Verde Valley Wine Tours
Most visitors do not realise that Arizona produces serious wine, and that the heart of the state's wine scene sits thirty minutes south of Sedona in the Verde Valley. The corridor between Page Springs, Cornville, and Cottonwood is home to a dozen working vineyards growing Rhone and Italian varietals at elevation. Four of them are worth your day. Here they are.
The Verde Valley wine corridor
Drive south out of Sedona on SR-179 and exit east toward Page Springs and you are in Arizona\'s most established wine-growing region — the Verde Valley AVA, which spans Page Springs, Cornville, and the outskirts of Cottonwood. The river-corridor microclimate, the limestone soils, and the 3,500-foot elevation make for genuinely good wine. The Rhone varietals (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre) and the Italian varietals (Sangiovese, Montepulciano) do best; the local Chardonnay and Viognier are also worth trying.
The four estates to prioritise
Page Springs Cellars (1500 N Page Springs Rd, Cornville) — the anchor of the region. Eric Glomski\'s pioneering winery is the most polished tasting-room experience in the valley, with a creek-side patio, a serious food menu, and consistently the best wine flights of anyone nearby. Allow 90 minutes. This is the first stop.
Alcantara Vineyards (3445 S Grapevine Way, Cottonwood) — the largest planted acreage in Arizona, located at the confluence of the Verde River and Oak Creek. Beautiful site, family-friendly, with kayak rentals from the property in summer. The Italian-leaning wine list is excellent. Allow 75 minutes.
Javelina Leap Vineyards (1565 N Page Springs Rd, Cornville) — the small-batch craft winery on the same road as Page Springs, half a mile away. Tiny tasting room, often run by the family directly, and the wines (especially the Syrah and the dessert wines) punch well above the price point. Allow 45 minutes.
Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery (1555 N Page Springs Rd, Cornville) — across the street from Javelina Leap. The longest-running estate in the Page Springs cluster, with a casual covered patio and a focused tasting flight. Allow 45 minutes.
How to do a full day
Leave Sedona by 11 AM. Page Springs first (lunch on the creek-side patio at noon). Walk across to Javelina Leap and Oak Creek Vineyards for back-to-back short flights in the afternoon. Drive 20 minutes south to Alcantara for the final tasting and a sunset on the river. Be home in Sedona by 7 PM.
Designated driver / car service
Do not drive yourself. Four tasting flights and the Sedona switchbacks back home on SR-179 do not mix. Sedona Wine Tours, Phoenix-based Detour Wine Tours, and several Sedona-based shuttle operators run dedicated Verde Valley day-tours with a driver — typical cost is $150–$200 per person for the day including tasting fees and lunch. The math works out almost identical to driving yourself once you add up the fees and the meal, with the obvious safety upside.
What to bring
A sun hat (the Page Springs and Alcantara patios are exposed), water (the tasting flights are generous and the desert is dry), a light layer for after sunset, and a credit card. Most tasting rooms charge $15–$25 for a flight; many waive it with a bottle purchase.
For Visit Sedona\'s full Verde Valley wine country overview, see Visit Sedona\'s wine tasting guide. The Verde Valley Wine Trail association site maintains the current list of member wineries and seasonal hours.
Stay nearby
A wine day pairs well with a Sedona base — drive south for the day, come home to a hot tub. Browse our Sedona vacation rentals for a property with outdoor space and a soak for the evening.
