Uncorked: Wine Fest at Verde Canyon Railroad

Wonderful excursion, highly recommend for everyone! Beautiful landscapes, informative history and a really fun time.

I took my "mother" on this train ride for her 81st birthday. She was looking for something different to do and when I can across this option, it was an emphatic YES!! She's only lived in Az for a few years and has only seen Tucson and the Phoenix area so she was pleasantly amazed at the landscape and scenery. I purchased the wine tasting tickets for us and although she's not a drinker, she does enjoy the occasional glass of wine. We arrived very early and it was so easy to get our tickets. I do believe lunch from the cafe was included in the price. They also serve a complimentary charcuterie box, which was quite nice and would have been ample food for us. The cafe food was ok. I got the chicken sandwich, and she got the chicken tenders. Mine was just 2 chicken tenders between a roll. Next time I'd probably skip the lunch knowing about the charcuterie box. The wine tasting was four 2oz tastes for each of us. She likes sweeter wines and there weren't any that were really sweet, according to the lovely bar tenders. We did find a lovely sparking rose that she "didn't mind" Moving on to the actual train ride, we boarded about 12:45 and it looked like a storm was coming in but we were assured that wouldn't distract from the tour, and that it would only make it more enjoyable. Our host/bartender inside the Sedona car was Liz. She was excellent. Started the trip off with a champagne toast and gave us all of the good information as we went along. There is an outside car that you can move back & forth from and we were told that it was a much better experience from outside. I asked my mother - Dororthy - if she wanted to go outside and at first she said she was fine inside. I had ordered us some wine on the train and had asked Liz for a recommendation or a sweeter wine. She recommended a red blend. I didn't' think Dorothy would like it but she tasted it & said it "wasn't bad". Next thing I know, Dorothy is feelin' fine! Haha! So we decided to go outside. She was like a kid in a candy store! "ooh! Look at that! Ooh, look at that!" and "take a picture of that!" She made fast friends with our outdoor hosts, Paul & Travis. She's also a bit of a flirt. If it was up to her, we'd have spent the entire rest of the trip outside. Unfortunately, it did start to sprinkle, and temperature dropped, which was amazing, but I hadn't dressed properly for that weather, nor had I brought a jacket. So, we stayed outside until we reached the end of the track and listened to the history of the train and the famous people who'd used it to film. One being Air Supply, who Dorothy let everyone know she LOVED! We did go back inside for the trip back to the station and she was a little let down. Many people were napping and it was just a low key ride back. If it hadn't been raining we'd have been outside for sure and I'm sure she would have loved it. So instead she talked the ears off of our couch mates who were visiting from San Diego & were very kind. Dorothy's "high" from the wine lasted most of the trip and she said many times what a wonderful birthday she was having. She made me promise to post a nice review and to mention Liz, Paul & Travis and the Sedona car. She wants to come back for the Holiday train ride now! Thanks to everyone who made her feel special on her special day! It was a day she won't soon forget!

My daughter and I just did our second ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad. We had a great time both last October (Octoberfest) and this Wine fest a week ago. We decided to do the works (lunch and the wine tasting). Lunch was so filling that we could only eat half and had enough leftover to have for dinner. Did I mention that it was also very good? Abbey was our bartender and she provided the champagne for our “take off’ drink. Because lunch was so filling, we were only able to nibble on the snacks provided (cheese, sausage, crackers, fruit and a little dessert) and had leftovers to take home with us, The scenery was wonderful and the Verde was flowing. The historian, Sully, was able to provide a great history of the area and Abbey, our bartender was friendly, helpful and made a mean Mud Slide. The two of them help make the trip memorable. If you have never ridden the Verde Valley Railway, let me encourage you to get out there, and learn the history of the area either from the comfort of the first class seats or while out on an observation car.