These 8 Beautiful Wineries In Arizona Are A Must-Visit For Everyone
If you think Napa Valley is the only location for a delicious glass of American wine, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that Arizona has more than 80 licensed wineries according to the Arizona Wine Growers Association. A majority of these are located on one of three wine trails: Verde Valley, Sonoita, and Willcox. Others are scattered throughout the state in the Phoenix-metro area and other locations.
Here are a few wineries you can visit that have produced some top notch wines in Arizona.
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Wine Spectator gave this winery’s 2010 syrah an "outstanding" nomination in 2013. Several of their other wines have earned similar rankings from the lifestyle magazine and other competitions. You can visit their tasting room daily starting at 12:00pm and live music is available on Friday and Saturday nights.
A staple in the Arizona wine industry, these folks have been bottling wines since 1991 and have won numerous awards for their wine. They are open weekends (Friday through Sunday) from 11:00am to 3:00pm for tours and tastings.
A wine tasting at the vineyard.
In 2013, both the sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc from this winery won top distinctions from AZ Wine Lifestyle. This year they were nominated for Best Arizona Winery by Ranking Arizona. Their tasting room is located along the Willcox wine trail and is open from 11:00am to 5:00pm Thursdays through Sundays.
Harvesting grapes.
More award-winning wine found here, including their 2012 riesling. Visit the tasting room and vineyard on Mondays through Saturdays from 9:30am to 5:30pm, and Sundays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
A sampling of the tasty treats to enjoy with your wine.
Last year, three of this vineyard’s wines won awards, including the People’s Choice Award at the Valley Wine Symposium for their zinfandel. They are open daily from 11:00am to 5:00pm, and until 6:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Plus, if you visit between August and October, you can see their wine-making process!
Located in a small community near Cottonwood, the Page Springs Cellars 2010 Syrah was awarded 90 out 100 points from Wine Spectator in 2013. Their tasting room is open daily from 11:00am to 7:00pm, plus a couple extra hours in the evenings Thursdays through Sundays. They also provide tours of their vineyards and facilities at select times on the weekends.
Plus, take a look at how their tasting room has changed over the years!
Last year, the Arizona Republic’s Wine Competition listed the 2013 Passion Cellars Pinot Grigio as the first place winner in that category. You can try out this and their other wines when you visit their Jerome location daily from 11:00am to 6:00pm. Or if you are looking for a quieter, more intimate experience, check out their Willcox location which requires reservations.
Another Arizona wine staple, Sonoita Vineyards has been operating in the state since 1983, making it the first winery here. Since then, they have produced some highly acclaimed wines. You can visit their winery daily from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
What wineries have you visited? Let us know which ones you would recommend to your fellow Arizonans!
