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The Verde Valley wine region is a surprising and delightful day trip from your Payson vacation rental. Arizona's wine industry has matured significantly in recent years, and the tasting rooms of Jerome, Cottonwood, and Cornville offer excellent wines in settings that range from historic saloons to elegant hillside estates.

Wine Tasting in the Verde Valley

The town of Jerome, perched dramatically on Cleopatra Hill, hosts several tasting rooms where you can sample Arizona wines while enjoying views that stretch for a hundred miles. Cottonwood's Old Town has become the hub of the Verde Valley wine trail, with multiple tasting rooms within walking distance of each other. Many wineries grow their grapes in the unique high-desert terroir along the Verde River, producing distinctive varietals that are earning national recognition.

A Wine Day from Payson

The drive from Payson to the Verde Valley takes about ninety minutes through beautiful central Arizona scenery. Plan to visit three or four tasting rooms, enjoy lunch in Old Town Cottonwood, and purchase your favorites to bring back to your Payson vacation rental. An evening of Arizona wine on your mountain deck is the perfect conclusion to a day of vinyard exploration. Plan your wine excursion from your Payson base at LoveYourVacationRental.com.