Lonely Planet’s TOP 10 U.S. Destinations for 2013! Each year Lonely Planet’s U.S.based editors team up with their expert authors to gather a list of U.S. destinations that should be on everyone’s itinerary for next year. So where do you think they picked? Naturally the Verde Valley!
And one of the reasons they chose it is the Verde Valley Wine Trail. It is a wine growing region that shouldn’t be missed set among the lush and beautiful Red Rocks of the Verde Valley and Sedona. The area is home to four wineries and six tasting rooms. Each offers a variety of expertly crafted wines to delight any wine taster’s pallet.
Javelina Leap Vineyard and Winery in nearby Cornville offers tastings daily from 11am to 5 pm, and educational barrel cellar tours on Saturdays. Owners Rod and Cynthia Snapp make select handcrafted wines at this ten acre estate vineyard, most of which are released in November. Taste their “Zinthia” zinfandel or the award winning Estate Barbera.
Cornville is also home to Page Springs Cellars, a family owned winery and vineyard overlooking Oak Creek. The tasting room is open from 11am to 6pm daily, and picnic baskets are available to enjoy while watching wildlife by the creek. Page Springs Cellars specializes in Rhone style wines for all palates.
Oak Creek Vineyards is located in Cornville as well, with the tasting room open 7 days a week from 10am-6pm. Relax in their country setting with outstanding wines and excellent gourmet cheese plates. Their tasting room offers a large selection of wine related merchandise.
Just south of Sedona in Cottonwood, you’ll find Alcantara Vineyards, with 13,000 vines and 12 varietals in a spectacular Arizona setting overlooking the cliffs of the Verde River. Enjoy a relaxing and informative experience in the tasting room from 11am to 5pm daily, or delve deeper into winemaking education with a vineyard or winery tour. Here you can kayak to and from the winery as well! Just don’t get picked as the “DD.”
The tasting rooms are Jerome Winery, Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, Pillsbury Wine Company, Dionysian Cellars, The Wine Cellar, and Burning Tree Cellars. What better way to enjoy a day or two than touring the wineries and tasting rooms that make up this beautiful valley?
At El Portal Sedona Hotel we can help with reservations for wine tours, jeeps tours of Sedona, and more. Stay with us, your pet friendly Sedona hotel, and while you’re out touring the wineries we will pet sit your pup for free!
For your Sedona, AZ accommodations call El Portal at 1.800.313.0017.