Missing patio weather? And people? And wine tasting?
Less than two hours north of the Valley are several vineyards and tasting rooms, each with ample patio space to ensure socially distanced wine tasting as we all continue to navigate the new abnormal amid COVID-19.
Burning Tree Cellars
Cottonwood’s Main Street boasts several tasting rooms and restaurants—notably Pizzeria Bocce with two large patios and Merkin Osteria with some of the best homemade pasta in Arizona. While not all tasting rooms offer patios, those that have them certainly do it right. At Burning Tree, there is lush patio furniture one might expect at a friend’s fancy pool party rather than at a winery. Big, cushy and certainly distanced given its sheer size, tasting here is a treat right now. Its focus is offering several brands, but all are boutique, small-batch vineyards one would never find in a grocery or liquor store. It also always has games such as Card Against Humanity on hand for visitors. burningtreecellars.com
Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
From the front of this Cottonwood mainstay, it may not look to have enough space for an outdoor tasting of any kind. However, hidden behind the storefront and indoor options is the venue’s spectacular and well-shaded patio with games as well as page after page of flight options. There are sips exclusive to the tasting room as well as a full kitchen serving tapas, cheese plates, skewers—including duck, elk and bison options—and even desserts. azstronghold.com
Alcantara Vineyards
This family-owned vineyard—which is focused on sustainable farming and offers nearly 20 varietals for taste and purchase along with antipasto, cheese and sweets plates—not only boasts a massive deck overlooking the Verde River and its vines but kayak tours before tasting. Thanks to a partnership with Sedona Adventure Tours, groups of two to 10 can reserve this package in advance, which costs $108.50 per person on weekdays and $120 per person on weekends. After the tour, sit back and relax with a custom wine tasting on the patio, or use a $20 credit to buy a bottle, open and enjoy. alcantaravineyard.com
Clear Creek Vineyard & Winery
Located in Camp Verde, Clear Creek has the distinction the first Silver-Certified Arizona winey by the Sustainability Alliance. Featuring all estate wines, meaning all wines are made from grapes grown on the property, the winery offers tastings Wednesday to Sunday, and while reservations are not required, they are recommended to ensure outdoor seating with a view of the property’s pond and lush greenery. Gourmet picnic lunches and cheese boards are also available if reserved in advance. clearcreekwineryaz.com
Salt Mine Wine
Camp Verde also boasts this charming tasting room with patio. Salt Mine Wine is a boutique winery just east of the Verde Salt Mine, which is one of only three prehistoric salt mines in Northern Arizona. The family-owned operation specializes in growing Italian varietals such as malvasia bianca and sangiovese and offers wine tastings—reservations recommended—as well as bottle purchases. saltminewine.com
D.A.Ranch Lodge and Estate Vineyards
This boutique, family-owned estate vineyard has been producing wine since 2008, not too far from Page Springs and Javalina Leap (noted below). Varietals on the property include syrah, cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, tannat and seyval blanc, which is an emerging hybrid grape for white wine. The property itself will take your breath away, but be sure to make a reservation, as it has limited operations to ensure everyone’s safety is top of mind. daranch.com
Page Springs Cellars
A family-owned winery and vineyard tucked into the volcanic landscape overlooking pristine Oak Creek Canyon, Page Springs Cellars is just more than 90 minutes north of Phoenix and produces Rhone-style wines, working primarily with syrah, petite sirah, grenache and mourvedre. Beyond its indoor tasting room, the vineyard offers the option to enjoy wine on its front porch, which is outfitted with comfortable outdoor furniture and spaced to ensure social distancing, as well as an expansive back terrace. The terrace offers views of the entire vineyard as well as a walkway to enjoy wine closer to the actual vines. There are also Vitae Spirits craft rums, gins and liqueurs available to taste while there. pagespringscellars.com
Javelina Leap Winery
Just half a mile from Page Springs is Javelina Leap, which makes about 3,000 cases of estate-grown wine each year and is across the street from both a bird sanctuary (tip: bring your binoculars) and the State Fish Hatchery. The combination vineyard and winery is earning more and more accolades, which has—in turn—helped it expand the tasting room space in recent years. Of particular note are both its cozy indoor-outdoor bistro as well as the patio, which has a newly added cactus garden. As with Page Springs, there is a kitchen and chef on staff that delights in creating locally sourced small plates and entrees. javelinaleapwinery.com
Southwest Wine Center
Just 20 minutes west of Page Springs is the town of Clarkdale. And while small, the region is mighty when it comes to wine, thanks in great part to the Southwest Wine Center, which is home to Yavapai College’s Viticulture and Enology program. A full-scale winery and farm feature a 13-acre teaching vineyard where students of all ages take part in the ultimate hands-on approach to learning. But don’t worry; we aren’t suggesting you sign up for classes. Nestled into the vineyard is an opulent tasting room and patio, where wine tastings are available Saturday and Sunday by reservation. southwestwinecenter.com
Chateau Tumbleweed
Also open by reservation only Friday to Sunday each week this summer, fellow Clarkdale tasting room and patio Chateau Tumbleweed were born out of four friends’—all veterans of the Arizona wine industry—desire to build something from the ground up on their own. The friends source their grapes from both Verde Valley and Willcox, which are Arizona’s premiere wine-growing regions. The patio is safely socially distanced while still feeling intimate, with greenery and wildflowers circling the space and picnic tables throughout. There are red, white and rosè tasting, glass and bottle options, as well as great views around sunset. chateautumbleweed.com
