There are many ways to experience a winery, and Camp Verde’s Alcanta Vineyards and Winery offers a Verde River tour so you can check out the winery on the water from a kayak. The tour kicks off just a few hundred feet from the tasting room at Alcantara. Our group met at the Verde River Adventure Center’s wooden structure and then took a bus that transported us to the launch point. After driving down a very steep forest road, we were given instructions on how to get in our inflatable kayaks. Next up, we were launched into the Verde River and paddled down this river for roughly 90 minutes. The journey was an adventure. We paddled over fast currents, got stuck in rocks and trees and bounced off the sides of the river’s edge. We also just relaxed in placid water and basked in the sun when we needed a break. Along the way, we saw two herons and one turtle. It was an altogether fun, thrilling experience that Alcantara has offered for over 10 years.
Alcantara winemaker Ron Brumley “wants people to get engulfed in the nature and the outdoors and experience it all together,” says Ayla Jackson, the former events manager for Alcantara Vineyards. “Who doesn’t love an adventure?” The winery also offers e-biking and horseback riding tours. Although you can purchase a waterproof phone case, most people opt to leave their phones behind. “It’s a great opportunity to detach from social media, from our busy lives, and that’s one thing I love about it, because it’s forcing you to just be in nature and ground yourself,” says Ayla. After the tour, kayakers can gather in Alcantara’s tasting room or on its patio, where they can enjoy food and Arizona wine. Tour takers are all given $20 vouchers that they can spend on food, wine and merchandise. I personally enjoyed a mix of red and white wines along with a caprese flatbread.
Why does the winery offer this? To provide a unique experience and attract different people to the winery. Ayla has seen plenty of tour takers try and love Alcantara’s wines, even those who think they won’t like wine. “It’s a great opportunity for them to try something new,” she says. “They can try all the different varieties. They can see where it’s processed, where it’s grown to the glass, which is really awesome.” – Teresa K. Traverse
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