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Travel the Northern Arizona Wine Trail
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The Verde Valley (Arizona wine country in the Sedona, Cottonwood red rock region) is not only one of the most beautiful regions of Arizona, it is an exceptional place to grow grapes and make delicious Arizona wine. This year the local vineyards produced a record harvest. Eric Gomski, Page Springs Cellars Owner & Winemaker says, "2009 is one of those rare vintages where everything was perfect: no rain, perfect temperatures, and no late season frost. The harvest was not only bountiful, but the character of the young wines indicates this year's grapes will produce one of the finest vintages ever."
Page Springs Cellars is one of four wineries with tasting rooms looking out on vineyards that are on the Verde Valley Wine Trail. The wine trail connects the dots between the communities of Cottonwood, Sedona, Camp Verde, and Jerome. The surroundings are rich red rock formations, desert foliage, lush canyon greenery, and the flowing water of the Verde River, Oak Creek, and Page Springs. Nestled here are four wineries: Alcantara Vineyards, Page Springs Cellars, Oak Creek Vineyards, & Javelina Leap Vineyards and two tasting rooms: Caduceus Cellars and the Jerome Winery. The wineries and area activities can be found at www.vvWineTrail.com
"We have visitors who love to come to the winery at this time of year to enjoy the fall weather, have a picnic on our lawn overlooking the vineyards, and sample the wine tastings" says Barbara Predmore, Owner of Alcantara Vineyards. "Alcantara, like the other Verde Valley wineries, are family farms in the best tradition of American agriculture. Our wineries connect consumers directly with winemakers and their staff who share a very personal passion for their unique jobs of hand-crafting wine...what could be more fun?"
The Wine Trail vineyards and wineries have matured over the past 9 years. Rod Snapp, Javelina Leap Winemaker, says "Surprisingly, Arizona's sunshine, heat, and the unique rocky soils of the Verde Valley are an excellent environment for growing grapes. The soils and stressful growing conditions force the vines to struggle to survive which causes the vines to put their energy into developing less abundant but higher quality, more intensely flavored fruit - just the characteristics the winemaker wants to craft great wine."
The Verde Valley, Arizona's wine country, is under-discovered but the people who have been to the region and tasted the wine it produces attest to its excellence - quite a few wines have won national awards for their quality. The wineries' offerings include Syrah, Petite Sirah, Viognier, Rousanne, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, just to name a few. Every winery has its own unique personality and distinct wines for visitors to discover at each stop along the Wine Trail. Every Tasting Room has a sampling menu that changes throughout the year as wines reach the proper age after maturing in barrels in the wineries' aging rooms. All of the Tasting Room menus can be viewed on the Wine Trail website.
For details on Arizona's Verde Valley Wine Trail visit www.vvwinetrail.com
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Verde Valley Wineries
Page Springs Cellars
(928) 639-3004
Tasting Room Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Tasting Price: $10.00
www.pagespringscellars.com
Javelina Leap Vineyards
(928) 649-2681
Tasting Room Hours: 11a.m. to 5p.m. daily
Tasting Price: $12.00
www.javelinaleapwinery.com
Oak Creek Vineyards
(928) 649- 0290
Tasting Room Hours: 11a.m. to 5p.m. daily
Tasting Price: $5.00
www.oakcreekvineyards.net
Alcantara Vineyards
(928) 649-8463
Tasting Room Hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Tasting Price: $10.00
www.alcantaravineyard.com
Caduceus Cellars
(928) 634-3444
Tasting Room Hours: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Sun-Thursday; 11:00 am - 8:00 pm Fri- Sat
Tasting Price: $5.00, or $9.00 for premium
www.caduceus.org
Jerome Winery
(928) 639-9067
Tasting Room Hours: Mon - Thurs, Sun 12-5 pm; Fri - 12-6 pm; Sat-11 am -6 pm
Tasting Price: $6.00
www.jeromewinery.com
Verde Valley Wine Trail is presented by Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce
(928) 634-7593
www.cottonwoodchamberaz.org
Verde Valley Wine Tours
Sedona Adventures offers three unique wine tours, each going to different wineries by water or land!
928-204-6440
www.sedonaadventuretours.com/sedona-wine-tours
Sedona Wine Country Tours offers five wine tours with opportunities for romance, wine tastings, vineyard tours, and group tours.
928-554-4072
www.sedona-tour-guide.com/sedona-wine-country-tours.html
Detours Wine Tours offers an all day tour that leaves from Phoenix/Scottsdale and guides you through the beautiful Sedona and Verde Valley landscape, provides lunch, and wine tastings at wineries.
1-866-438-6877
www.detoursaz.com/sedona-wine-tour-1.html
Grape Train Escapes runs in the summer months, but the Verde Canyon Railroad runs year round. It's is a train for all seasons, making each trip a new adventure.
1-800-582-7245
www.verdecanyonrr.com/summer.html
Verde Valley Wine Trail is presented by Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce
(928) 634-7593
www.visitcottonwoodaz.org
Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose - My friend Chris at Alcantara Vineyards
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