Wine country loop
Flanked by Mingus Mountain and the Mogollon Rim, Verde Valley comprises the high-desert towns of Clarkdale, Cornville, Cottonwood and Jerome, each boasting its own brand of high-country hospitality, eclectic eateries and, of course, wineries. Make a day-long circuit of them.
How To Get There
From Phoenix, take the I-17 North approximately 70 miles to AZ-260/Finnie Flat Road. Head west on AZ-260 to Cottonwood and cut south on AZ-89A to Jerome.
Best Seasons to Visit: Spring, Summer and Fall
Itinerary
-> Nothing faciliates a day of wine-tasting like a basecoat of caffeine. Lay one on at The Flatiron, a charming pie-sliver of a cafe on Main Street in Jerome, where muffins, bread pudding and other baked goodies can be nibbled with your espresso. 416 Main St., 928-634-2733, theflatironjerome.com
-> Have your pick of Jerome tasting rooms. There are five of them splayed on the tiered mountain streets of this former mining town, including Caduceus Cellars, owned by iconoclastic Tool rocker Maynard James Keenan. Set in a stylish and creatively merchandised tasting room with a carved Hindu god perched over the entry, it features lots of Arizona hot sauces, tinctures and T-shirts to browse while you sip Keenan’s dry and delightful Kitsuné Sangiovese. 158 Main St., 928-639-9463, caduceus.org
-> Next stop: Clarkdale. The town boasts three tasting rooms on or near 89A, including Chateau Tumbleweed, specializing in buoyant, medium-bodied wines served by a crew of beaming, knowledgeable wine fraus. 1151 AZ-89A, 928-634-0443, chateautumbleweed.com
-> The longest leg of your wine circuit deposits you on Page Springs Road in Cornville, set in a lush riparian valley boasting the densest cluster of estate wineries in Northern Arizona. Make sure to hit Page Springs Cellars (1500 N. Page Springs Rd., 928-639-3004, pagespringscellars.com), where Arizona wine trailblazer Eric Glomski holds court amid tame peacocks and a tight menu of cheeseboards, charcuterie and wine-friendly roasted veggies; and D.A. Ranch, a vast, spring-fed property that’s become a day-tripper favorite since coming online in 2017 (1900 Dancing Apache Rd., 928-301-0791, daranch.com).
-> After hitting Tuzigoot National Monument for a dose of history and culture – it must be said, the 800-year old pueblo is a true sight to behold – complete the final leg of your circuit in Old Town Cottonwood, where no fewer than five Arizona wineries have pitched camp on Main Street. If you want to taste the state’s best Malvasia Bianca – the floral white favored by so many Arizona winemakers – look no further than Pillsbury Wine Company’s 2017 vintage, which scored a Best of Class at the 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Awards. 1012 N. Main St., 928-639-0646, pillsburywine.com
DID YOU KNOW?
The Verde Valley Wine Trail has its own website with a downloadable trail map: vvwinetrail.com.
Overnight Options
The ClinksCale
Originally built in 1899, this six-room boutique property in Jerome was restored to pedestal-sink perfection in 2020 by The Haunted Group – the same hoteliers who run the insanely popular The Tavern Hotel in Cottonwood. 309 Main St., Jerome, 928-634-6225, theclinkscale.com
The Surgeon’s House
For an unvarnished dose of Jerome history and charm, this three-room bed and breakfast is exactly as it presents itself – the one-time residence of the United Verde Mining Co.’s chief surgeon. 100 Hill St., Jerome, 928-639-1452, surgeonshouse.com
Mescal Canyon Retreat
This health- and sustainability-focused B&B in the Clarkdale foothills features on-site massage, an inviting hot tub and chimenea setup, its own terraced organic garden and all the sunset-lit seclusion you could ask for. 1550 Abbey Rd., Clarkdale, 928-634-2067, mescalcanyonretreat.com
Wild Card
Want a beer instead? They’ll pour a tall one for you at THAT Brewery in Cottonwood. 300 E. Cherry St., 928-202-3013, thatbrewery.com
