For your list of must-do daytrips, take a ride with two local companies that offer a taste of Arizona’s fledgling wine country.

Wine aficionados have known for years that Arizona produces palatable, highly rated wines.
Most of the general population, however, is amazed the state even has wineries. “Friends thought I was making it up,” says Ellen Nielsen of Edmonton, Canada.
After a trip with Arizona Grape Escapes, however, she “fell in love with the whole place,” she says. “All of the wines were really good.”
Arizona Grape Escapes and Detours of Arizona are two companies offering day trips from pick-up locations in the Valley to Arizona’s fledgling wine country in Cornville, south of Sedona.
Both companies go behind-the-scenes at the four wineries there: Alcantra Winery, Javelina Leap Vineyard, Oak Creek Vineyard and Page Springs Cellars.
“You can really taste our environment in the wines that are produced here,” says Colleen Chase Dalrymple, who co-owns Arizona Grape Escapes with her sister and brother-in-law.
They offer van tours on weekends and some weekdays by appointment.
Detours, which offers other outings as well, began wine tours in November and will travel any day with a minimum of four customers. Both trips can accommodate up to 10 people and include tastings, transportation and lunch.
The wineries are small – most have just a few acres under vine and also bring in grapes from California – but tasting rooms are reminiscent of the ones in Sonoma or Napa, with munchies, wine accessories and tchotchkes.
But instead of bumper-to-bumper traffic or surly tasting room help, you get knowledgeable employees or even the winemakers themselves serving their wares and passionately talking about varietals (Rhone grapes such as Syrah, Grenache, Viognier and Mouvedre tend to do best here, though you’ll find Cabernet Sauvignon and others). You’ll learn about harvest, production, barrels and other wine lore in bucolic settings.
Alcantra has a lovely back patio with expansive views, and Page Springs has a deck overlooking Oak Creek with tables for picnicking.
The steps leading up to Javelina Springs’ tasting room are dotted with metal javelina sculptures and flowerpots, and don’t miss the extras at Oak Creek Vineyards’ tasting room, such as handmade handbags and delicious wine crackers.


Arizona Grape Escapes
Cost: $150 per person
Pick-up locations: By AJ’s Fine Foods at 44th Street and Camelback Road, Phoenix; Cave Creek Wines, 21023 N. Cave Creek Road
Info: 602-368-3619 or
arizonagrapeescapes.com
 
Detours of Arizona
Cost: $170 per person; “platinum” trips for private groups available
Pick-up locations: Most Phoenix and Scottsdale hotels
Info: 866-4DETOUR or
detoursaz.com