Arizona Wine Country: All-Inclusive Winery Tour with Lunch

Summary

Arizona vineyards day tour with tastings lunch and countryside drive

You’ll ride through Arizona’s winding wine country with a small group, tasting local wines at three different vineyards and sharing stories over a fresh lunch. A local guide handles all the driving (and jokes), so you can relax into the scenery—and maybe discover your new favorite bottle along the way.

What’s the experience like?

“You ever tasted a wine that smells like desert rain?” That’s what our guide, Jamie, asked as we rolled up to the first stop—Page Springs Cellars. I’d barely finished my coffee when the van pulled away from Cottonwood, but the air already felt warmer out here, full of sagebrush and that dry river smell you get in Arizona. There were six of us in the group—one couple from Phoenix who kept making each other laugh about their “fancy” palates, and a pair of sisters celebrating something (they never said what). Jamie handed out snacks and water while pointing out red rock cliffs I’d never noticed on my own drives.

The first pour was cold against my hand—Chardonnay, I think—and we sat out on a patio where you could hear cicadas buzzing under the vines. Someone nearby was playing old country music on their phone. Lunch came later at D.A. Ranch: sandwiches piled high with roast turkey and this herby aioli I tried to recreate at home (no luck yet). The winemaker stopped by to chat about last year’s monsoon season—apparently it changes everything about the grapes. I liked that he didn’t rush off; he even let us peek into the barrel room, which smelled like wet oak and something sweet I couldn’t place.

I didn’t expect to learn so much about Arizona wine—honestly, I just wanted a nice day trip from Sedona or Flagstaff—but by the time we hit Cove Mesa for our last tasting flight, I was asking questions about malvasia grapes like some kind of expert. The sun started dipping low over the hills, making everyone look a little golden and tired in a good way. Jamie had us back in Cottonwood by late afternoon, still laughing about how none of us could pronounce “Javelina Leap” right (Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin—probably butchered it).

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit three Arizona wineries

• Pickup from Sedona
• Travel through countryside
• Visit first vineyard
• Enjoy wine flight on patio
• Visit Cove Mesa Vineyards
• Have made-to-order lunch
• Return home safely

Top questions

How many wineries do you visit on this Arizona winery tour?

This tour visits three different wineries in Arizona wine country.

Is lunch included during the winery tour?

Yes, a made-to-order lunch is included as part of your day.

Does this Arizona wine tour include pickup?

Yes, complimentary pickup service is provided at the start of your experience.

What kind of wines are tasted on this tour?

You’ll taste 5-6 wines per vineyard, including local varietals unique to Arizona.

Are snacks or drinks provided during transportation?

Bottled water and snacks are provided onboard between stops.

Can you request specific wineries to visit?

You can call ahead to request stops at particular vineyards if desired.

Is this winery tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels but not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

Your day includes complimentary pickup service, comfortable air-conditioned transport between three top Arizona wineries, 5-6 tastings per vineyard, bottled water and snacks throughout the journey, plus a freshly prepared lunch before returning safely in the afternoon.