Posted by: Lori Reinhold

Many visitors to Sedona are surprised to learn that the region is an up-and-coming wine destination. The Verde Valley’s rocky, dry terrain produces highly concentrated juice with complex and distinctive flavors. The drainage from the Verde River combines with the rich volcanic soil to make a distinctive class of wines quickly gaining both national and international prominence. The best way to explore Northern Arizona’s amazing wines is to hit the Verde Valley Wine Trail. The trail passes through Sedona, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, and Page Springs, encompassing some of the finest wineries and vineyards in the state. Each winery has its own unique character and produces delicious, one-of-a-kind wines unlike anywhere else on the planet. The wine trail is sponsored by the Verde Valley Wine Consortium. Download a passport on their website and get it stamped at every winery you visit. You can also download the wine trail map to plan your journey.

Start in Sedona with Flying Leap, a fine art gallery and tasting room located just ten minutes from the Alma de Sedona Inn. This lovely winery estate features a world-class distillery, barrel house, and tasting room along with a spacious area for art shows and private events. Flying Leap grows a wide range of French, Spanish, and Italian grapes in their vineyards. From there, head to Javelina Leap, a family-operated boutique winery specializing in 100% Arizona wines. During the harvest season (August to October), they process 40 to 60 tons of Arizona grapes, or roughly 2,500-3,000 cases. At their Sedona tasting room, you can sample their delicious wines while soaking in those marvelous views.

Looking for a winery you can visit with your dog? Oak Creek Vineyards in Page Springs is a pet-friendly boutique winery known from their crisp, clean whites and smooth, full-bodied reds. Visitors love to relax with wine and a snack in their garden overlooking the vineyards growing Chardonnay, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Zinfandel. It is located just 20 minutes from Sedona. Page Spring Cellars strives to produce wines that reflect the unique character of the Arizona landscape. Their goal is to take the snobbery out of wine tasting and spread a knowledge and enthusiasm for wines to all people. This is the perfect winery for the wine lover who doesn’t know much about “tannins” and “flavor profiles.”

In Camp Verde, you’ll find Salt Mine Wine, a thriving family-owned winery nestled among pecan groves and rolling pastures near the banks of the Verde River. The Norton family lives on site, ensuring that they are intimately involved with all aspects of the wine making process, from production to harvest to bottling. They specialize in Italian varietals such as Malvasia Bianca and Sangiovese. Also in Camp Verde is Alcantara Vineyards and Winery, a large winery in the foothills of the Verde Valley with over 13,000 vines and 12 different varietals. Their tasting room is open from 11 am until 5 pm and offers two different tasting options: Regular and V.I.P. They also serve amazing antipasti and cheese plates.

Chateau Tumbleweed in Clarkdale was formed by a group of four friends who quit their day jobs to dedicate themselves to selling fun and funky wines in the Verde Valley. Continue your journey onto Jerome for other world-class wineries and tasting rooms like Caduceus Cellars, Four Eight Wineworks, Cellar 433, and more. And remember, the Alma de Sedona Inn in Sedona is the perfect homebase during your wine tasting adventures.

Planning a trip to Sedona, Arizona? Book a stay at the Alma de Sedona Inn for warm service and unbeatable red rock views!