Uncork a Great Getaway in Sedona

Looking to explore Arizona? Take a girls’ weekend to Sedona and do some wine tasting.

A few weeks ago, a girlfriend of mine had her mother in town from Wisconsin. We did a little research and decided to plan a weekend in Sedona, complete with wine tasting.

We headed up on a Friday afternoon. Traffic wasn’t too bad and we were checked in at the Sedona Golf Resort by 6:30 p.m. The concierge at the resort was very helpful and made some great recommendations for dinner. We chose to dine at Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante. The food was phenomenal and I highly recommend it to anyone who has an appreciation for Italian food and fine wine. The veal was quite delicious, I would go back for seconds.

On Saturday, we made luxury limo bus reservations through azwinerytours.com. The Tour began with a complimentary pick up from the resort at 10 am. Luckily, we were the first to be picked up so we enjoyed the scenic view as we rode through Sedona to pick up the others. There were 17 of us in total. And our first stop was Page Springs Vineyard and Cellars.
 
Page Springs Cellars was my favorite winery. We arrived on a dusty gravel road and parked. We hopped out and entered the building and were taken to the back patio where private seating was reserved just for our group. We enjoyed a tasting for $10 alongside a bottle of Vino De La Familia Blanca. It was a fragrant wine, similar in taste to a sauvignon blanc. I highly recommend trying this wine on a warm sunny day.

Next stop was Oak Creek Vineyards and Winery. We popped in and did a quick three-pour for $10 and bought a few trinkets from inside.

After Oak Creek, our bus detoured to a great little lunch spot. The leaves were yellow, the sun was shining and the breeze was just right. This tour included lunch from Wildflower Bakery and we ate under a covered area next to a pond. It was beautiful.

Last but not least, was a visit to the Javelina Leap Winery. The atmosphere was great; the staff was very buttoned up and happy to assist in wine selections. If you get the chance, ask to have the old NAU biology professor speak to you. He is a part owner of the winery and gives a quick 20-minute lecture on the biology of winemaking. Definitely worth it if you are new to wineries.

On Sunday we brunched at L’Auberge de Sedona, a luxury resort and spa in Sedona. They provide a scrumptious brunch complete with bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary’s – and an incredible view. Sitting creek-side, ducks paddled up and down the stream, while our waiter poured fresh squeezed OJ into our flutes of champagne. Inside was a full buffet. Everything you can imagine: shrimp, lobster, Caprese salad, antipasti, an omelet bar, French toast, bacon, eggs Benedict, and a beef roast to name a few. We dined for three hours, and it was worth every penny. It was probably my favorite memory of the entire trip. I left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. If you are looking for a close and cozy respite, consider a trip to this one-of-a-kind part of the state, you won’t be disappointed!  

Wisconsin-native Taryn Stewart fell in love with the idea of sunshine 350 days a year in 2007 and never looked back. She enjoys brunching, traveling and not shoveling snow during the winter.