Why you should visit wineries in Scottsdale AZ
This blog post covers the best wineries in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Wineries in Scottsdale AZ strike a balance between fancy and laid-back.
These Arizona wineries lack the pomp and circumstance of their California cousins. And yet Scottsdale is part of the larger Phoenix area, which is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States.
Phoenix is a growing city and Arizona is a growing wine industry. The wine scene is currently blossoming and maybe one day it’ll be booming.
So wine lovers better get themselves on down to Arizona. Because as any wine snob knows, it’s very fun to say “I tasted that before it was popular.”
Most wineries in Scottsdale AZ participate in the Scottsdale Wine Trail. Their tasting rooms are located in Old Town Scottsdale, so they’re within easy walking distance of one another. The last winery on this list is located a 20 minute drive from Old Town Scottsdale.
How to access wineries in Scottsdale AZ
The wineries in Scottsdale AZ are easily accessible. Scottsdale is technically its own town but it’s considered part of the greater Phoenix area.
If you already live in Arizona State, then you’re golden. You can simply jump in your car and drive to the Scottsdale wineries on this list.
But if you live out of state then you’ll need to fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), rent a car, and drive to the Scottsdale wineries on this list. Luckily the Phoenix airport is only 8 miles from downtown Scottsdale, which is a short 16 minute drive.
The best wineries in Scottsdale AZ for a wine tasting
LDV Winery
LDV Winery makes 100% Arizona wines.
They grow Syrah, Petite Sirah, Grenache, and Viognier at their 40-acre estate in the Chiricahua Mountain region of southeastern Arizona. According to the owners, the LDV estate vineyard enjoys a similar climate and soil as the Rhône region of France.
LDV Winery brings a minimal approach to their winemaking process. No chemical additives other than a small amount of sulfites (SO2) are added. There are no color enhancers, enzymes, or animal products, which means these wines are gluten free and vegan.
The LDV tasting room is located in the heart of the Scottsdale entertainment district. The tasting room is open Monday through Thursday from 12-9 PM. Friday and Saturday it’s open 11 AM to 9 PM. On Sundays they’re open from 11 AM to 7 PM.
Guests can enjoy a taste of LDV with wine flights, glasses, and bottles either inside or outside on the patio. Wine flights cost between $15 and $30.
Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
Arizona Stronghold Vineyards believes Arizona is one of the American wine industry’s “best kept secrets.”
Their wines certainly bolster that theory. AZ Stronghold makes excellent wine from about twenty grape varieties including Nebbiolo, Trebbiano, Norton, and Zinfandel.
Grapes come from local vineyards as well as their own Bonita Springs Vineyard in Cochise County.
Stop into their Scottsdale tasting room to enjoy a tasting flight on the patio. Charcuterie and cheese plates are available for purchase and wine bottles are available to go.
The Arizona Stronghold Vineyards Scottsdale tasting room is open Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 1–7PM. On Friday and Saturday they’re open from 12–8 PM. They’re closed Monday and Tuesday.
If you happen to be in Cottonwood, Arizona you can check out their second tasting room.
Los Milics Vineyards
Los Milics Vineyards makes award-winning wines from Arizona grapes.
They grow unusual grape varieties including Carignan, Counoise, Vermentino, and Vranac in their Elfrida and Elgin vineyards.
These spectacular wines are available to taste at the Los Milics Vineyards tasting room in the heart of Scottsdale Old Town. You can order a glass of wine, a tasting flight, or a bottle. Charcuterie boxes are available too.
The Los Milics Vineyards Scottsdale tasting room is open daily. They’re open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 8 PM. Friday and Saturday they’re open from 11 AM to 9 PM. On Sunday they’re open from 12-8 PM.
If you’re headed to the Sonoita-Elgin wine growing region take note: Los Milics Vineyards has boutique casitas, a restaurant, and a modern tasting room in Elgin, Arizona.
Carlson Creek Vineyard
Carlson Creek Vineyard makes Rhône-style wines with a South American flair.
Owner Robert Carlson is a former stockbroker who traded portfolios for production facilities. He believes the elevation and climate of Carlson Creek Vineyards resembles parts of Argentina, Chile, and the Rhône Valley of southern France.
Carlson Creek Vineyards focuses on single varietals wines. Grapes like Grenache, Malbec, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Malvasia Bianca, Riesling, and Chardonnay all make an appearance.
The Carlson Creek Vineyard tasting room is located in the arts and entertainment district of Old Town Scottsdale in a former art gallery. With a distressed copper bar and art deco tin ceiling the space has a rustic chic quality that mirrors the wine.
The Carlson Creek Old Town Scottsdale location is open daily from 12–8 PM. You can make a tasting reservation via the winery’s Tock profile.
Aridus Wine Company
Aridus Wine Company is a family-owned winery based in Southeastern Arizona.
They work with a large variety of grapes including Syrah, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Graciano, Viognier, and Malvasia Bianca.
Grapes come from their own 40-acre estate located along Turkey Creek plus vineyards in neighboring counties.
Aridus Wine Company has a tasting room located in the Old Town Arts District of Scottsdale. Reclaimed wood brings a warm feel to their space and chandeliers and leather chairs add a luxurious vibe. The Aridus tasting room has plenty of seating so this is a good place to bring a larger group.
The Aridus Scottsdale tasting room is open Sunday through Wednesday from 12–6 PM. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday they’re open from 12–6 PM. Their second tasting room is located in Willcox, Arizona.
Salvatore Vineyards
Salvatore Vineyards crafts rosé, port, and red wine blends.
This southern Arizona winery was founded in 2012 and later joined forces with Passion Cellars and Cabal Cellars. Together they craft delicious wines made from Arizona-grown grapes such as Aglianico and Sangiovese.
Salvatore Vineyards maintains several tasting rooms throughout Arizona. We’ve already covered their tasting rooms in our Elgin and Jerome wine tasting guides.
The Salvatore Vineyards Scottsdale tasting room is open seven days a week. Sunday through Wednesday they’re open from 12–8 PM. They’re also open Thursday (12–9 PM), Friday (12–10 PM), and Saturday (11 AM–10 PM).
Desert Rock Winery
Desert Rock is a winery, distillery, and tasting room near the Scottsdale Quarter.
Winemaker Paul J. Hoffman founded Desert Rock Winery and Distillery in 2006. His goal? To make and sell fine wines from Sonoma and Napa. In 2015 Hoffman moved his company to Scottsdale, Arizona.
Today you can sample Desert Rock wines at their laid-back tasting room. There’s a cute “tiki porch” if you’d like to sit outdoors and a spacious tasting room if you’d like to sit indoors. There’s live music from time to time.
And, since they’re a distillery too, you can absolutely sample their handcrafted vodkas, whiskeys, and rum. Although they don’t serve food they do have regularly rotating food trucks.
The Desert Rock Winery tasting room is open Wednesday through Saturday from 2–7 PM. On Sundays they’re open from 12–5 PM. They’re closed Monday and Tuesday. Tasting hours can vary so be sure to double check these hours before you head over.
Other Arizona wine towns worth a trip
The best wineries in Scottsdale AZ are within easy driving distance of other Arizona wine country destinations. In fact, the following towns are between a two to three hour drive from the Scottsdale area.
Cute shops and historic buildings line the main street in Old Town Cottonwood. The wineries in Cottonwood showcase their hometown’s charm and appeal.
Jerome, Arizona is a former mining town located a mere 15 minutes from Cottonwood. These Jerome, Arizona wineries reflect the town’s quirky, artsy attitude. Plus these tasting rooms are within walking distance of one another.
Sedona, Arizona isn’t the state’s top wine destination. These fun Sedona wineries and wine bars are a great place to quench your thirst in this popular tourist town.
But what is the true epicenter of the Arizona wine industry? Sonoita, of course! Our list of 17 wineries in Sonoita and Elgin provides plenty of options for planning your trip to this great wine region. The Sonoita area is two and a half hours from Phoenix, which makes it the perfect place for a weekend getaway.
Our list of the best Southern Arizona wineries includes wineries in Sonoita, Elgin, Willcox, and Vail. These wineries only use grapes grown in Arizona. They’re intensely proud of their home state, which is wonderful.
Tucson is a roughly 1 hour 40 minute drive from the Phoenix-Scottsdale area. These wineries in Tucson, Arizona offer different grapes, flavors, and tasting experiences.
Willcox is the name of both an AVA and a small town in Southern Arizona. The town is located an easy 80 minute drive from Tucson. The Willcox AVA is famous for its wonderful wine grapes. Our list focuses on Willcox wineries that use 100% Arizona-grown grapes.
