By Dionne Aiken
By Dena Roché
When it comes to big celebrations—such as 50th anniversaries and otherwise—choosing a wine country trip is often a popular choice. If you’re inclined to celebrate, but you’ve already sipped and swirled your way through Napa, Oregon, and Paso Robles, set your sights on an unexpected wine destination: Phoenix, Arizona.
Over the past four decades, Arizona’s wine industry has grown to include more than 120 producers and three officially designated grape-growing regions. In and around Phoenix, you can sample a range of local bottles at tasting rooms, restaurants, wine bars, and wine festivals.
A selection of savory snacks—such as nuts, charcuterie boards, or custom cheese boards—are also available to pair with your wine.
Toast to an evening of fine wine and great company.
One of the best ways to try Arizona wine is directly at the source. The Scottsdale Wine Trail brings together seven winery tasting rooms in downtown Scottsdale to give visitors an inside look at Arizona wine. Follow the easily walkable trail to sample varietals like a refreshing Malvasia Bianca from Carlson Creek, a complex Cabernet Sauvignon from Arizona Stronghold, or a fresh rosé from Los Milics.
At your first winery, you can purchase a Scottsdale Wine Trail Passport to enjoy discounts on all tastings.
Discover desert plant life such as cardon cactus, the world’s largest cactus, at Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden.
Enjoy a tipple of your favorite wine at golden hour and watch the sun paint the sky shades of crimson and tangerine.
Science, math, and nature intersect at Desert Botanical Garden’s exhibition Light Bloom—a captivating geometric light installation.
After a day spent browsing the Heard Museum’s collection of American Indian art, strolling the Desert Botanical Garden, or catching a Diamondbacks game in downtown Phoenix, head to GenuWine, a self-serve wine bar and bottle shop. You can choose from among two dozen Arizona wines by the glass, paired with a build-your-own cheese board.
Or stop by The Wine Collective of Scottsdale to pick up a local bottle and takeaway charcuterie to enjoy back at your resort with an epic Arizona sunset. With more than 40 Arizona producers to choose from, The Wine Collective offers the best Arizona wine selection of any boutique bottle shop.
Elevate a vegetable-focused dish with a glass of rich red, for added depth and flavor.
Despite the growth of Arizona wine, finding a regional bottle at a local restaurant can prove challenging. However, several independent eateries are showcasing both local food and wine. It’s a no-brainer that James Beard Award–winning FnB would serve its locally sourced, vegetable-focused dishes with Arizona wine, as co-owner Pavle Milić also owns Los Milics, one of the state’s top wineries.
Another restaurant, Beckett’s Table, offers an extensive selection of homegrown wine by the glass and bottle that pairs well with dishes such as beef Bourguignon, shepherd’s pie, and pan-seared barramundi. Go on Sunday, and those local bottles are half off.
Renowned chef Christopher Gross prepares some of the best food in the city at Christopher’s, located at the Wrigley Mansion, a historic estate now open to the public. The restaurant has an extensive wine list and offers several Arizona options that complement diverse dishes, including pan-seared duck breast and scallops with braised leeks and pancetta.
Sample a curated selection of grape varieties from some of Arizona’s finest wineries.
Mingle with like-minded wine aficionados at one of Arizona’s annual art and wine festivals.
Throughout the year, several festivals showcase Arizona wine, along with bottles from across the United States and the globe:
- Held in late January, A Taste of AZ Food & Drink Festival focuses on local wine and food.
- Uncorked: Arizona Wine Festival pours more than 100 wines to sample at two events, one held in late March/early April and one in October.
- The Scottsdale Waterfront Fine Art & Wine Festival, held in late January/early February, and the Kierland Fine Art & Wine Festival, held in late January/early February and November, blend art—and the art of winemaking.
Whether you’re a true oenophile or casual sipper, Phoenix delivers an exciting journey through Arizona’s wine scene. Get ready to raise a glass to Arizona wine—where sun-drenched grapes meet desert terroir and wine lovers can discover a favorite new wine destination.
Author bio:
Dena Roché is a wine and travel journalist. She is the only Arizona member of the prestigious Circle of Wine Writers.
