WINE OF THE TIMES
Some wines transcend being a beverage and generate iconic imagery and memories, especially when savored with friends who enjoy a good story with a special wine. Place of origin has always been paramount. Until recently, wines were always referred to by their source, whether geographic such as Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Chianti or Barolo, or the vineyard or estate name, like Lafite or Gaja. Small vineyards are no exception. Names like Romanée-Conti in Burgundy and Clos du Mesnil in Champagne, both well under 5 acres in size, are known throughout the world. Which brings us to a Verde Valley wine with legendary potential, the Caduceus Cellars Nagual del Judith Nebbiolo. It certainly has a story. Caduceus Cellars is the winery founded by Maynard James Keenan, the lead singer for three multi-platinum alternative-rock bands, Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer. Nagual is the pre-Columbian Mesoamerican concept of the human essence that can transform itself into different forms and manifestations. Judith, Maynard’s mother, passed away at the age of 59 after a long and challenging illness and has been memorialized in a number of Maynard’s recordings, writings and interviews. In her memory, he scattered her ashes across his Jerome hillside property and named it the Judith Vineyard. After terracing the property and installing rain-capture systems and cisterns to make it truly sustainable, he experimented with grape varietals. Turning to his northern Italian heritage, Maynard succeeded with nebbiolo, the noble grape of Barolo and Barbaresco, and made a very special wine. Like those classics, it shows pale red-plum and raspberry color with characteristic strong but balanced astringency, acidity and alcohol, which will certainly smooth and soften over the next 10 years or more as it ages. I would suggest decanting an hour before service. Enjoy it as it slowly opens and shows the expected nebbiolo spice, tobacco, tea, subtle fruit and earthy flavors. — Tom Pitts
PRICE TAG: $125 (PRE-ORDER ONLY)
CADUCEUS CELLARS, 158 Main St. in Jerome (928-649-9293; caduceus.org)
STATE OF ART
In a town filled with beautiful art and accomplished artists, Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art stands out as being the largest gallery in northern Arizona and one of the largest in the world. Carefully browsing all 20,000 square feet – 10,000 outdoors and 10,000 indoors – can take the better part of an afternoon. You’ll find nearly 100 artists and a wide range of price points all the way up to $100,000 pieces of jewelry and $300,000 sculptures. But it wasn’t always that way, says owner Marty Herman. Marty and his wife Diane opened Exposures in 1996 after retiring from the 9-to-5 grind and spending six years sailing around the world. They wanted to start a business together in a city with clean air, no crime and a mild climate, and that’s how they discovered Sedona. The gallery’s original location was a mere 1,700 square feet and located in a shopping center. Within three years, Exposures had relocated to its current spot. Exposures specializes in southwestern sculpture, as evidenced by its grand entrance, but the rest of the artwork is modern. Artists from around the world exhibit here. There used to be a glass VIP room to cater to a clientele that included everyone from Saudi princes to Michael Jackson, but Marty and Diane did away with that when their deep-pocketed clients said they preferred to have the complete Exposures experience. “Now, anyone who comes in gets the VIP treatment,” says Marty. “We treat everyone like they are guests invited into our living room. We’ll offer you something to drink – water, soft drinks, wine – and tell you about our artists, who are all part of our family.”
PRICE TAG: IT’S FREE TO BROWSE, BUT IF YOU COVET THE BEAR SCULPTED BY GENE AND REBECCA TOBEY STANDING OUT FRONT, IT WILL COST YOU $500,000
EXPOSURES INTERNATIONAL GALLERY OF FINE ART, 561 AZ-179 (928-282-1125; exposuresfineart.com)
COCKTAIL HOUR
There are several spots in Sedona that allow you to sip a handcrafted cocktail while meditating on the sublime views. L’Auberge de Sedona is one of those spots, and it has long been one of our favorites. Even when the weather turns chilly and the sycamores and cottonwoods begin to lose their leaves, you can bundle up in front of romantic fire pits and enjoy the sounds of Oak Creek. Franck Desplechin, L’Auberge’s director of food and beverage, recently added a new cocktail to the menu that combines his French heritage, German upbringing and the history of L’Auberge. Eastern Promises features Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka, apple puree, Amaro Montenegro, lemon juice, prosecco and desert sage. The apple, of course, comes from L’Auberge’s history as an apple orchard (you can still find apple trees on the property). The other ingredients are a bit more personal. “I used to live in Berlin because my dad was [in the] French military,” says Franck. “We moved to Germany in 1988 when Berlin West and Berlin East were separated by the wall. My dad’s favorite vodka was Zubrowka, which means ‘bison grass’ in Russian. It was only available on the other side of the wall, so it was illegal in Berlin West. Not sure how my dad was able to have some, but he always had two bottles in the house. I was there on Nov. 9, 1989, when the wall opened – it was my birthday. After the wall opened, the production of Zubrowka slowed to the point of almost closing down completely. My dad was able to bring some cases back to France, and I know he still has one original bottle that he doesn’t want to touch as he is keeping it for when he retires.”
PRICE TAG: $14
L’AUBERGE DE SEDONA, 301 L’Auberge Lane (928-282-1661; lauberge.com)
CELEBRITY TREATMENT
Your own private pool and spa? Check. Dinner cooked in your kitchen by the resort’s renowned chef? Check. Red rock views you can’t experience anywhere else and a VIP concierge? Check and check. Discerning travelers looking for the ultimate Sedona vacation book one of the five pool and spa-pool suites at Enchantment Resort. Each comes with two viewing decks, a bathroom with double sinks, a gas fireplace, kitchenette and, of course, a private pool or private spa and pool. And yes, if you don’t want to leave paradise even for dinner, you can book the resort’s chef to cook a gourmet meal in your room. That’s just one of the options that will be discussed when Enchantment’s director of VIP experiences reaches out prior to your arrival, says Stan Kantowski, Enchantment’s general manager. The resort offers 140 different activities each week. Options include mountain biking, hiking, cooking classes, treatments at Mii amo spa, golf at Seven Canyons, hot-air-balloon tours, stargazing and more. “The pre-arrival experience is very important,” says Stan. “It gives people a chance to decide how they want to structure their vacation so that when they arrive, they can immediately start having fun and relaxing. Many guests take advantage of everything offered on the property and don’t even leave the resort.”
PRICE TAG: RATES START AT $705 PER NIGHT
ENCHANTMENT RESORT, 525 Boynton Canyon Road (928-282-2900; enchantmentresort.com)
HAUTE CUISINE
The utmost care and thought were put into designing Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill. Everything turns dining at the restaurant into an experience, from the 1,000-pound door crafted from African and South American stone to the acoustics that make it possible to have a conversation to the creative tapas. “We designed the restaurant to evoke an introspective view of oneself,” says restaurant owner and executive chef Lisa Dahl. “When you walk in the door, you’re greeted by your reflection in a mirrored butterfly that also reflects the views behind you. From the moment you enter, it’s an ethereal experience.” Actually, for some, the experience begins before they even get to the restaurant. Mariposa – Spanish for butterfly – has an 11-seat passenger van that picks up and drops off from West Sedona, so you can indulge in that bottle of Argentinian Malbec during dinner. The sweet seat in the house is out on the patio, which is usually open year-round. The expansive views here are easily some of the best you’ll find in all of Sedona. “To operate a restaurant in such a gorgeous natural setting is like being the steward of a sacred place,” says Lisa. “Our guests leave feeling enriched and immersed in Sedona.” Though Lisa is known for her Italian cuisine – witness the popularity of Dahl & Di Luca, Cucina Rustica and Pisa Lisa – the menu at Mariposa has a Latin flair. Think steaks and French-cut bone-in pork chops served with house chimichurri. (Vegetarian options are available, too.) The Prix-Fixe Tomahawk for 2 is a multicourse meal with a 34-ounce Newport Beef Long Bone Tomahawk rib-eye steak as its centerpiece. If you want to up the ante on your luxe experience, ask about booking the 40-seat Sanctuary Room for you and your friends.
PRICE TAG: THE PRIX-FIXE TOMAHAWK FOR 2 IS $175 PER COUPLE PLUS $35 PER PERSON FOR WINE PAIRINGS.
MARIPOSA LATIN INSPIRED GRILL, 700 AZ-89A in West Sedona (928-862-4444; mariposasedona.com)
DIAMONDS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND
When you think luxury, you might think shopping. And when you think shopping in Sedona, you think jewelry. Lithuania-born artist Alex Sepkus has been designing jewelry for almost 40 years, primarily from his workshop in Manhattan. His pieces are all distinctive and his clientele is discerning, says Mike Taylor, co-owner of Renee Taylor Jewelry. Alex describes his own work as somewhere between humorist P.G. Wodehouse and a worn flagstone from a medieval church floor. His Little Windows necklace is crafted from 18-karat gold and 84 diamonds with a total weight of 1.49 carats. The necklace is 38 inches long, which means it can be wrapped and worn several ways (even as a bracelet or a belt for those who want to get creative). “I think women – particularly those who have everything else and want something unique – are drawn to Alex Sepkus because of the handcrafted and intricate details of his work,” says Mike. “Each stipple in the necklace has been created by hand. All of his pieces are very solid – there’s nothing else out there like it that I’ve ever seen. They are almost like sculptures. That’s why he has attracted some very passionate collectors.”
PRICE TAG: $22,050
RENEE TAYLOR JEWELRY, 313 AZ-179 at Tlaquepaque North (928-282-1506; reneetaylorgallery.com)
INDULGE YOUR SENSES
There is no shortage of spa experiences in Sedona, but one treatment in particular stands out as the epitome of pampering: Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa’s Hammam Spa Ritual. A hammam is a warm Turkish bath, and Sedona Rouge strives to recreate that experience here in Sedona. The ritual begins with Moroccan herbal tea poured on your body as a purifier. It only gets better from there. Your body will be cleansed, exfloiated and detoxified with a jasmine-rose-clay polish. There’s also time spent in a cedar-scented bath and a massage that incorporates warm oil infused with jasmine, amber and rose. The oil is topped off with cool tangerine-fig body butter. And in this day and age when 50-minute massages seem to be the norm, the decadent Hammam Spa Ritual lasts a blissful 120 minutes. “The Hammam is about the spreading of warmth and the bringing of warmth to the body,” says Barbara Lepper, a Sedona Rouge massage therapist with 30 years in the spa industry. (She has also experienced a hammam in Istanbul.) “The room is warm and dimly lit, and the products – all from Morocco – are also warm. There are so many unique fragrances involved. It’s like going to a restaurant and having a meal that involves all of your senses. This treatment is the spa equivalent of a great meal.”
PRICE TAG: $250
SEDONA ROUGE HOTEL & SPA, 2250 AZ-89A in West Sedona (928-203-4111; sedonarouge.com)
MEMBERS ONLY
When you drive through the gates at Seven Canyons, you know immediately that this isn’t your typical country club. First, the 200-acre club is in the middle of more than 100,000 acres of Coconino National Forest – think red rocks, blue skies and evergreens as far as the eye can see. Second, the level of service you receive the moment you park your car speaks to the club’s exclusivity. You will be greeted – by name – by a member of Seven Canyons staff in the parking lot. (It’s worth noting that many staff members have been working at the club for 10-plus years). Golfing? You’ll be presented with a golf cart outfitted with a flat-screen GPS that has been personalized just for you. Craving a single-malt scotch while you’re on the course? Order it along with any food items from your cart, and everything will be brought to you. Even if you aren’t a golfer, you’ll be pampered around every perfectly manicured corner. At the 14,000-square-foot clubhouse, you’ll find the Performance Health Center complete with fitness classes, personal trainers, a licensed physical therapist, a swimming pool, practice tee, yoga lawn and locker rooms with both sauna and steam facilities. Members and their guests also enjoy access to the club’s restaurant complete with some of the most jaw-dropping views in all of Sedona. If it’s hiking you desire, Seven Canyons has private access to many of the area’s favorite trails. Seven Canyons currently boasts 100 full members, 21 social members (no golf course privileges) and 230 fractional members (those who own one of the Tuscan-style villas located at the club). What these intimate numbers mean is that more often than not, it feels like you have the entire club all to yourself. You usually don’t even need to reserve a tee time or table at the restaurant, says Dave Bisbee, general manager and director of golf. “There’s a certain demographic who have the means to be involved at Seven Canyons, and they come here with certain expectations,” says Dave. “Our goal – and what we are known for – is exceeding those expectations. Our mantra is that we do everything we can to figure out a way to say ‘yes.’”
PRICE TAG: FULL MEMBERSHIPS ARE $20,000 TO JOIN WHILE SOCIAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE $5,000. BOTH MEMBERSHIP DUES RANGE FROM $700 TO $300 PER MONTH.
SEVEN CANYONS, 625 Golf Club Way (928-203-2001; sevencanyons.com)
LAP OF LUXURY
The most expensive home on the market in Sedona right now is a 10-acre estate dubbed Vista Rossa. For $12.5 million, you, too, can own a 15,000-square-foot, seven-bedroom and 14-bathroom palace complete with two elevators. Vista Rossa also boasts a theater with sound-sync rumble chairs and tiered seating; a kitchen with a butler’s pantry; a 1,000-square-foot master suite; and a 4,000-square-foot garage designed to showcase an RV, boats and a car collection. There’s a lagoon-style swimming pool with its own grotto, slide and cabana, too. Vista Rossa is surrounded by Coconino National Forest yet its location off Soldiers Pass Road means you’re never far from Whole Foods (or at least your kitchen staff is never far from Whole Foods), says Sound Realty’s Colleen TeBrake, the home’s listing agent. “Even though you’re close to town, you feel secluded, and the home has a ton of privacy,” she says. Morris Fine Homebuilding built Vista Rossa in 2003, but it’s not the only multi-million-dollar home on the market right now. There’s a $7-plus million home for sale at The Aerie and a $3-plus million house at Eagle Mountain Ranch. Still, says Roy Grimm, Sedona Monthly’s real estate columnist and an agent with RE/MAX Sedona, $1 million-plus in Sedona will get you much more than that same price tag in places like Aspen, where the median recorded selling price of a single-family home is $5.7 million. It’s $2.2 million for a condo in that resort town. That’s just one example of why Sedona is becoming more and more attractive to luxury buyers. “On a cost-per-squarefoot basis, it’s less expensive to buy a 4,500-square-foot luxury home in Sedona than a two-bedroom condo in places such as California’s Bay Area and New York City,” says Roy.
PRICE TAG: $12.5 MILLION
VISTA ROSSA, 250 Enchanted Way in West Sedona (602-292-2552; vistarossasedona.com)
JET SET
For those looking for an air tour that’s a step above your typical helicopter experience, Westwind Air Service offers flights over Sedona, the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley in its posh five- and nineseat passenger planes. If your idea of seeing the Grand Canyon from above includes a leather captain’s chair, your favorite tunes playing on your headset and a glass of bubbly in hand, that can also be arranged. Westwind is one of only three companies permitted to fly above the Grand Canyon – 1,000 feet above the South Rim, to be precise. That low elevation translates to stupendous views. “We fly our planes low and slow,” says Gayle Lurenz, director of marketing. “The planes have large windows and every seat is a window seat. You’ll see Sedona, the San Francisco Peaks, the Colorado Plateau, the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers, and the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon. It’s very relaxing.” If it’s the big city that floats your boat, Westwind also offers charter flights from Sedona to anywhere in the Southwest and northern Mexico. Girls’ weekend in Vegas? Skip the drive to Phoenix and the TSA security lines. You’ll leave from Sedona, fly over the Grand Canyon for those aforementioned views and touch down at McCarran International Airport. Westwind will even stock the plane with your favorite food and beverages so you can get the party started early. (Westwind also flies out of Flagstaff and Page.) “Everything we do is about service to our passengers,” says Gayle. “Your pilot knows your name, meets you at the terminal and escorts you to your plane. You can leave whenever you want – you don’t have to hassle with flight times. We can narrate the tour or play your favorite music. You’re going to get the royal treatment.”
PRICE TAG: GRAND CANYON AERIAL TOUR, $317 PER ADULT. TWO-NIGHT CHARTERED FLIGHTS FROM SEDONA TO LAS VEGAS START AT $3,900 FOR UP TO NINE PEOPLE.
WESTWIND AIR SERVICE, 235 Air Terminal Drive in Sedona; 480-991-5557; westwindairservice.com)
