Arizona produces wine? Indeed we do, and very impressive wine at that. You no longer need to travel to California and beyond for award-winning vintages. In fact, you can sip wine from all three of Arizona’s wine-growing regions right in Old Town Scottsdale. Enjoy a wine flight, a glass or a bottle. Join me as I introduce you to the Arizona tasting rooms along the Old Town Scottsdale Wine Trail.
LDV Winery
Starting at LDV Winery on Old Town’s Stetson Drive, you’ll find ample seating indoors or on the shaded patio. This contemporary space welcomes individuals and groups in the airy tasting room where images from the winery’s breathtaking Southern Arizona vineyard adorn the walls.
Founded in 2008, LDV Winery’s vineyard is located in Pearce, Arizona, at the base of the Chiricahua Mountains. Showcasing their founders’ commitment to sustainable and organic vineyard practices, LDV’s wines embody the unique characteristics of the Arizona terroir. LDV Winery specializes in bold, estate-grown Rhône varieties like Viognier, Grenache, Syrah and Petite Sirah.
Charcuterie boards are available to complement your choice of a three- or four-wine tasting experience. LDV’s Scottsdale tasting room hosts a variety of gatherings and special events, including their signature “Le Nez du Vin,” a sensory experience of all things wine available by advance reservation only.
Be Sure to Try:
2017 Rhyolite Petite Sirah
Single varietal
Salvatore Vineyards
Just down the street, across from Scottsdale’s famous Bronze Horse Fountain, you’ll find Salvatore Vineyards, named after the grandfather of their winemaker, Jason Domanico. This is a cozy venue with crystal chandeliers that add a lovely touch to the art-filled tasting room, making it perfect for a date night.
Italian varietals are the specialty at Salvatore Vineyards, and all are meticulously made in small batches using the best grapes and barrels possible. Salvatore Vineyards, along with Passion Cellars and Cabal Cellars, create a triad of labels for this winery that boasts additional tasting rooms in Bisbee, Elgin, Jerome and Tombstone.
Be Sure to Try:
2019 Sangiovese
San Francisco Chronicle Silver Award
Single varietal
Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
Next up as we walk south on Marshall Way is Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, founded in 2007. A large photo mural on one wall transports you to their Willcox vineyard, while wine production images on the opposite wall provide behind-the-scenes insights of the wine-making process. Patio and indoor seating are available for individuals, groups and even corporate events.
Arizona Stronghold Vineyards' wines are the expression of the fierce and wild Arizona terrain. The brand is noted for its focus on Rhône and Italian varietals such as Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malvasia Bianca and Viognier, as well as blends. Their award-winning wines, creative food menu and comfortable surroundings, provide the perfect ambience for an afternoon or evening of relaxed socializing.
Be Sure to Try:
2020 DIYA
White blend of Viognier, Vermentino and Malvasia Bianca Blend
Los Milics Vineyards
A block south on Marshall Way is the newest tasting room on the Wine Trail, Los Milics Vineyards. Sleek and sophisticated, Los Milics invites you to cozy up to the bar or tables and enjoy a flight, glass or bottle of their small production wines. You’ll soon discover why Los Milics wines are nationally recognized.
Founded in 2018, the winery and vineyard are located in Elgin and are complemented by a state-of-the-art tasting room with a restaurant and casitas. Los Milics was voted one of the top three new winery experiences in the U.S. in 2023 by USA Today and voted number two in the 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in 2024 again by USA Today.
Los Milics specializes primarily in Spanish, French and Italian varietals. After tasting their wine, you may opt for a visit to their Elgin location, but for now, let’s stay on the Wine Trail.
Be Sure to Try:
2023 Norita’s
Termed orange wine for the color created by grape’s skin contact.
Blend of 37% Malvasia Bianca, 37% Marsanne, 24% Petit Verdot, 2% Vermentino
Carlson Creek Vineyards
Just across the street from Los Milics you will find Carlson Creek’s light and airy tasting room. It brings in a touch of the winery with the stave wall décor, copper bar and barrels. Winery and vineyard photos are displayed throughout, along with rotating fine art exhibits. There’s a small semi-private nook for quiet conversations as well as a private room for events.
Currently one of the largest vineyards and wineries in the state, this gem was founded by the Carlson family in 2008 in the high desert of the Willcox Bench. In addition to the 13 varietals rotating on the menu, custom cheese boards are available. Carlson Creek specializes in wines produced from French, Italian and Spanish varietals.
Be Sure to Try:
2021 Rule of Three
40% Syrah, 35% Malbec, 25% Grenache
The Wine Collective of Scottsdale
Continuing south on Marshall Way to East 1st Avenue is The Wine Collective Scottsdale, a boutique tasting room and bottle shop representing more than 30 Arizona wineries. The space is contemporary, open and comfortable. A mural of a vineyard in the Verde Valley adds to the ambience.
Offering curated tasting flights and a wide selection of wines by the glass or bottle, this wine venue is a great place to relax and learn about local Arizona wineries. Their friendly staff welcomes your questions, and they’re sure to have the answers! The guided tasting flights pair nicely with small bites, making it the perfect spot for a weekday happy hour. The covered patio is pet-friendly.
The Wine Collective offers a number of special events such as Meet The Winemaker, Complimentary Tastings and Sensory Wine Tasting Experience.
Be Sure to Try:
Strive 2022 Mélange Blanc
White blend
65% Petit Manseng
35% Sauvignon Blanc
Aridus Wine Company
One block south on East Main Street, Aridus Wine Company is the end of the Wine Trail. The tasting room’s rustic but sophisticated interior is made with natural and reclaimed materials, juxtaposed with lovely chandeliers. With ample room for groups in the main room, there’s also a private tasting room for events.
Aridus Wine Company’s Pearce, Arizona, vineyard land was purchased in 2009 at the base of the Chiricahua Mountains. The Willcox winery opened in 2012. They specialize in crafting premium wines from the unique terroirs of the region from single varietal and blends made from Spanish, French and Italian grapes. The name Aridus is a play on the word “arid”, since we are after all, in Arizona.
To make your wine tasting experience complete, light fare and charcuterie boards are available.
Be Sure to Try:
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
94 points Imbiber’s Journal
