By Amy Chiplin, on February 25, 2020

The Top 15 Wineries in Sedona, AZ and the Verde Valley Wine Region

Sipping your way through the Sedona wine region

Sedona, Arizona, is an enchanting retreat in the desert where you’ll find plenty of exciting attractions to explore.

What is Sedona known for?

Aside from its famous red rock formations, spiritual vortexes, and incredibly scenic hikes, this area is also trendy for its wine.

While you won’t find Sedona wineries in the heart of the city, you will find some incredible local tasting rooms along with countless vineyards in the surrounding Verde Valley. Join an organized Sedona wine tour or sip your way through the region at your own pace. However you decide to explore this fantastic wine region, you’re in for a royal treat.

Sedona, Arizona

Though Sedona doesn’t have any vineyards of its own, it certainly makes up for it with its many tasting rooms. The local tasting rooms serve up different varietals from neighboring regions and all over the state.

Decanter Tasting Room

Girl wine tasting with red wine charcuterie plate and cheese board
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Decanter Tasting Room often showcases some of the finest Arizona wines, and it also celebrates varietals from all around the world. Located in the Village of Oak Creek, Decanter tasting room curates a new menu every month, highlighting wine from a specific region and pairing it with charcuterie and cheese boards. If you prefer to sip on something more local, Decanter offers a long list of Arizona reds and whites, from Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Page Springs, and beyond.

Sedona Tasting Room & Fine Art Gallery

Row of glasses of white wine Chardonnay ready for wine tasting
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Sip on the goods offered at The Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery in the Sedona Tasting Room & Fine Art Gallery. Flying Leap is a team of wine producers who grow in various locations of Arizona, producing Spanish, Italian, and French grapes. The Sedona tasting room is one of many in the Arizona area, which provides flights of red, white, and port-style wines. Get a taste of the local varieties and browse the showcase of artwork while you’re at it.

Winery 1912

Vineyard of rioja grapes growing for red wine
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Raise a glass of wine from a local vineyard and cheers when you visit Winery 1912. This tasting room in Sedona serves wine from their family-owned vineyard in nearby Willcox, specializing in Spanish varietals. Take your time sipping Cresta Roja, the Rioja style blend,  and don’t miss the opportunity to sample the Sonroja sweet rose. Between the tempranillo and pinot grigio blend, your taste buds are in for a treat.

Cottonwood, Arizona

Cottonwood, located just 19 miles from Sedona, is known as the heart of the Verde Valley Wine Trail. It’s here where you’ll find tasting rooms, wineries, and vineyards galore.

Burning Trees Cellars

Red wine poured into wine glass for wine tasting
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Make your way to Historic Downtown Cottonwood and relax with an award-winning glass of Arizona wine in hand. This inviting tasting room produces boutiques wines from vineyards all over the state. The current selection of wine includes grapes and dark fruits sourced from local vineyards, such as Deep Sky Vineyard, Colibri Vineyard, and House Mountain Vineyard, among many others. Sample the crisp and sweet Rose B 2018 and don’t miss The Lotus, a full-bodied red with hints of plum and dark chocolate.

Arizona Stronghold Tasting Room

Man opening bottle of wine to serve for wine tasting
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When it comes to sampling vino from the best Arizona wineries, make your way to Arizona Stronghold Tasting Room. Here you can order a flight and pair it with tapas, skewers, or even dessert. Go for the Dala Merlot or the 18 Mangus and save room for an elk skewer or the Brule’ cheesecake. For an evening well spent, go on a Friday night to enjoy live music with your local wine tasting.

Alcantara Vineyard

Friends cheersing with red wine at wine tasting in vineyard
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Alcantara Vineyard sits just outside Sedona, boasting more than 20,000 wines and 17 different varietals. The tasting room offers two kinds of flights, the regular tasting, which includes five tastings of your choice, and the VIP tasting, which features five tastings plus a souvenir glass for you take home. The vineyard also provides several snacks to pair with your wine, including cheese boards and hummus plates. Order a flight, enjoy a picnic with a view of the Verde River, and keep your eyes peeled for eagles flying overhead. Complete bliss.

Winery 101

Close-up man picking red wine grapes on vine in vineyard
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Venture over to Main Street in Downtown Cottonwood for a tasting at Winery 101. This family-run tasting room features wine from two Arizona cellars, Gallifant Cellars and Southpaw Cellars. They only purchase grapes from family-owned local vineyards throughout the Arizona area, which makes them as loyal as the fan base they’ve garnered. Order a red, white, or sweet flight and toast to good health and fortune. With bottles like Summer Sippin’ to Chillaxin’ Red, you can’t go wrong. 

Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room & Osteria

Gourmet sustainable food and red wine pairing for dinner
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Located 20 miles southwest of Sedona, Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room & Osteria is a must-visit spot for some legendary wine tasting. Osteria is an Italian word that refers to a gathering place for locals, and that’s just what this little haven offers. It serves up libations from Merkin Vineyards & Caduceus Cellars, which produce mostly Spanish and Italian varieties. You can also order sustainable cuisine, sourced from local pastures and farms, the perfect way to get to know Arizona’s best fine wine and dine options.

Pillsbury Wine Company

Variety of wine bottles displayed for wine tasting
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Pillsbury Wine Company features award-winning wine. At the 2019 San Francisco Chronicles Awards, they entered 14 wines and came out with 14 medals, including a “Best of Class” award. Pack a picnic and pair it with a flight at this lovely tasting room. Here you can eat lunch among the pecan trees and pines on the vineyard’s property while soaking in the sunshine and views of the valley. Or, if it’s chilly outside, warm up with a glass of wine next to a wood fire burning in their Franklin stove tasting room. For the liveliest atmosphere, visit on a Saturday when local musicians take the stage.

Cornville, Arizona

Cornville is just five miles east of Cottonwood, making it an equally enticing destination for wine tasting. Tack this spot onto your wine itinerary—you won’t be disappointed.

Javelina Leap Vineyard, Winery & Bistro

Two glasses filled with wine placed on the wooden table in front of the shelves with wine bottles
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Looking for a taste of vino from the Verde Valley Wine Trail? Make a pit stop at Javelina Leap Vineyard, a family-run establishment that produces award-winning boutique wines. Considered the most extensive wine tasting bar in northern Arizona, it serves an excellent selection of reds, wines, and blends, along with bistro cuisine. Visit during the harvest season between August and October to witness the wine being made on-site, or join a private wine tour to learn about the entire grape growing journey—from the vine to the cork.

Page Spring Cellars

Wine barrels in wine cellar
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When it comes to joining a Sedona wine tour, you’ll undoubtedly want to put Page Springs Cellars on your itinerary. Here you can toast with wine from local vineyards, including Page Springs Home Vineyard, House Mountain Vineyard, Dos Padres Vineyard, and Colibri Vineyard. In addition to serving the most excellent wines, the tasting room also features a gallery with the work of local artists and weekly live music performances. What’s more, you can join an Estate Winery Tour or a House Mountain Vineyard Tour, where you can learn all the ins-and-outs of the winemaking process.

Oak Creek Vineyards

Wine tasting in vineyard with a set of glasses of red, white and rose wine
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In the mood for a peaceful and relaxing afternoon? Mosey over to Oak Creek Vineyards, where you can unwind with a glass of local vino and enjoy sweeping views of the grapevines. This enchanting vineyard welcomes you to pair your choice of wine with gourmet selections such as cheese boards and chocolate plates. They even host Vino Happy Hours every Friday and Saturday evenings with flights for just $5! All the current wine selections are from neighboring Willcox and Cornville, so you know you’re sipping on some local goodness.

D.A.Ranch

Woman drinking wine in vineyard at wine tasting
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Though D.A.Ranch is only open for wine tasting on select days, you don’t want to miss an opportunity to try their 100% estate-grown wines. Check out their wine tasting schedule for the chance to indulge in their Tannat, Seyval Blanc, and Syrah varietals, among many others. This inviting spot currently serves exquisite selections, including Red Barn Red, Mae Rose, and Willow White, and a variation of reserves.

Carlson Creek Tasting Room

Reflection of the arizona sunset in a glass of white wine
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The Carlson Creek Winery and vineyards, located in Willcox, AZ, have two more tasting rooms in Arizona, one of which is conveniently in Cottonwood. Here, you can say cheers with your choice of varietal and take your pick from a whole host of options, including Syrah, Riesling, Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon. To order up the end to a perfect day touring Sedona wineries, check out the Carlson Creek calendar for live music performances. You can plan this one as your last stop. And after the show, belly up to the custom barrel stave bar. You won’t be disappointed.

In addition to these must-visit tasting rooms, you can find more of the best wineries in nearby Arizona cities, including Jerome, Clarkdale, and Page Springs. Channel your inner connoisseur and begin mapping out your Sedona wine adventures today!

Savvy sippers hoping to uncork and unwind during their magical Sedona vacation are sure to book one of the nearby hotels in Sedona. Whether you’re looking for an upscale luxury oasis or a more budget-friendly option, you can always find the right place for you by browsing our list of winery hotels in Sedona. You’ll be near the tasting action while also getting the full experience of drinking in the desert. With a convenient home base, you can leisurely visit all the top spots on your itinerary. We recommend choosing a tour where you’ll not only get a fine-wine education and fun experience, but you’ll also get transportation to and from the stops along the way. However, if you don’t plan on booking a tour, be sure to travel safely with ride-sharing services or a designated driver.

And if you’re planning a vino adventure through Sedona, Arizona, you might also want to learn about how to tour some of the most prestigious wine regions in the US.  For more inspo, see our guides for how to find cheap wine tasting in Napa, find your favorite Atlantic City winery, and even attend the famous Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival like a connoisseur.

 

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