Scenic Desert Wine, Distillery Tastings/Brewery/RT66 & Lunch

Arizona’s high desert is at its best when you can enjoy the scenery without watching the road. This small-group Route 66 outing carries you from Las Vegas to Kingman for wine at Little Old Wine Drinkers Vineyard, spirits at Desert Diamond Distillery, and local beer with lunch at Black Bridge Brewery.

I like two things right away: the mix of drinks gives you a broad taste of northwest Arizona, and the guide handles the long drive, so you can focus on the views and tastings. The main drawback is the travel time from Las Vegas. With an early start and roughly two hours in the van each way, this is a full day built around Kingman, not a quick side trip.

Key points to know before booking

• Three kinds of Arizona drinks: Taste local wine, small-batch spirits, and Kingman craft beer in one day.
• Little Old Wine Drinkers Vineyard: Enjoy up to seven wine samples among grapevines with desert mountains in the distance.
• Route 66 by van: The drive adds classic roadside atmosphere and links the tasting stops with historic Kingman.
• Lunch at Black Bridge Brewery: Your meal comes from Siren’s Cafe, with paninis, salads, sandwiches, and vegan or vegetarian choices.
• Small group comfort: The vehicle holds no more than 12 participants, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.
• A long Las Vegas day: The tour lasts about 6.5 hours, and departures from Las Vegas begin earlier because of the distance.

Why this Route 66 tasting day works

This tour makes sense if you want more than a standard Las Vegas excursion. It trades casinos and neon for open desert, distant mountains, old highway stories, and drinks made in Arizona. You get several stops without having to arrange a designated driver or figure out the roads around Kingman yourself.

The format is also easy to understand. The day begins with hotel pickup, continues in a van to Kingman, and then moves through wine, spirits, lunch, beer, and Route 66 scenery before returning to Las Vegas. You are not spending the day at one large commercial attraction. Instead, you get short visits to local businesses, each with a different flavor.

I especially like the balance between scenery and tasting. The wine stop provides a slower start, the distillery adds a more focused look at spirits, and the brewery gives you a meal and a chance to settle in. The highway links it all together, so the day feels like a regional outing rather than a series of unrelated tastings.

The small-group limit of 12 matters. A compact group is easier to load into a van, easier for a guide to manage at tasting counters, and less awkward when you have questions. It also gives the day a more personal feel than a large coach excursion.

The ride from Las Vegas to Kingman

The first leg takes about two hours by van. That is the practical cost of starting in Las Vegas, but it is also part of the experience. You leave the city behind and head toward Arizona’s high desert, with open views and mountain scenery replacing the concentrated energy of the Strip.

Your guide drives, provides transportation, and sets the tone for the day. That matters because everyone in your group will be sampling alcoholic drinks. You do not need to rent a car, assign a sober driver, or worry about the return trip after wine, whiskey, and beer.

The Las Vegas departure also means an earlier start than a comparable tour based in Kingman. If your schedule is packed with evening shows or late nights, plan your day carefully. This is not a leisurely late-morning outing. It is a structured day trip with a real transfer at both ends.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. You meet the guide at your hotel valet or main office, then look for a vehicle marked with the local operator’s branding. Have your identification ready, since a passport, ID card, or driver’s license is required.

Route 66 brings the day into focus

The Route 66 portion is more than a drive between tasting rooms. It gives the day a clear sense of place. Kingman is closely tied to the old highway, and the route helps explain why this part of Arizona became a stopping point for motorists crossing the country.

The scenic Route 66 drive lasts about 20 minutes at one point in the schedule, with another scenic stretch connecting the winery and distillery. You should think of these sections as short, story-filled transitions rather than a full museum tour or an all-day road trip.

When available, the tour may include a stop at the Arizona Route 66 Museum or the Powerhouse Visitor Center. These sites add context about the highway, its travelers, and the communities that grew around it. Availability matters here, so do not treat the museum visit as the central promise of the day. The dependable part is the Route 66 drive and the stops at the local drink producers.

I like this arrangement because the highway is not treated as mere decoration. It gives you a reason to be in Kingman and adds a historic thread to an otherwise food-and-drink excursion.

Little Old Wine Drinkers Vineyard and the desert view

The first tasting stop is Little Old Wine Drinkers Vineyard, a boutique winery surrounded by grapevines, rugged desert, and distant mountains. The setting gives you a sharp contrast to the usual image of Arizona as nothing but dry, empty ground. Here, cultivated green vines meet the high desert.

You can sample up to seven wines. The selection may include a crisp Pinot Grigio along with more unusual blends, including the Clothing Optional grape-strawberry wine. That range makes this a good stop for people who enjoy trying something different, not just comparing familiar grape varieties.

The visit lasts about 45 minutes, so expect a focused tasting rather than a long winery afternoon. You will have time to sample, look around, and take in the view, but the group needs to keep moving. The relaxed local atmosphere is part of the appeal. This is not presented as a formal grand estate with an elaborate production tour. It is a smaller Arizona stop where the setting and hospitality do much of the work.

I like that the wine tasting begins the day. Wine is a gentler introduction than whiskey, and the vineyard gives you a chance to slow down after the drive from Las Vegas. The drawback is that serious wine students may want more technical detail or more time. The information provided emphasizes tasting, scenery, and local welcome rather than an extended look at winemaking.

If you do not enjoy sweet or fruit-forward wines, ask about the options before filling your glass. The Pinot Grigio offers a crisper choice, while the grape-strawberry blend provides a more playful taste. You do not have to treat every sample as a favorite. The value is in trying local products you are unlikely to find on a standard Las Vegas bar menu.

Desert Diamond Distillery for spirits and whiskey

The next major stop is Desert Diamond Distillery, where you receive a guided tasting of small-batch spirits made on-site. This part of the day lasts about an hour, giving it more room than the winery visit.

The distillery adds a different kind of interest. Wine tasting is often about grape character and pairing. A distillery visit can show you how spirits are produced, how whiskey develops its flavor, and why small-batch work differs from mass-market bottles. The exact samples can vary, but whiskey is specifically part of the tasting.

This stop is a good fit if you like hearing the story behind what you drink. The guide at the distillery explains the production methods and the background of the bottles, so you get more than a row of glasses. It also gives you a chance to compare the character of Arizona spirits with the wines you tried earlier.

Pacing is important here. By the time you reach the distillery, you have already spent time on the road and sampled wine. Take small tastes and use the opportunity to learn rather than treating every stop like a race. The tour includes samples, but extra wine or beer is not included, so additional purchases are your responsibility.

Beer and lunch at Black Bridge Brewery

Lunch takes place at Black Bridge Brewery, known as Kingman’s original craft brewery. This is the most practical stop of the day because it combines a meal, a seated break, and beer samples.

Black Bridge Brewery does not serve food directly. Instead, lunch arrives from Siren’s Cafe, a local Kingman eatery. The menu includes Euro-style paninis, signature salads, hearty sandwiches, and vegan or vegetarian choices. That arrangement is worth knowing before you go. You are not ordering a meal from the brewery kitchen, but the food is brought in for the group.

I like the choice because it connects two local businesses and gives the meal more range than a fixed sandwich at a tasting room. The inclusive menu also helps if someone in your group does not eat meat or prefers a lighter lunch. Still, exact menu choices can depend on the day, so do not assume you can customize every detail.

The beer selection gives you another side of Kingman’s drink scene. You might sample a hoppy IPA, a smooth stout, or another house-made beer. The taproom or outdoor patio provides a more casual setting after the formal tasting at the distillery.

This stop may be the social high point of the day. You have already seen the desert and sampled wine and spirits, and now you can sit down with food. If you prefer a quiet, slow lunch, the group schedule may feel a little brisk. If you like a friendly local setting and want to try several Arizona products in one outing, it fits well.

What $189 includes, and what it does not

At $189 per person, the tour is not a bargain-priced transfer to Kingman. The price makes more sense when you count what is bundled into the day: hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation, a live English-speaking guide, admission fees, wine tasting, distillery samples, brewery samples, and lunch.

The largest value is the transportation. A self-drive version would require you to cover the fuel, plan the route, and choose a designated driver. Since the experience centers on three types of alcohol, having someone else drive is not a minor convenience. It is central to the tour’s purpose.

You are also paying for access to several stops in one day. Booking a winery, distillery, brewery, meal, and Route 66 sights separately would take more planning and could produce a less balanced schedule. The guide keeps the day moving and explains the local context along the way.

The limits are clear. Extra wine and beer are not included, and the tour does not promise unlimited pours. The museum or visitor center stop is only included when available. You should also compare the price with your own priorities. If you mainly want Route 66 photographs, a cheaper highway-focused excursion might suit you better. If you want local drinks and lunch without driving, the package has stronger value.

Who should book this day trip

I would recommend this tour to adults who enjoy trying regional drinks but do not want to organize a tasting route themselves. It is especially useful for people based in Las Vegas who want a change of scenery and are happy to spend part of the day on the road.

It suits couples, friends, and family groups with everyone aged 21 or older. The small-group format is helpful if you prefer a shared outing that still feels more personal than a large bus tour. One particularly patient guide, Bob, has been praised for staying attentive and engaging, including while some members of a group took their time in gift shops. That is a useful sign for anyone who dislikes being hurried through every stop.

The tour is not suitable for anyone under 21 or for pregnant women. It is wheelchair accessible, which makes it more workable for many visitors, though you should still confirm the specific vehicle and stop arrangements when booking.

You should skip it if you dislike alcohol, want a long museum visit, or find two hours in a van each way too much for a half-day outing. You should also think twice if you want a highly structured educational tour focused on production details. This experience is broader and more social, mixing scenic driving, tastings, lunch, and local stories.

Timing, comfort, and practical tips

The total duration is about 6.5 hours, but the Las Vegas version has an earlier departure and a longer driving component. Check the available start time before committing, especially if you have another booking that evening.

Wear comfortable clothes for a day that moves between a van, tasting rooms, and a brewery. Bring your passport, ID card, or driver’s license. Since tastings are included, avoid planning a strenuous activity immediately afterward.

The tour is offered in English with a live guide. Group size is limited to 12, and hotel pickup is included. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later if you need to keep your plans flexible.

Should you book the Arizona Route 66 tasting tour?

Book it if you want a convenient, adult-focused day that combines Arizona wine, spirits, and beer with desert views and Route 66. The strongest reasons are the small group, included driving, local lunch, and the chance to sample three kinds of regional drinks without building the route yourself.

Think carefully about the long Las Vegas transfer and the fixed schedule. This is not the best choice for someone seeking a slow winery retreat or a detailed museum experience. For an easygoing day of local flavors, open scenery, and Kingman history, though, the $189 price is reasonable because it covers the parts that are hardest to arrange safely on your own.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts about 6.5 hours. Tours departing from Las Vegas begin earlier and include a longer drive.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included. Meet your guide at your hotel valet or the main office of your accommodation, and look for a vehicle with the local partner’s branding.

How many people are in the group?

The tour is limited to 12 participants.

What tastings are included?

The package includes wine tasting, distillery samples, and brewery samples. The wine visit may include up to seven tastings.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and is delivered from Siren’s Cafe to Black Bridge Brewery. Options include paninis, salads, sandwiches, and vegan or vegetarian choices.

Who cannot join the tour?

The experience is not suitable for people under 21 or for pregnant women. Bring a passport, ID card, or driver’s license.