Visit 4 Award Winning Vineyards from Scottsdale, Includes Lunch!

Arizona wine country makes a fine change from Scottsdale’s resorts and golf courses. On this nine-hour outing, you ride north to the Verde Valley for vineyard views, river scenery, four winery stops, and a picnic lunch. The day has a relaxed rhythm, with about 75 to 90 minutes at each property.

I like the mix of small family-run wineries and open-air scenery, especially the Verde River setting at Alcantara and the Oak Creek area near Page Springs. I also like that lunch is more than a basic sandwich: you receive artisan cheeses, salami, fruit, chocolates, French bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. The main catch is simple: wine tastings cost extra, and the fourth winery can depend on availability.

Key points to know before you book

• Four vineyard stops are planned: Alcantara, Javelina Leap, DA Ranch, and Oak Creek, though the provider says only three stops are guaranteed.
• Tastings are not included: You receive discounts at select wineries, but you should budget separately for pours and any bottles.
• The picnic lunch is substantial: Expect cheeses, salami, fresh fruit, gourmet chocolates, French bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.
• The scenery changes throughout the day: You’ll see vineyards, the Verde River, Oak Creek, House Mountain, and volcanic soil around Page Springs.
• Kelly may be your guide: Her charm and knowledge were singled out in the available feedback, making the guide an important part of the day.
• The tour begins at 9:00 a.m.: It returns to the meeting point after roughly nine hours in an air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi and bottled water.

From Scottsdale to Arizona’s Verde Valley

The day begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends back at the meeting point. The tour is designed to remove the hassle of driving between wineries, which matters in Arizona. You can pay attention to the views, enjoy the tastings you choose, and avoid assigning a designated driver.

The vehicle is air-conditioned, and bottled water and WiFi are included. The maximum group size is listed as 50 people, so you should not assume this is a quiet private outing. At the same time, the available feedback describes one occasion when a guide arranged a private tour at the standard-tour price, so the group experience can vary.

The route leads from Scottsdale toward northern Arizona’s Verde Valley, an area known here for its vineyards, creeks, river access, and views around Page Springs. The long drive is part of the tradeoff. You give up a full day in Scottsdale, but you gain access to wineries that would be awkward to visit without a car.

Alcantara Vineyards, river views and open space

Your first listed stop is Alcantara Vineyards and Winery, with about 75 minutes on site. The property has more than 20,000 vines and grows 17 different varietals, giving you a broad introduction to Arizona wine rather than a single-style tasting room.

The setting is a major part of the appeal. You can look out toward the vineyard, a grass picnic area, and the Verde River. Bald eagles may be visible overhead, which adds a memorable bit of wildlife to what could otherwise be a standard tasting stop.

I would treat Alcantara as a good place to get a feel for the region. The combination of vines and river makes the visit more scenic than a simple stop beside a highway. You also have enough time to sit with your wine instead of rushing through a quick pour.

Keep the cost details in mind. Admission to the winery stop is included, but alcoholic beverages are not. You will pay for the tasting unless a particular discount applies, so ask about the price and discount before ordering.

Javelina Leap and its boutique winery character

The second stop is Javelina Leap Vineyard, Winery & Bistro, also scheduled for about 75 minutes. It is a family-operated boutique winery in Page Springs, only minutes from Sedona according to the tour information.

This stop gives the day a smaller-scale feel. The winery produces premium wines and has received awards for its bottles, but you should not read that as a promise that every wine will suit your palate. Wine tasting is personal. Use the stop to compare Arizona varietals with what you already know, and ask which wines are made locally.

The bistro setting may make this a comfortable pause before lunch, though the included meal is described separately as a picnic. I would not count on a restaurant meal here unless the guide or winery confirms it on the day.

At 75 minutes, you have time to taste and browse without turning the stop into a long sit-down meal. If you are mainly interested in buying bottles, ask about the available discount before making a purchase. The tour promises discounts at select wineries, not universal savings at every stop.

DA Ranch, a family story with limited production

DA Ranch receives the longest listed visit, about 90 minutes. The winery began producing and bottling wine in 2008 for family and friends, then grew into a small operation producing close to 1,500 cases each year.

That production figure gives you useful context. This is not a huge commercial winery sending wine around the world. The scale is modest, and the tour presents each glass as part of the ranch’s own story. I like this stop for people who want to understand how a small Arizona producer developed over time.

The longer visit also gives you a little breathing room in the middle of a packed day. You can taste at a slower pace, talk with staff, and decide if the winery’s style suits you.

There is one important condition: DA Ranch is subject to availability. The overall title promises four wineries, but the provider says the tour guarantees three and may add the fourth when conditions allow. If visiting all four is essential to your plans, confirm the schedule before booking rather than treating the fourth stop as certain.

Oak Creek Vineyards beside Page Springs

The final listed winery is Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery, with about 75 minutes scheduled. Its 11-acre property sits on Page Springs Road, about 11 miles northeast of Sedona and roughly 500 feet from Oak Creek.

The waterway matters here. Oak Creek is one of the few natural year-round bodies of water in Arizona, so this stop offers another setting distinct from the Verde River. The vineyard sits at about 3,400 feet, in the shadow of House Mountain, with mostly volcanic soil mixed with loam and gravel.

Oak Creek was established in 2002 and produces close to 3,000 cases a year, including both red and white wines made in Arizona. That puts it between the smaller output of DA Ranch and a large-scale commercial winery.

For you, the value is in comparison. After three earlier stops, you can pay attention to differences in winemaking style, varietals, and setting. Four tastings in one day can blur together, so I suggest taking brief notes on the wines you like. Your phone can handle the job, and the included WiFi may help if you want to check bottle details or make plans for shipping and purchases.

What the included picnic lunch is really like

Lunch is a personal picnic rather than a restaurant reservation. The food includes assorted artisan cheeses, salami, fresh fruit, gourmet chocolates, French bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

That is a generous spread for a winery day. It also gives you foods that work well between tastings, especially bread, cheese, and fruit. The chocolates make the meal feel more like a planned wine-country picnic than a packed snack.

Do not expect a formal charcuterie board served at a table. The description is a picnic with your own selection of charcuterie-style foods, and one customer was disappointed after receiving a picnic rather than a board. The practical lesson is to read the food description literally: you receive the listed ingredients, but not necessarily a restaurant-style presentation.

The timing of lunch is not specified, so I would ask the guide when and where it will happen. That helps you plan breakfast and avoids arriving hungry if the meal comes later in the route.

Understanding the $150 price

At $150 per person, the tour charges for a full day of transportation, a guide, the planned winery visits, lunch, water, and onboard WiFi. The cost makes the most sense if you value not driving from Scottsdale to the Verde Valley and back.

The price does not cover wine tastings. This is the detail most likely to affect your budget. You may also want to buy bottles, and those are separate purchases too. Discounts are available at select wineries, but the exact savings are not stated.

Think of the $150 as the cost of access and transportation, not an all-inclusive wine pass. If you want to taste at every stop, ask about individual tasting fees before you go. Four paid tastings can change the final cost, especially if you also bring home bottles.

The tour becomes a stronger value for people who would otherwise need to rent a car, pay fuel costs, and limit their tastings. It is less appealing if you are already staying near the Verde Valley and can visit these wineries independently.

The guide can shape the entire day

A winery tour is only partly about the wineries. The guide controls the pace, explains the route, handles timing, and helps you understand what you are tasting. One guide named Kelly received especially strong praise for her charm and knowledge, so I would be pleased to see her name attached to my booking.

That does not guarantee she will lead every departure. Guide assignments can vary, and the supplied details do not promise a specific guide. Still, the feedback makes clear that the human side of the tour can turn a long day of driving into a pleasant one.

The provider also describes occasions when the guide made special efforts, including arranging pickup at a guest’s location, extending the tour because of traffic and weather, and visiting four wineries when only three were guaranteed. Those extras are not part of the standard promise, so treat them as possible flexibility rather than something you are entitled to receive.

Who will enjoy this winery day most

I would recommend this tour to you if you want to sample Arizona wine without planning a route yourself. It works especially well for couples, small groups, and visitors based in Scottsdale who want a full day beyond the city.

You should also like variety. The day includes river scenery, vineyard grounds, family operations, a boutique winery, and producers with different annual outputs. If you enjoy comparing places as much as comparing wines, the four-stop format gives you plenty to consider.

The tour may be less suitable if you want a quiet, slow afternoon at one vineyard. Four stops in nine hours means regular movement, and the group can reach up to 50 people. It is also not ideal if your main goal is to drink without extra expense, since tastings are separate.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, though the supplied information does not specify a particular route or whether public transportation reaches the start point conveniently.

Booking, weather and cancellation details

Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Since the tour averages 46 days of advance booking, I would reserve early if your Scottsdale dates are fixed.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start for a full refund. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and cancellations inside the window are not refunded.

Weather matters because the tour requires good conditions. If poor weather cancels the outing, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not met, with the choice of another date or experience, or a refund.

Should you book this Scottsdale wine tour?

Book it if you want a driver, a full day in Verde Valley wine country, and a picnic lunch without assembling the trip yourself. Alcantara’s river setting, Javelina Leap’s boutique character, DA Ranch’s small production, and Oak Creek’s creekside location give the day useful variety.

Before paying, confirm two things: the tasting fees and whether four stops are scheduled for your date. If you are comfortable paying extra for wine and understand that three wineries are guaranteed, the tour offers a practical way to see several Arizona producers in one outing. If you want every tasting included or prefer a private, unhurried day, look for a smaller tour with clearer all-inclusive pricing.

FAQ

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. and ends back at the meeting point after approximately nine hours.

Are wine tastings included in the $150 price?

No. Wine tastings are not included. You will receive discounts at select wineries, but tasting fees and alcoholic beverages are paid separately.

Which wineries are included?

The planned stops are Alcantara Vineyards and Winery, Javelina Leap Vineyard, Winery & Bistro, DA Ranch, and Oak Creek Vineyards & Winery. The provider says three wineries are guaranteed, while the fourth is subject to availability.

What does lunch include?

Lunch is a picnic with assorted artisan cheeses, salami, fresh fruit, gourmet chocolates, French bread, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar.

Is transportation provided?

Yes. Transportation is provided in an air-conditioned vehicle. Bottled water and WiFi on board are also included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted or refunded.