CLARKDALE MAZE FIELD GUIDE
Verde Valley by the Glass: A Focused Education on Clarkdale’s Rising Wine Country
A four‑hour guided tasting that surveys Verde Valley’s newly designated AVA, featuring three tasting flights and visits to the Southwest Wine Center and local wineries.
Verde Valley by the Glass: A Focused Education on Clarkdale’s Rising Wine Country.
Set in and around Clarkdale, this four‑hour wine and vineyard education experience walks the newly designated Verde Valley AVA—from the student cellars of the Southwest Wine Center to small, local tasting rooms—where award‑winning bottlings and regionally distinctive varietals are poured and explained against the high‑desert Arizona landscape.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Southwest Wine Center: student‑made, award‑winning wines
The tour stops at the Southwest Wine Center, where students in a two‑year viticulture and winemaking program produce wines from vines on campus; those student wines have earned awards from the Arizona Wine Growers Association.
Bodega Pierce: the dean’s tasting room
Bodega Pierce Winery & Tasting Room is owned by Michael Pierce, who also serves as dean of the Southwest Wine Center; his wines, particularly his whites, are a featured stop on the tour.
Chateau Tumbleweed: distinctive bottles, notable wines
Chateau Tumbleweed offers wines notable for their distinctive tumbleweed labels and informative packaging; across the board their bottlings are presented as top quality within the Verde Valley circuit.
What the day feels like
What the day feels like
Over roughly four hours you move between Clarkdale tasting rooms and education sites, sampling three tasting flights per person while guides contextualize the Verde Valley’s recent AVA designation and the region’s winemaking efforts—from student projects to seasoned local producers—against the Arizona high‑desert scenery.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who gets the most from this tour—and who should plan differently.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The guided experience lasts about 4 hours and is offered Thursday through Sunday; plan bookings in advance.
The tour includes three wine tasting flights per person and visits to the Southwest Wine Center and local wineries.
Some stops require advance reservations; the operator requires at least seven days’ notice to secure visits.
The tour departs from Clarkdale, AZ; confirm the exact meeting location with the operator when booking.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is the Clarkdale Wine & Vineyard Education Experience?
The tour lasts approximately 4 hours.
How many tastings are included?
Each person receives three wine tasting flights as part of the tour.
When is the tour available?
The tour is available Thursday through Sunday.
Do I need to reserve in advance?
Yes. Because some stops require advance reservations, the operator requires at least seven days’ advance notice.
Where does the tour meet?
The meeting location is in Clarkdale, AZ.