bottle it and serve it in the tasting room! Delicious wine grown mostly in Southern Arizona. Most of the best regions for growing wine are in Southern Arizona, but those regions are very far from most tourist destinations. These wineries are close to Sedona in Northern Arizona with more visitors. I also stopped at Javelina Leap Winery across the street which was also pretty nice, although the lack of leaping javelina was a minus.
Downtown Cottonwood is where to find the action, so to speak. Before my sickness started rearing its ugly head, I had time to drive through and taste some wine. Several wineries are downtown including Arizona Stronghold and Pillsbury. The tasting rooms are very approachable and friendly. The downtown is also very nice with cool boutiques and little cafes all along the street. It is a perfect day trip from Phoenix or a worthy stop along a Northern Arizona vacation. The drive through the Verde Valley is especially nice anytime of the year.
Wine in the desert? Not really the "desert" but yes, it is Arizona wine. The soil conditions are similar to other famous regions and the hot days and cold nights really stresses the grape to make for high quality wine. Plus, it is always a good idea to help support local businesses, especially those making tasty adult beverages! Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.
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