Prep your palate for wine in Verde Valley. Home to some of the most picturesque landscape in Arizona, Verde Valley offers great wineries and tasting rooms nestled in the red rock countryside.

Explore the lush canyons surrounding the rustic towns of Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Jerome, Sedona, Clarkdale, and Cornville. Almost 80% of the land in the valley is National Forest, which makes it a great change of pace from the desert landscape that Arizona is known for. You also won’t want to miss visiting the Verde River, Arizona’s only federally designated Wild and Scenic River.

The Verde Valley includes about 714 square miles located in the geographic center of Arizona, about 100 miles north of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Verde River runs through the valley from northwest to southeast and is augmented by flows from Sycamore Canyon, Oak Creek, Beaver Creek and West Clear Creek. The area is unsurpassed in its variety of physical beauty with the red rocks and Mogollon Rim to the north and east and the Black Hills and Mingus Mountain dominating the western and southern portions of the valley.

The City of Cottonwood is located adjacent to the Verde River at elevations ranging from 3,300 feet to 3,900 feet above sea level and experiences a mild climate which, together with its proximity to an abundance of natural amenities such as the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Tuzigoot National Monument and the historic mining communities of Clarkdale and Jerome, continues to attract steady growth and tourism.

Nearly 80% of the land in the Verde Valley is National Forest. The Coconino National Forest is generally located north and east of the Verde River while the Prescott National Forest is south and west of the River. The region includes 20 square miles of State Trust Land most of which is located along state highways between Cottonwood and Sedona and between Cottonwood and Camp Verde. Only about 17% of the Verde Valley is privately owned.

We encourage you to spend some time shopping and dining in Old Town where you’ll find a variety of unique and eclectic shops, fine eateries and tasting rooms that will surely put a smile on your face. The Arizona Republic has even named Old Town Cottonwood “A Culinary Hot Spot”! Visit the Old Town Association site for more details http://www.oldtown.org/.