Welcome to Vine Geeks, with your hostess on all things wine, Kate Crowley. Crowley is not a sommelier, but learned to pour a glass of wine properly at ten years of age -- because it is an important life skill to master early.
See also: - 10 Favorite Metro Phoenix Wine Bars - Wine Tasting 101.
Looking to enjoy fine fall weather and wine? Look no further than our list of places to enjoy great wine and the great outdoors. Drink up!
Harvest Festival at Queen Creek Olive Mill - Every Saturday through December 15, the Queen Creek Olive Mill hosts a "Harvest Festival" with various wine vendors offering complimentary tastings from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
According to Casey Cole, Tours and Events Manager at the Olive Mill, there will also be live music each Saturday as well. Cole says that fans of Carazona, a local distributor of North Carolina's Hinnant Family Vineyard wine, won't be disappointed as they will be featured regularly. The lovely shaded patio, along with shopping and dining make visiting the Queen Creek Olive Mill a lovely way to spend time outside with wine. If you've never tried muscadine wine, now is your chance.
The Herb Box's Wine + Dine with Your Dog- Like wine and love your dog? The Herb Box has a few events you might like. On October 23 you can enjoy wines from Vino750 and dine on the dog friend upper level patio of the Old Town Scottsdale Herb Box on the Waterfront.
Happy Hour Drink specials are available and standard menu items offered for dining. Dogs and their owners can stop in to Oh My Dog (across the street) for a treat for the dogs before 6 pm.
Alcantara Vineyards Tastings and Tours- If you're willing to take a little day trip out of town (about an hour and a half each way) Alcantara Vineyards is a sweet escape just off the highway in Cottonwood. Their tasting room overlooks their vineyards and the cliffs of the Verde River. You can sit inside or outside and the tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tastings are ten to fifteen dollars per person and tours are available on Fridays and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. Alcantara's tasting room has a lovely little menu as well, in case you decide to spend the entire day "tasting" on the deck and need a snack.
Wine specials during Friday night tastings at LGO.La Grande Orange's Friday Night Tastings - New at LGO are weekly wine tastings in the scenic yet casual java garden. Each Friday from now until the end of the year, LGO will be hosting complimentary wine tastings from 6 to 9 p.m. All featured bottles are 10% off at the tastings. They have bike racks so if you live with in a 5 mile radius, ride on over.
Point Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort's Insider's View- If total outdoor drinking isn't your thing but you'd still like a great view, the Pointe Hilton is the place to be. On October 12, you can enjoy food by Chef Anthony DeMuro and wine from California's Michael David Winery while over looking the Phoenix Skyline at night. Melissa Phillips Stroud from the winery will share cooking tips and share wine industry facts over a dinner prepared tableside. This dinner begins at 6:15 pm and is limited to just a dozen guests and costs $99 per person. Reservations at 602.866.6350. If you miss this one, don't worry, there will be another Insider's View in January.