Last updated: August 2026 — winery locations and status re-verified against each business's own website.
Flagstaff is the northern gateway to Verde Valley wine country, centered on Old Town Cottonwood and the Verde River corridor. The Verde Valley is a federally recognized American Viticultural Area — a young one, established by TTB final rule effective December 10, 2021 — covering approximately 200 square miles in Yavapai County at elevations ranging between 3,000 and 5,000 feet. The 45-minute drive through Sedona or Oak Creek Canyon is one of Arizona's most spectacular, which means a wine tour from Flagstaff is rarely just about the wine.
Verde Valley's high-desert terroir supports Rhône varieties particularly well. TTB attributes the region's character to its climate, soils and topography: alluvial soils, groundwater high in bicarbonates that raises soil pH, and a day-to-night temperature swing that “can exceed 30 degrees F” — which is what lets the grapes hold their acidity. It is a small region: at the time of the AVA petition, TTB counted 24 commercially producing vineyards covering roughly 125 acres.
Before you go: line up a driver
This is a driving route between tasting rooms. Under A.R.S. § 28-1381, Arizona makes it unlawful to drive while under the influence of intoxicating liquor “if the person is impaired to the slightest degree” — a separate, independently chargeable offense from the 0.08 limit. You can be under 0.08 and still be arrested. Book a guided tour or designate a driver who does not taste, and remember the trip home climbs from roughly 3,300 feet at Cottonwood to about 6,900 feet at Flagstaff through the Oak Creek Canyon switchbacks.
Verde Valley Wine Trail — Self-Drive Audio Tour from Flagstaff
5 GPS-triggered stops — Jerome's hillside tasting rooms, Merkin Vineyards Trattoria in Old Town Cottonwood, Page Springs Cellars on Oak Creek, and Alcantara at the Verde River confluence. Full day, about 100 miles, with winery context, AVA background and designated-driver guidance narrated en route.
First 2 stops free — preview before you buy
Start the Audio TourWorks offline. Download once, tour anytime.
The Verde Valley Wine Trail
The Verde Valley Wine Trail links tasting rooms in three clusters: Old Town Cottonwood (walkable, several tasting rooms within a few blocks), Clarkdale (smaller, quieter), and the Page Springs/Cornville corridor (where the valley's estate wineries are concentrated). The trail's own roster is the place to check who is currently open — see vvwinetrail.com.
For a day trip from Flagstaff, Old Town Cottonwood is the easiest entry point — park once and walk to multiple tasting rooms. The Page Springs corridor requires driving between individual wineries but offers a more agricultural, estate-winery experience with vineyard settings.
Notable Wineries
Verde Valley tasting rooms open, close, move and rebrand often. Every venue below was checked against the business's own website in August 2026 — but confirm directly before you drive out.
Merkin Vineyards Trattoria (770 N. Verde Heights Dr., “right off Main Street in Old Town Cottonwood”) — From Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Merkin is one of Arizona's most discussed wine projects. The wines come from 110 acres of estate vineyards in the Verde Valley and Willcox, and the restaurant serves wood-fired, Italian-leaning food. Caduceus Cellars is a separate Keenan label with its own tasting room at 158 Main Street in Jerome — not a Merkin reserve tier.
Page Springs Cellars (1500 N. Page Springs Rd., Cornville) — Estate Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre from about 34.5 acres across four small vineyards, founded on a first planting in 2004 by winemaker Eric Glomski. The tasting room overlooks Oak Creek; the setting is exceptional. Drive from Old Town Cottonwood (about 8 miles). It is often called Arizona's most awarded winery — the winery makes no such claim itself, so treat the superlative as enthusiasm.
Alcantara Vineyards (3445 S. Grapevine Way, Camp Verde — not Cornville, where many directories still place it) — Riverside setting at the confluence of the Verde River and Oak Creek. The tasting room, restaurant and lawn are excellent for spending an afternoon. The list runs to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Tannat and blends including the Cabernet Franc–based Grand Rouge; the rosé is made from Zinfandel. No lodging on site.
Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery (1565 N. Page Springs Rd., Cornville) — Family-owned, 100% Arizona-grown estate wines, a fifth of a mile up the road from Page Springs. Open daily, last pour 5:30 pm.
Pillsbury Wine Company — Sam Pillsbury was an early believer in Arizona viticulture, planting his first vines in 2000. Note that Pillsbury now lists only one tasting room on its own site, and it is not in Cottonwood: it is at 6450 S. Bennett Place in Willcox, open Saturday and Sunday. Confirm with the winery before planning a Pillsbury tasting in the Verde Valley.
Guided Wine Tours from Flagstaff
A guided wine tour is the practical choice if you want to visit multiple tasting rooms — someone else handles driving the canyon roads back to Flagstaff. Most Flagstaff-based wine tours include 3–4 winery stops, transportation in a comfortable van, and often a food pairing or lunch. Tours typically run 6–8 hours and depart in mid-morning.
Book a Verde Valley Wine Tour
Guided wine tours from Flagstaff to Verde Valley — 3–4 wineries, transportation included, scenic canyon drive through Sedona or Oak Creek.
We earn a small commission if you book — at no extra cost to you.
Driving the Wine Trail
The recommended route from Flagstaff: take I-17 south to the AZ-179 exit toward Sedona, pass through the Village of Oak Creek and Sedona, then take AZ-89A west toward Cottonwood (about 55 minutes). Add Jerome — the historic copper-mining town built on the slope of Cleopatra Hill in the Black Hills, at over 5,000 feet — as a 30-minute stop. Return through Oak Creek Canyon on AZ-89A (the more scenic option, steeper switchbacks). Note the geography, which is easy to get backwards: Oak Creek Canyon lies north of Sedona, between Sedona and Flagstaff, so you do not pass through it on the I-17 route.
Whoever drives this route should not be tasting on it. See the designated-driver note above and A.R.S. § 28-1381.
Pair a wine tour with the Sedona day trip guide if you want to combine wine country with red rock country in one full day.
Related Guides
- All Flagstaff Tours
- Sedona from Flagstaff — en route to wine country
- Jerome Day Trip — pair with the wine trail
- Wine Bars in Flagstaff
- Flagstaff Wine Country Weekend Guide
- Date Night in Flagstaff
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there wine tours from Flagstaff?
Yes — Verde Valley wine country is 45–60 minutes south. Guided wine tours are available through Viator and local operators, visiting 3–4 wineries with transportation included. Because the trail connects tasting rooms by car, a guided tour or a designated driver is the safe choice.
How far is Verde Valley wine country from Flagstaff?
Old Town Cottonwood (the heart of the wine trail) is about 50 miles and 55 minutes from downtown Flagstaff; the Town of Jerome puts itself at 45 miles southwest of Flagstaff on State Highway 89A. Both routes use State Route 89A (SR 89A), not US 89A. The scenic route through Oak Creek Canyon adds 10–15 minutes but is worth it.
What wineries are near Flagstaff?
The main region is Verde Valley. Page Springs Cellars (1500 N. Page Springs Rd, Cornville), Javelina Leap (1565 N. Page Springs Rd, Cornville), Merkin Vineyards Trattoria (770 N. Verde Heights Dr., Old Town Cottonwood), Caduceus Cellars (158 Main St, Jerome), Arizona Stronghold (1023 N. Main St, Cottonwood), and Alcantara Vineyards (3445 S. Grapevine Way, Camp Verde). All are 45–70 minutes from Flagstaff. Tasting rooms move and change often — confirm with each winery before you go.
Can you do a wine tour from Flagstaff in one day?
Yes — leave by 10 AM, visit 3–4 tasting rooms, have lunch, and return by evening. Arrange a guided tour or a designated driver first: under A.R.S. § 28-1381 it is unlawful to drive in Arizona if you are impaired to the slightest degree, which is chargeable even below the 0.08 limit.
Do you need a designated driver for a Verde Valley wine tour?
Yes. Arizona's DUI statute, A.R.S. § 28-1381, has two independent triggers: it is unlawful to drive while under the influence of intoxicating liquor “if the person is impaired to the slightest degree,” and separately unlawful to drive with “an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more within two hours of driving.” You can be under 0.08 and still be arrested. A first conviction is a class 1 misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum of ten consecutive days in jail and an ignition interlock requirement. Use a guided shuttle or a driver who does not taste — especially given the return climb from roughly 3,300 feet at Cottonwood to about 6,900 feet at Flagstaff through the Oak Creek Canyon switchbacks.
What grape varieties grow in Verde Valley?
The Verde Valley AVA sits at elevations ranging between 3,000 and 5,000 feet, per the TTB rule that established it. Rhône varieties do particularly well — Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Roussanne, Viognier — and Italian varieties (Sangiovese, Barbera) also perform. Page Springs Cellars grows those across about 34.5 acres of estate vineyards; Merkin Vineyards reports 110 acres in the Verde Valley and Willcox.
