Verde Canyon Railroad Grape Train Escape

OK - Here's entry number two of the day! August 15th, 2008 we joined two other couples to enjoy the Verde Canyon Railroad's "Grape Train Escape" featuring wines from the Verde Valley! We were already excited just to be able to hang out with our friends and the local wines were icing on the cake. I was the only one who had been on a train trip with the Verde Canyon Railroad in the past and in all honesty I didn't have high expectations. I learned that the time of year and the company you're with can make all the difference in the world. We all had a great time.

They have you arrive a bit earlier than necessary. We had all just driven up from Phoenix, checked into our rooms at the Quality Inn and then ventured on over. I think the wait was a bit over an hour - so you may want to verify the time the train leaves before getting there that early. While we were waiting in line the DUST STORM OF ALL TIME blew through! It actually hurt as it passed by - me and the other gals had our legs blasted but in a way it signified the start to a great adventure. In the distance we could see dark clouds and lightning. Hmmmm . . . what were we getting ourselves into . . .

When we arrived we were presented with menus for our trip. The Grape Train Escapes all occur in first class and they have a full bar available. This was an unexpected treat for the cocktail drinkers of the group. The appetizers weren't much more than a "lunchable" spread but the atmosphere and wine made up for it. As the train departed it started to rain and we were concerned that we wouldn't be able to take any pictures. Well, the rain cleared up and we could actually take pictures from inside the train! The terrain was just gorgeous. Most of the train follows the Verde River and Josh told us all stories from his childhood growing up in Cornville! The guy has some great stories! The weather was your typical monsoon storm - variable lightning, rain and sunshine!

There was a nice variety of wines for us to taste. We started with a taste of 2006 Pinot Grigio from Alcantara Vineyards. This is one of my favorite winery locations in the state. It has beautiful views from the Italian-style villa that Barbara and Bob Predmore built! The wine was nice but a bit sweet for my tastes. Jen loved it and ordered a glass!

Then they poured a Chardonnay from Page Springs Cellars (the menu says Arizona Stronghold but I'm thinking that they may have sourced the grapes from Arizona Stronghold - the only wine released from this vineyard has been the Tazi, as far as I know). This was a dry, citrusy (is that a word?!) wine that I pleasantly enjoyed. One thing to know - they don't serve the tastes in a wine glass - you drink from what appears to be a shot glass.

At this point we decided to order some drinks as the tastes just weren't enough! As I mentioned earlier, some ordered the Pinot Grigio and others the Chardonnay (or a cocktail). The next wine served was the 2006 Oak Creek Vineyard Merlot. A fruity flavored wine that appealed to my friend Jen (she loved the Pinot Grigio, too!)

Next was my favorite - the Javelina Leap Zinfandel. This was really nice. I wrote about the barrel tasting I did at this vineyard in a previous post. This truly was my favorite and it was nice to save the best for last! Fruity yet bold! Great depth of flavor!

Our final taste wasn't local but was a nice finishing touch. They served chocolate covered strawberries with a taste of Frexienet Cordon Negro. A perfect palate quencher!

Afterward we went to the Recovery Room restaurant in Cottonwood (right across from the hotel we were staying at). Although it appeared they were closing, the bartender was nice enough to stay open for us to have a bit more wine. We tried another local wine that was a new release (to me) - Freitas Vineyard's Syrah. It was a bit sweet for me, but again, Jen thought it was fabulous. That's the thing about wine . . . just because it doesn't suit one, doesn't mean it's not a great wine! Josh and I enjoyed a bottle of Caduceus Chupacabra! This is one of my favorite wines (how many favorites can I have?!). It's my understanding that he (Maynard James Keenan) will be releasing some new wines in the fall and that the Chupacabra may have a different blend. Well, I hope it retains most of this great flavor!

Anyway, we really enjoyed the outing and I would recommend it to others. They only offer the local wine train once a year - but the Grape Train Escape events are held throughout the summer and fall - showcasing different wines and liquors (the previous one had been a Tequila Train!). If you are passing through this area - be sure to visit the Recovery Room restaurant (their food is great, too - we had breakfast there the next day - Southwest Eggs Benedict with Chipotle Hollandaise and corn bread - YUMMMMM) and also the Asylum restaurant in Jerome (both owned by Paula Woolsley).