Uncorked Chronicles Edition 11: Horseback & Jeep Tours Through the Vines at Alcantara Vineyards

Discover the wild heart of Alcantara from the saddle or the trail.
For travelers looking for horseback riding near Sedona, a Verde Valley Jeep adventure, or a different way to experience Arizona wine country, Alcantara Vineyards brings wine, scenery, and outdoor adventure together in one destination.
Located in Camp Verde at the confluence of the Verde River and Oak Creek, Alcantara Vineyards is a family-owned, sustainably farmed vineyard with more than 20,000 vines and 17 varietals. Beyond the tasting room, the property offers a variety of ways to explore the landscape, from horseback riding and Jeep tours to river adventures and vineyard experiences.
For guests who want to make more of a day in the Verde Valley, it is easy to pair time outdoors with award-winning Arizona wine.

There are few ways to experience a vineyard quite like seeing it from horseback.
Horseback rides at Alcantara Vineyards take guests across the 87-acre property for an up-close look at the vines and surrounding Verde Valley scenery. Depending on the route and conditions, rides may include crossing the Verde River, touring the vineyard, and traveling to Marsanne Hill for views toward Mingus Mountain.
Horseback trail rides are provided by Wild Western Horseback/Trail Horse Adventures, giving guests an opportunity to experience the property at a relaxed pace while taking in the landscape that surrounds the vineyard.
The broader Verde Valley is well known for its outdoor recreation and equestrian terrain. Nearby destinations such as Dead Horse Ranch State Park also feature shared-use trails with views of Mingus Mountain and the Verde Valley.
At Alcantara, that same sense of outdoor exploration becomes part of the wine-country experience.
Instead of simply looking out over rows of vines from the patio, guests can move through the property and see the vineyard from an entirely different perspective.

For guests who prefer four wheels to four hooves, Jeep tours through the vineyard add another level of adventure to an Alcantara visit.
These excursions offer a more rugged way to take in the vineyard and the surrounding Verde Valley landscape, pairing scenic views with the excitement of exploring off the pavement. Jeep experiences can also be incorporated into combination outings that bring together wine, horseback riding, and outdoor adventure.
A Day in the West offers private Jeep excursions and combination experiences in the Verde Valley, including wine, Jeep, and horseback adventures connected with Alcantara Vineyards.
A Jeep tour can be especially well suited for groups looking to balance different interests during the same outing. Some guests may be most excited about wine tasting, while others are drawn to trails, scenery, and outdoor activities.
At Alcantara, those experiences can all be part of the same day.

After time outdoors, the tasting room offers a natural next stop.
Guests can explore Alcantara’s wines and enjoy a selection that includes whites, rosé, red blends, and estate reds.
The vineyard sits within the federally recognized Verde Valley AVA at the confluence of Oak Creek and the Verde River. Its location also places Alcantara along the Verde Valley Wine Trail, connecting the vineyard to the broader wine culture of the region.
That setting makes it easy to combine an outdoor adventure with a true Arizona wine-country experience.
Ride through the vines. Explore the landscape. Then settle in with a tasting or glass of wine and enjoy the property from a different point of view.

Horseback riding and Jeep tours are only part of the experience.
Guests looking for even more time outdoors can also add kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, e-bike experiences, hay wagon rides, and other activities to their visit. Alcantara’s Water to Wine kayaking experience, for example, gives guests the chance to travel the Verde River before finishing near the vineyard.
For more on that experience, see Uncorked Chronicles Edition 7: Kayaks, Cabernet, and the Call of the River.
Complimentary vineyard and winery tours also offer a closer look at the property, including topics such as trellising, irrigation, grape varietals, and the process of growing wine grapes in the Verde Valley.
Together, these experiences make it possible to spend a full day at Alcantara without rushing from one destination to the next.

Horseback riding at Alcantara Vineyards offers a memorable way to experience Arizona wine country beyond the tasting room, while a Jeep tour brings a more rugged side of the Verde Valley into the day.
After the ride or tour, guests can slow things down with wine, food, and time among the vines.
Alcantara’s tasting room is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and standard wine tasting does not require a reservation. Horseback rides, Jeep tours, and other activity experiences are best planned in advance based on scheduling and availability.
Ready to experience Arizona wine country beyond the tasting room? Explore Alcantara Vineyards’ tours and activities, plan an adventure, and leave time to unwind with Arizona wine afterward.