Grape Train Escape
Wine-Tasting Tours during a Saturday Evening Train Ride Dates and Wine Regions are listed below
Verde Canyon Railroad has long been a venue for viticulture appreciation. Since 1990 train passengers have enjoyed raising a toast to the Arizona wilderness from well-appointed rail cars, harkening back to a time when relaxing travel by train was recognized as a hallmark of sophistication and class. In 2002 raising that toast became a highly-requested event called the Grape Train Escape. Going in to its 22nd year, this great grape celebration has spanned the planet – Italian, Chilean, Spanish, German and French wines have been served to thousands of awe-inspired train passengers.
*Please note that there are two different ticket options on Saturday night runs so tickets purchased for the Grape Train Escape cannot sit with Starlight/Moonlight passengers. Services are provided in different cars.
5:30 p.m. Every Saturday Night May 11 through September 14
Offered during the 5:30 p.m., Saturday Starlight Trains, May through September, a number of the train cars are dedicated to The Grape Train Escape event. Regional purveyors of fine Arizona wines as well as worldwide vintners showcase their award-winning vintages on the rails. Wine tasting coupled with harmonizing appetizers takes one back to a time when relaxing train travel was recognized as a hallmark of sophistication.
May 11 – Arizona wines will kick-off the 2024 Grape Train schedule
The lush Verde Valley, with its sandy soils and abundant sunshine, invites wine enthusiasts to experience a destination rich in history, beauty and the production of exquisite Arizona wines. Savor these up-and-coming wines.
May 25 – Luscious Italian Wines “That’s Amore!”
Join us for a relaxing “Buena Sera” with a Grape Train Escape favorite. As the night takes us deeper into the canyon, wines evoking the hills of Tuscany will warm your spirits and satisfy your palate.
June 1 – The bold wines of South America spice up this experience
Wines from Chile and Argentina will inflame your passion for adventure. Once hoarded by priests, they’re not just for communion anymore. With culture and history poured into every bottle, these wines will stir your soul.
June 8 – The Arizona wine invasion continues
Arizona’s three major wine-growing regions—Sonoita, Willcox and the Verde Valley—produce some pretty incredible wines.
June 15 – Northwestern United States
There is never a dull moment when reaching for a bottle of whimsical wine from this region French, German and Italian immigrants pioneered the earliest planting of wine grapes in the Northwest in 1825. Washington and Oregon wines add flare, sensuality and style to our pairings.
June 22 – South American is home to some amazing boutique wineries
Wine drinkers in the US may think they are familiar with Chilean and Argentine wines, but a trip to South America will confirm that there’s far more to South American wines.
June 29 – More great Arizona wines
Savoring wine while soaking in the scenery of the Southwest has rapidly become world-famous here in Arizona’s Verde Valley.
July 6 – Mystery Wines
This train ride will feature a culmination of the various wines served throughout the Grape Train Escape season. Travel with us to Italy, South America, the coastal northwest and the heart of Arizona , presenting you a worldwide, flavor-sensory vacation.
A Sensory Adventure
Savoring wine while soaking in the scenery of the Southwest has rapidly become world-famous here in Arizona’s Verde Valley, and it is quickly gaining notoriety as one of the finest regions for grape growing. In addition, it is a region where the appreciation of these varietals becomes more enjoyable while basking in high desert beauty.
During the Saturday Starlight Tours, passengers experience a spectacular blend of light and color in the canyon ranging from bright daytime to rich sunset, from twinkly twilight to magnificent moonglow. Paired with an award-winning wine in hand, any Grape Train Escape will contribute to a sensory adventure suitable for every palate.
What to Expect with Your Wine
- Luxurious style and attentive beverage service right to your seat
- Abundant appetizers that will pair perfectly with wine selections
- Adjoining 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
- Information is made available so you can find where to purchase a bottle of your favorite wines following the ride
