Visit 4 Award Winning Vineyards from Scottsdale, Includes Lunch!

Arizona wine country makes a fine day trip. This nine-hour outing from Scottsdale pairs four Verde Valley wineries with scenic vineyard stops, a picnic lunch, and air-conditioned transportation, giving you an easy way to sample a part of Arizona many visitors miss. I like the range of settings, from riverfront Alcantara Vineyards to the Page Springs wineries, and I like that lunch is handled for you.

The main catch is cost clarity. Wine tastings are not included in the $150 price, though discounts are offered at select wineries. The provider also says four wineries may be visited, but only three are guaranteed, so you should book this for the full wine-country day rather than for a promise of four pours.

Key points to know before booking

• Four possible winery stops: Alcantara Vineyards, Javelina Leap Vineyard, DA Ranch, and Oak Creek Vineyards are included in the planned route.
• A picnic lunch is included: Expect artisan cheeses, salami, fresh fruit, chocolates, French bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
• Tastings cost extra: You receive discounts at select wineries, but tasting fees are not part of the $150 tour price.
• The setting changes throughout the day: You move from the Verde River and bald eagle habitat to Page Springs and Oak Creek country.
• A guide can shape the day: Kelly received especially strong praise for her charm and knowledge in one detailed review.
• The schedule runs long: Plan on about nine hours, starting at 9:00 a.m. and ending back at the meeting point.

Scottsdale to Arizona wine country

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and returns to the same meeting point after roughly nine hours. That makes this a full-day commitment, but it also removes the need to plan a driving route between four separate wineries.

You ride in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and bottled water. The maximum group size is 50, so the experience may range from a small outing to a fairly full coach. The supplied information does not promise a private vehicle or hotel pickup as a standard feature, so confirm the exact meeting arrangements before you book.

The drive takes you away from Scottsdale toward northern Arizona’s Verde Valley. Each winery gets about 75 minutes, except DA Ranch, which receives about 90 minutes. Those blocks should give you time to taste, look around, and buy bottles if something catches your attention, but they will not leave room for a slow, unplanned afternoon at every stop.

One important point is tucked into the tour conditions: four wineries are planned, but only three are guaranteed. Traffic, weather, winery availability, and other operating factors can affect the route. If seeing all four matters to you, ask about the current plan before departure.

Alcantara Vineyards by the Verde River

Alcantara Vineyards and Winery is the first stop, with about 75 minutes set aside. The property has more than 20,000 vines and produces 17 different varietals, so this is a useful introduction to the range of Arizona wine rather than a stop focused on just one style.

The setting is part of the appeal. You can expect vineyard views, a grass picnic area, the Verde River, and the chance to see bald eagles overhead. That combination gives the stop a relaxed outdoor feel, especially for anyone who wants more than a tasting-room counter.

I like this as an opening stop because it brings together the elements that make the day distinctive: wine, open space, water, and local wildlife. It also gives you a first look at how the Verde Valley differs from Scottsdale.

The limitation is time. Seventeen varietals cannot be explored in detail during one short visit, so treat this as a broad introduction. Ask about the wines that are most local to the property and take notes if you plan to compare bottles at later stops.

Javelina Leap in historic Page Springs

The second stop is Javelina Leap Vineyard, Winery & Bistro, a family-operated boutique winery in Page Springs. It sits in the Verde Valley, only minutes from Sedona, and offers a different setting from the larger Alcantara property.

The family-run character matters here. Boutique production often means the visit feels more connected to the people making the wine, although the exact tasting format and available pours can vary. The winery is described as producing award-winning wines, with a bistro on site, so this may be an appealing stop for you if food and wine are equally important.

The scheduled visit lasts about 75 minutes. Since lunch is already supplied separately, you should not assume that the bistro meal is included. The tour provides a personal picnic rather than a restaurant lunch, and any tasting or additional food purchases are separate costs.

Page Springs is also a practical location for a wine tour because several wineries sit close together in the Verde Valley. The compact route helps the day fit four possible stops into one outing, though your actual time at each property remains limited.

DA Ranch and the story behind its bottles

DA Ranch receives the longest scheduled visit, about 90 minutes. The winery began producing and bottling wine in 2008 for family and friends, then expanded to nearly 1,500 cases a year.

That production size gives you useful context. DA Ranch is still small compared with a major commercial winery, but it has grown beyond a purely personal project. The focus is on the story behind each glass and on sharing Arizona wine with people who are new to the region or already familiar with it.

The wording for this stop includes a subject-to-availability note. That reinforces the need to confirm the final route, particularly because the tour guarantees three wineries rather than four.

This is also a good place to slow down with your picnic if the schedule allows. The included meal contains assorted artisan cheeses, salami, fresh fruit, gourmet chocolates, French bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. It is described as a personal charcuterie-style picnic, not a served restaurant meal or a large communal board.

Bring an appetite, but keep your expectations practical. The food is designed to support a day of tastings, not replace a full sit-down lunch. If you have dietary restrictions, ask the provider before booking because the supplied information does not list substitutions.

Oak Creek Vineyards near House Mountain

Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery is the fourth planned stop, with about 75 minutes available. Its 11-acre property sits at 3,400 feet, about 500 feet from Oak Creek and 11 miles northeast of Sedona.

The setting has several specific features that make it different from the other stops. The vineyard lies in the shadow of House Mountain, with volcanic soil mixed with loam and gravel. Oak Creek is one of the few natural year-round bodies of water in Arizona, so the nearby creek adds a strong sense of place to the visit.

The winery was established in 2002 and produces close to 3,000 cases each year. Its wines include both white and red varieties made from Arizona grapes. If you like comparing producers, this stop gives you a useful contrast with DA Ranch, which produces around 1,500 cases annually.

Again, 75 minutes goes quickly. You will have time to sample and browse, but not necessarily to linger over every label. Since tastings are extra, decide in advance how much you want to spend at each winery rather than letting several small fees surprise you at the end.

What the $150 price really covers

At $150 per person, this tour is not a bargain wine-tasting package if you calculate only the number of included pours. The tasting fees are separate, and the tour does not include alcoholic beverages.

The price makes more sense when you count the full service. You receive transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, onboard WiFi, a prepared picnic, and a guide for a nearly nine-hour day. You also avoid arranging a designated driver, mapping four rural winery stops, and dealing with the practical problem of returning to Scottsdale after drinking.

Discounts are offered at select wineries, but the details of those discounts are not specified. Ask when and where they apply. It is also worth asking for the current tasting prices, especially if you intend to sample at every stop.

One dissatisfied customer misunderstood the tasting charges and the picnic format, so I would treat the inclusion list as essential reading. You are paying for the escorted outing and lunch, not for unlimited wine or an all-inclusive food-and-drink package.

A separate response from the provider noted that, in one case, a guide arranged a private tour, special pickup, extra time because of traffic and weather, and four wineries despite only three being guaranteed. Those extras should not be assumed for every departure, but they show that the guide may sometimes adjust the day to help the group.

The guide can make or break the day

A long wine tour needs more than transportation. You spend most of the day moving between properties, and the guide’s ability to keep the schedule on track affects how relaxed the experience feels.

Kelly received especially strong praise for her knowledge and charm. That is the clearest named guide feedback available, and it suggests the human side of the tour can be a major strength when the right guide is leading.

Still, the overall rating is 4 out of 5 from eight reviews, which means the experience has not been flawless for everyone. The most serious criticism centered on tasting fees and the picnic description, not on the winery route itself. Clear expectations should prevent that problem.

I would ask your guide early in the day how many wineries are confirmed, when lunch will happen, and which tasting discounts apply. That simple conversation can help you manage both your schedule and your budget.

Who will enjoy this day most

This tour suits you if you want to sample Arizona wine without renting a car or designing your own route. It is also a good choice if you prefer a complete day away from Scottsdale, with scenery and conversation between tastings.

You will likely appreciate it most if you enjoy comparing small producers. Alcantara’s 17 varietals, DA Ranch’s family beginnings, and Oak Creek’s distinctive soil and creekside setting give you different stories to consider, even if you know little about wine.

The day is less suitable if you want a slow, private tasting at each winery. A group of up to 50 can feel busy, and the schedule allows only about 75 to 90 minutes per stop. It is also not the right fit if you expect tastings to be included in the ticket price.

Most participants can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, but the supplied information does not explain the exact meeting point or whether standard hotel pickup is offered. Confirm that detail before paying.

Practical planning for the nine-hour outing

Wear comfortable clothing for a full day in and out of the vehicle. The property descriptions emphasize outdoor areas, vineyards, a river, a creek, and open grounds, so practical shoes are more useful than formal ones.

Bring a phone charger if you plan to use onboard WiFi or take photos throughout the day. Bottled water is included, but you may want a small personal bag for purchases and notes.

Because the tour requires good weather, a poor-weather cancellation can lead to a different date or a full refund. The provider also requires a minimum number of participants, and a cancellation for that reason offers the same choices.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start time. Inside that 24-hour window, cancellations and changes are not accepted for a refund. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so do not leave an important travel day dependent on an unconfirmed reservation.

Should you book this Arizona wine tour?

Book it if you value convenience, a full day in the Verde Valley, and a broad look at Arizona wineries more than an all-inclusive tasting price. The combination of Alcantara’s river setting, Page Springs wineries, DA Ranch’s personal story, and Oak Creek’s creekside location gives the route real variety.

Skip it if paying extra at each tasting will bother you or if you want four stops guaranteed. Before booking, budget for tasting fees, confirm the meeting point, ask which wineries are operating that day, and treat the fourth stop as a possibility rather than a certainty.

For the right person, the $150 price buys a simple, well-organized way to explore Arizona wine country without driving. Just read the inclusions carefully, then let the day unfold around the vineyards, river, creek, and small producers.

FAQ

What is included in the $150 tour price?

The price includes bottled water, a personal picnic with cheeses, salami, fruit, chocolates, French bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. It also includes transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle and WiFi on board.

Are wine tastings included?

No. Wine tastings are not included. Discounts are available at select wineries, but the specific discounts are not listed.

How many wineries will I visit?

The planned route includes four wineries: Alcantara Vineyards and Winery, Javelina Leap Vineyard, Winery & Bistro, DA Ranch, and Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery. The provider guarantees three wineries, so the fourth stop is subject to availability and other conditions.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and lasts about nine hours. It ends back at the meeting point.

Is lunch a restaurant meal?

No. Lunch is a picnic with assorted artisan cheeses, salami, fresh fruit, gourmet chocolates, French bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. The tour may also be canceled if its minimum number of participants is not reached.