Verde Valley Wineries

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Tucked in the middle of Cottonwood and near Sedona, AZ, are several wineries and vineyards.  I just recently took a girls trip to that area for wine tasting.  We had a great time and even bought a bottle or two of our favorites.  Even though there are numerous wineries in the area, these are the four we went to.

Alcantara Vineyards
This place was gorgeous.  From the back patio and lawn we were presented with the vineyards with many rows of covered grapes.  Behind the vineyards are breathtaking views of the mountains.  This was our first stop and well worth the visit.  This vineyard is the initial winery located along the Verde River.  It is the most prevalent winery located in central and northern Arizona.  Opened every day from 11am to 5pm, they provide excursions around the property on Friday and Saturday mornings.  For $10 or $15 for VIP’s, you are treated to 5 tastings.  Also included in the price is the 12.75 oz. crystal glass with the logo on it.  Their Moscato is the best I have ever had.





Arizona Stronghold
The Arizona Stronghold can be found in old town Cottonwood.  In this place, we stood at the bar.  Surrounding the bar is a large display of their wines, homemade chocolates and other unique treats or items.  To the side are tables and couches to make you comfortable when enjoying the wines.  Their wines are “Redefining the Desert with High Elevation Wine.”  They offer free Wi-Fi and open their doors at noon, 7 days a week.



Burning Tree Cellars
Also found in down town Cottonwood, the Burning Tree Cellars is large inside with tables, chairs and couches.  The bar is located in the back and near the huge table we sat at for our tasting.  For $10, we were treated to delicious white wines which were to our choosing.  On their Facebook page, they refer to themselves as “A small boutique winery“.  They focus on more diminutive size batches which are painstakingly preserved with the highest standard of fruit offering you the best wines you ever tasted. 


Page Springs Cellars
This winery was the last on our stop before heading out to Sedona and is located in Cornville.  When we walked in the front door, we had to put our names on a list as if we were waiting for dinner.  The wait wasn’t too long and before we know it, we were sitting in a comfortable area by ourselves and tasting wine.  This vineyard is located next to Oak Creek and 15 minutes south of Sedona, with amazing views of the rocky countryside.  They have a wide selection of wines including their most noted Rhone style wines.  If you are hungry, they offer gourmet food and treats.   After eating and wine tasting, you can hit the gift shop and then walk down to the creek on their magnificent vine-covered path.  They also offer a large patio to relax and enjoy all the critters that roam the area.




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