Grape Train Escape: Wine Tasting and Verde Canyon Railroad Adventure
Description
Verde Canyon Railroad's Grape Train Escape is an evening event, featuring onboard wine-tasting showcasing distinct vineyards from Arizona and beyond. While aboard the “Grape Train Escape,” passengers will be served a sampling of select wines. Guests also will enjoy specialty cheeses and hors d’oeuvres chosen to complement the featured wines. Viogniers from each winery will be onboard to discuss the terroir and the techniques of wine-making. This event is for passengers age 21 and up. Proof of age may be requested.
Tour Options
Itinerary
What could be better than savoring wine while soaking in the scenery of the Southwest? This is a relatively new pairing for Arizona’s Verde Valley, but it is quickly gaining notoriety as a fine region for grape growing. Enjoy open-air cars where the lush riparian landscape of summer, including canopies cottonwoods, moody monsoon afternoons and deep crimson cliffs, compliments a great glass of wine!
At the depot, be sure to visit the John Bell Museum, home to the railroad's history and artifacts from its early days, as well as a wealth of information on Clarkdale, Jerome and the Yavapai-Apache Nation.
The train runs on the same tracks that were created following the Verde River back in 1911. The river is visible for most of your journey.
SOB Canyon and the 150 ft tall bridge are highlights of the trip. Looking back from the bridge and down the canyon is simply gorgeous!
Discover the history of Perkinsville Ghost Town through on-board commentary on your train journey. This is the turn-around point of your trip.
You'll ride past Tuzigoot National Monument on your train journey.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 21 years
Reviews(37)
Our second time on the train, first time doing a wine tasting on it. The train ride itself is wonderful and while it was somewhat cloudy at night so we couldn’t see stars, just being in the open rail car at night was awesome! The wine tasting was a lot of fun. Our bartender and our outdoor speaker were both a lot of fun. It’s definitely worth the cost to do this rail adventure!
We love when our passengers are repeat riders! Thanks for joining us for the Grape Train Escape and sharing this fun recap.
Wonderful great way to see Az. Loved the bartender and tour guide was passionate and very knowledgeable about the area
Kendall, thank you for riding with us and sharing this great review! We appreciate your compliments for our crew.
Great experience! Host and mixologist were 5 star! Views were amazing! I am a 🚂 enthusiast so very enjoyable!
Nancy, thanks for your enthusiasm for the experience! We're thankful you rode with us and recommend us.
Amazing experience. Our server was knowledgeable. Would recommend. The individual charcuterie board was awesome.
Thanks for riding with us and recommending us! We will share your compliments with our charcuterie crew.
A great experience riding the train and getting amazing views of the scenery. The wine tasting was absolutely great with a wonderful selection of wines that were given out for the tasting. If you are looking for great views and good time, this is the adventure to do.
Thanks for riding the Grape Train Escape with us! We are delighted you enjoyed the featured Arizona wines, and the sunset views!
If you get motion sick, I would hesitate, we had a little bit of a hard time with that. Otherwise, everything was so amazing. We are glad we went. The view was easier to handle from outside and the interior was really cozy. Staff was very knowledgeable and shared a lot of fun information along the entire trip. We were able to also enjoy the starlight sky, which was amazing from the outside car.
Kristin, thanks for riding the Starlight with us and sharing this recap of your adventure and compliments for our accommodations and crew.
The whole setting was very nice. The staff did an amazing job educating, encouraging, and telling the story of this trip.
Terence, thanks for your kind words for the experience and our crew!
Enjoyed the ride although the return trip was in complete darkness so you couldn't see anything so that was sort of boring!
Thanks for celebrating with us. Our total wild darkness on the Starlight returns is a highlight for stargazers, but we understand you may have preferred a daytime journey.
That the wines were not good nor did they offer a variety that would appeal to a person that likes a sweeter wine.
Lynn, thanks for your feedback on the Grape Train Escape wine selections. We will share them with our special events team.
We had the best time. Beautiful scenery and our hostess, Kerry was amazing! So much fun!! Will definitely be doing this again.
Sonia, we're happy you enjoyed riding the Grape Train Escape with us. We'll be sure to share your compliments with Kerry.
