Arizona Stronghold Winery #Travel

The secret is out. I am a wino! As you may know, I live in "wine country" here in Northern Virginia. It is well known that we have wineries as far as the eyes can see. My husband and I are frequent visitors to "red rock country" in Sedona, AZ and we had no clue just how many wineries were nearby in Old Town Cottonwood. Thank you handy dandy travel brochures! The thing we soon realized about most Arizona wineries is their tasting rooms are completely separated from their actual "grapevine" wineries, which are way out in the boondocks. Old Town Cottonwood reminded me a lot of our hometown in Leesburg, VA. It is cozy, quaint, and full of fun little antique stores! The winery that caught my eye immediately was Arizona Stronghold Winery. Their brand pops into the streets! As you walk inside, everything is modern and artsy. It is a small little spot, but everything fits perfectly.

As a wino, my first concern is the wine! It is a first for me, but the white wines are actually the "Stars" here. I love the Dala Chardonnay! Crisp and refreshing with snips of honeydew melon. Absolutely perfect for a warm summer's day. If you are a RED person then try the Mangus, which is a Tuscan-style red that combines Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with their Sangiovese. The ambiance is friendly, eclectic, and quaint. I love that you get to keep your tasting glass after you are finished....nice touch! While I was there, a local wine blogger was doing his "write-up" for Arizona Stronghold(which I found a bit humorous). Besides the wine, I also have to give two thumbs up to their amazing cheese plate!

A little birdie told me, that the cheeses are made by the folks right down the road at Old Town Red Rooster Cafe. My husband and I really should have eaten there. That cheese tray was top notch, especially for a winery. Most wineries care about their wines only(for obvious reasons). Wine and cheese are an old tyme pairing that really makes sense! All wineries should take a fresh, Organic, and local approach to their wine pairings. If you are anywhere near Sedona, AZ on your travels this is a must-stop for wine lovers!

Even my husband enjoyed the cheeses and the ambiance. The poor fellow is not a wine drinker, but he loves me and gladly tags along. Thank you Arizona Stronghold Winery for the wonderful visit! See you in the good ole Southwest very soon.