Such a fun little stop at Arizona Stronghold Vineyards Tasting Room in Cottonwood, AZ. The staff…read morewas super helpful and made everything easy, and I loved getting to relax on one of their comfy couches with my boyfriend. It had such a laid back Sunday vibe. They had a deal where you could pick any three wines off the menu for $13 which was perfect for trying a few things. My favorite was the 2021 Lake Cochise Red, it tasted exactly like the flavor notes they described. Definitely somewhere I'd come back to soon.

Walked to servet telling us just take a seat where you like and I'll find you. After 15 minutes of…read morewatching her wait on other tables including groups that arrived after we did, we got up to leave. Suddenly the server rushed over announcing we should have gotten her attention! We were responsible for her failure. Life is too short to tolerate this behavior.

Met Chris at the verde canyon railroad. She was so nice and took time to explain the wind. Loved…read moreeverything I tasted. Especially the rosé as it was a warm day. Tasted the reds and they were amazing as well. Super nice and I would totally recommend stopping by and enjoying a bottle with friends at their location.

The service. THE WINE. The ambiance. Even the snack cheese box! Can't rave enough. We didn't make…read morereservations but had four adults and a baby and we got lucky to sit inside in the air conditioned tasting room. Seems popular and busy especially on weekends. All the wines tasted great, some more than the others. We ended up buying five bottles and have told everyone we know to make sure to visit! We'll be back very soon ... and thank you to the lovely wine staff for a nice birthday outing!

Wines are excellent! I'm not a huge fan of AZ wines, but I have found a handful I like. Honestly I…read morelike imported or Santa Rosa/Napa, CA wines. HOWEVER, Southwest Wine Center was a pleasant surprise. Nancy (I think that was her name, my apologies) was excellent, knowledgable and says she's an alumni of the program. It's so fun that this wine tasting room is part of a real, student and alumni involved viticulture program for Yavapai College. Also, my husband and I went to the 2026 Pecan and Wine festival in Camp Verde, AZ and there were a ton of wineries providing tastings and I disliked all of them except the Southwest Wine Center! Always smiling, always friendly, always delicious. If you visit the tasting room, expect beautiful views of the vineyards and fantastic, knowledgable staff. They have outdoor and inside seating. You can get your tasting of wine or hard alcohol they also make and offer flights.

This wine tasting center is in a gorgeous location with views of the vineyards and views towards…read moreSedona and the building is a very modern industrial style with roll up garage doors, a caged stone fence on the patio and various metal art pieces. I went for a combo yoga and wine class through Yavapai College. We started with an excellent 1 hour yoga session on the patio overlooking the vineyards. The instructor was very good and also accommodating for various skill levels. As part of the class we had a wine voucher. I tried the Tannat, a grape that can be hard to find and it was excellent. Highly recommend stopping by.

We came on a rainy Saturday night with no reservation. It was surprisingly busy inside, we asked…read morefor the wait and the hostess said about 45 min. We decided not to stay so we left. We ended coming back about 10 min later because there wasn't too many food options around the area. The same hostess asked if a table was ok and we said yes so we ended up getting seated immediately. We were a little confused We ordered a few things, Garden salad - the portion was big but the vinaigrette dressing didn't taste like anything. I wish we got a different salad since it just tasted like plain wet salad (4/10) Pesto Pizza - very good pesto flavor and I really enjoyed their pizza dough. I wish we added some type of meat ontop because it felt like it was missing something. I'd probably get it again and ask to do that (6.5/10) or a (8/10) when I added the chicken Chicken piccata - this dish was good, chicken was a little dry. It came with polenta that was very flavorful. I was using this chicken to eat with the pizza and salad. (7/10)

Merkin Vineyards and Tasting Room is hands down one of the best wine and dining experiences I've…read moreexperienced in Arizona! From the moment you arrive, everything feels thoughtfully curated. Starting with the charming tram/trolley that takes you up to the restaurant, offering a fun and scenic alternative to climbing stairs. We started with a wine flight, and I have to say--the white wine options were outstanding! Crisp, refreshing, and beautifully balanced. Each one had its own character, and the staff, super knowledgeable and happy to walk us through the flavors and pairings. If you're a white wine lover, this spot is a must. The food was equally memorable. Hubs ordered the muffuletta sandwich which included layers of flavor with high-quality ingredients on a lofty rosemary focaccia bread- delish! I ordered the house salad & added organic chicken. This salad was fresh, hearty, and full of vibrant farm-to-table goodness. You can absolutely taste the difference. We enjoyed sitting outside with beautiful Arizona weather on the patio. This spot is perfect for sipping wine and soaking in the views. Merkin also offers canned wines to-go and a fun selection of merch, which makes it easy to take a little piece of Merkin home with you. Whether you're a wine connoisseur or just looking for a relaxing day with great food and drink, Merkin Vineyards is a gem. Personally, I can't wait to return!

The vibes are IMMACULATE!!! All the ladies that work here are so kind and attentive. They always go…read moreabove and beyond. It's such a welcoming environment. I love this place! The wines are so good and the names are cute! Love that they had yummy charcuterie boards too!

We had the most amazing time! My wife and I are exhausted new parents and this place was exactly…read morewhat the doctor ordered. The owner is very funny and very sweet! 10 out of 10 will visit again! Try the macarons and the infused cherries

Bodega Pierce is a family owned business. They grow their own grapes and make their own wine. The…read morelove and attention to every detail is obvious. Excellent value for price. Highly recommend.

Robin was our server at the tasting room and was so knowledgeable about the winery's history and…read morevarietals. She guided us through our tastings and was very welcoming and friendly. We ended up buying a mixed case of wine and we'll definitely be back.

Girls' trip to Cottonwood and one of our favorite stops: Merkin Vineyards - Cottonwood!…read more Amazing views, the most gorgeous sunset, and SO much good food. We had the Merkin Mac & Cheese, Grilled Wagyu Bistecca, and Gnocchi--and of course, all four of us did the Chupacabra wine flight. And the service deserves a special shoutout! We had been trying to get an Uber or Lyft for over 30 minutes, and every ride kept canceling. The staff overheard us trying to figure out how we were getting home and immediately stepped in. They called a local taxi for us, and it showed up right away! Good wine, great food, even better views, and the best girls to share it all with.

After an awesome train ride in the Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale, we celebrated my birthday…read moredinner at Merlin. We've been so intrigued by the hilltop prominence of this beautiful building that we had to make it a special event (such as my birthday). The 100 steps from street level to the restaurant entry were easy and safe regardless of the several downpours that occurred that afternoon. Alternatively, patrons can easily drive around the hill to the restaurant entry. Or even more fun, take the funicular cable car from street level to the entry, riding along side of the vertical steps. Once inside, the hostess was adorable and friendly, quickly seating us per our reservation request to sit as the bar which has the most stunning views of the surrounding canyon all the way to the hills of Sedona. Once seated, our attentive bartender Lalo gently moved into action with beverages and our dinner order. The Salads are tasty and unique with some fruits and nuts. The pizza was baked perfection with lots of Pelleroni, and the Papardelle Pasta with Short Rib Red Sauce was excellent, loaded with sauce and meat, with homemade pasta noodles cooked to perfection. Our bartender graciously brought us a couple desserts on the house for my wife and me to celebrate...Baked Alaska and of course Cannoli's. So much delight that we had to bring home a portion of each plate. Maynard, you've done justice to this restaurant and to Old Town Cottonwood. Keep up the great work and Rock On! PS Apologies for no food photos...we immediately jumped in.

This was our first time at DA Vines. My husband and I attended a ticketed event called the "Old…read moreTown Showdown" dinner, where two local wineries, Rubix and Da Vine, went head-to-head with a blind tasting. We were served a 6-course dinner paired with a wine from each winery, and then we voted on what wine we felt paired best with the course. It was so fun. The food was amazing, and the service was exceptional! It's such a cute space. We will definitely be back for a tasting and more food because everything was amazing.

We decided do stop at this spot on our way to Jerome and so glad we did. Not super busy on a Friday…read more2pm. Walked in and get outdoor seating and most of the patio was shaded. Thea was our server and she offered great suggestions. The wine flights 3/16 is a great deal and we got a poor. 2 ounces each poor is a steal. I got the ham and gruyere sandwich with duck fat frites and it was so good! Very chill and relaxing spot. You could have a leisurely lunch with no rush, people enjoying the wine and food and you having a great catch up with friends. I can't wait to come back

We only had wine but sat outside watching a lightning storm over the mountains. A great night in…read moreCottonwood. The wine was great & the live music was spot on. They are a regular stop when we're in the area.

Went there awhile ago year ago and I really felt like I enjoyed the red flight. Took some friends…read moreback there and I was not impressed at all. I made a comment that I was not enjoying "some" of my flight and instead of her making suggestions to let me try a few others, swap out the two that I really hated she was just like OHHHHHH! I don't take that well when I feel the point is to get people to like it and buy more wine and maybe bottles. To buy a flight is a reason to sample it and see what you like and to just make light of my opinion when she talked me into it made me kind of mad. Won't be back and yes I tipped but it was hard to do

This gallery was recommended to us. We came right at opening but the doors were locked for a bit,…read morewe walked around to other shops and came back. They opened about 20 minutes after. Prices range from $20 to $200. We found a beautiful hawk on slate which we love and were surprise to find it to be $30, we immediately purchased it, love it, and display it. There are paintings, sketches, pottery, and other mediums here from various artists in the Verde valley.

This is a great gallery to stop into while walking Old Town Cottonwood. We found an incredible…read morepiece of art, a hawk perched on a cactus printed on slate... for only $30! Instant purchase. They also had other paintings, bowls, etc from various Arizona artists.