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

Arizona’s high desert is at its best when you slow down and let someone else handle the driving. This small-group Route 66 tour carries you from Las Vegas to Kingman for wine, whiskey, beer, lunch, and broad mountain views, with a local guide filling in the stories between stops.

I like the mix of three different Arizona drinks and the easy hotel pickup and drop-off. I also like the local feel: a boutique vineyard, a small-batch distillery, Kingman’s original craft brewery, and lunch from a neighborhood cafe rather than a generic roadside stop. The main drawback is the long ride from Las Vegas, plus the fact that you cannot buy extra wine or beer as part of the included package.

Key points to know before booking

• Little Old Wine Drinkers Vineyard offers up to seven wine tastings, including fruit-forward and unusual Arizona blends.
• Desert Diamond Distillery provides a guided spirits tasting, with whiskey among the samples.
• Black Bridge Brewery supplies the beer, while lunch arrives from Siren’s Cafe.
• The Las Vegas pickup means a longer day on the road, with about two hours in the van before the Kingman stops.
• Groups are limited to 12 people, making the ride and tastings more personal than a large coach tour.
• The tour is for adults 21 and older, and you should bring a passport, ID card, or driver’s license.

A Route 66 day built around local pours

At $189 per person, this is not a cheap transfer to Kingman. It is a full service day with hotel pickup, transportation, a guide, admission fees, wine, spirits, beer, and lunch included. I see the value in it if you want several tastings without arranging a designated driver or sorting out the distances yourself.

The tour lasts about 6.5 hours, though trips from Las Vegas start earlier and take longer because of the drive to Arizona. That matters. You are not spending all day wandering from tasting room to tasting room. You are spending part of the day on the road, with the journey itself serving as a scenic introduction to the desert and Route 66.

The group limit of 12 is a real advantage. You get a better chance to ask questions, hear the guide, and settle into the day without the slow loading and unloading of a big bus. Hotel pickup and drop-off also remove the need to find parking or plan a safe ride after drinking.

The ride from Las Vegas to Kingman

The day begins with pickup at your hotel valet or the main office of your accommodation. Look for a vehicle marked with the local partner’s branding. From Las Vegas, the drive to the Kingman area takes about two hours in the van.

That is a fair amount of time in transit, so I would choose this tour for the overall outing, not for a quick tasting close to Las Vegas. Bring water, wear comfortable clothes, and accept that the desert drive is part of the experience. The reward is a change of pace from the casinos and city traffic to open desert, mountain views, and the old road culture of northwest Arizona.

Your guide is an important part of this stretch. The tour is conducted in English, and the small group format gives the guide room to share local stories and explain what you are seeing. Bob, one guide associated with the experience, has been described as attentive, engaging, and especially patient with guests who liked to linger in the gift shops. That is useful information if you prefer an unhurried day rather than a guide constantly checking the clock.

Route 66, Arizona’s famous old road

The Route 66 portions are short scenic drives, about 20 minutes at a time, but they give the day its sense of place. This is not a dedicated museum tour or a long walking tour of historic road stops. Instead, the highway provides the thread connecting the tastings.

Route 66 became famous as a major path across the United States, and the Kingman area remains closely tied to that story. The tour may include a stop at the Arizona Route 66 Museum or the Powerhouse Visitor Center when available. Since that stop is not guaranteed on every departure, treat it as a possible bonus rather than the main reason to book.

I like this arrangement because the road is not treated as a backdrop only. You get a short scenic drive, a chance to hear about its past, and then a local drink or meal connected to the modern communities along the route. If you want hours of roadside landmarks and detailed highway history, this will feel too brief. If you want Route 66 paired with food and drink, the balance works well.

Little Old Wine Drinkers Vineyard and the first tasting

The first main stop is Little Old Wine Drinkers Vineyard, a boutique Arizona winery surrounded by vines, desert terrain, and distant mountains. The setting gives you a break from the van and a chance to settle into the day.

You can expect up to seven wine tastings. The selection may include a crisp Pinot Grigio along with more playful blends such as the Clothing Optional grape-strawberry wine. That range is part of the appeal. This is not presented as a formal European wine lesson. It is a relaxed look at what a small Arizona winery can produce in a dry, high-desert setting.

I would approach this tasting with curiosity rather than strict expectations. Arizona wine can include familiar grape varieties, but it can also lean into sweet, fruit-based, or unusual combinations. If you prefer only dry traditional wines, some samples may not suit you. If you enjoy trying something different and talking with the people behind a local bottle, this stop should be one of the day’s highlights.

The vineyard also offers one of the best scenic pauses. Rolling green vines against rugged desert and mountain views make the contrast easy to appreciate. You get a quiet setting, local hospitality, and a tasting that feels more personal than a standard retail counter.

Desert Diamond Distillery and small-batch spirits

After another Route 66 drive, the group visits Desert Diamond Distillery for about an hour. This is the spirits portion of the day, with a guided tasting of small-batch products made on-site. Whiskey is specifically part of the tasting, and the guide explains the production methods and the story behind the bottles.

This stop adds variety. Wine can be slow and social, while a spirits tasting tends to focus more on aroma, strength, and how each product is made. I like that the distillery visit is guided rather than just a quick sample poured at a bar. You have a better chance to understand what makes the products local and why small-batch production matters.

Keep the schedule in mind, though. One hour is enough for a tasting and explanation, not a long distillery tour with every production room explored. The exact samples may vary, and the included package covers the scheduled samples rather than extra purchases. If you want more, you will need to pay separately.

The distillery is also where pacing matters. You have already had wine, and beer is still ahead. Enjoy the samples, eat when lunch arrives, and avoid treating each pour as a full drink. This is a tasting day, not a contest.

Lunch at Black Bridge Brewery with Siren’s Cafe

Lunch takes place at Black Bridge Brewery, Kingman’s original craft brewery. The brewery provides the setting and beer samples, while the food comes from Siren’s Cafe. That distinction is worth knowing before you go: Black Bridge Brewery does not serve the lunch itself.

You may choose from cafe dishes such as Euro-style paninis, signature salads, and hearty sandwiches. Vegan and vegetarian options are available, which makes this stop more practical for a mixed group. The food is described as homemade and creative, with bold flavors rather than simple packaged tour fare.

The brewery gives the day a lively local pause, with a taproom or outdoor patio where you can sample house-made beer. The selection can range from hoppy IPAs to smooth stouts. Beer preferences vary widely, so the value here is the chance to try several styles rather than expecting every pour to match your taste.

I especially like the way lunch is handled. A brewery that focuses on beer can keep doing that well, while the cafe handles a broader menu. It also gives you a proper meal after the wine and spirit tastings. Since extra beer is not included, budget for additional pours only if you want them.

What the $189 price includes

The $189 price covers more than the drinks. You receive hotel pickup and drop-off, transportation, an English-speaking guide, admission fees, wine tasting, distillery samples, brewery samples, and lunch.

For me, the strongest part of the value is the transportation. The route involves a long drive from Las Vegas, and arranging a private driver, several tastings, lunch, and a return trip would take time and planning. Here, the tour operator handles the route and keeps the group moving.

The price is less attractive if you are interested in only one beverage category. A dedicated winery visit could cost less, and a self-guided Kingman outing might give you more control over how long you stay. This tour earns its price through variety and convenience.

Remember that extra wine and beer are not included. The included tastings are enough to sample each stop, but serious wine or beer shoppers should expect additional charges.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this tour to adults who enjoy trying local products and want a guided day outside Las Vegas. It suits couples, friends, and families with adult children who like scenery but do not need a strenuous activity.

It is also a good fit if you want a social experience without a large bus. A group of up to 12 people keeps the day manageable and gives you a better setting for conversation. Guests who appreciate local stories, small producers, and a guide who does not rush people will likely enjoy it most.

This is not a good match for anyone under 21, and pregnant women are specifically excluded. It may also disappoint visitors looking for a long, detailed Route 66 history tour, a serious wine education, or extensive time at each venue. The day offers a taste of all three drink categories, not an expert-level study of one.

The tour is wheelchair accessible, which is helpful, though you should still confirm any personal mobility needs when booking. Bring a passport, ID card, or driver’s license.

Practical tips for a smoother day

Eat a light meal before pickup, but save room for lunch at Siren’s Cafe. The day includes several tastings, and pacing yourself will make the final brewery stop more enjoyable.

Wear comfortable clothing for the van ride and bring identification. Since the tour includes alcohol, an ID check may be required. Do not plan to drive yourself after the tour, which is another reason the hotel transportation is useful.

Keep your expectations flexible around the museum stop. The Arizona Route 66 Museum or Powerhouse Visitor Center may be included when available, but the confirmed core of the day is the vineyard, distillery, brewery, lunch, and scenic road time.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option helps if your Las Vegas plans are still shifting. Check the starting time carefully, since Las Vegas departures begin earlier and take longer.

Should you book this Route 66 tasting tour?

Book it if you want a convenient, adult-only day that combines desert scenery, local wine, small-batch spirits, craft beer, and lunch without having to drive. The strongest reasons are the small group, hotel transportation, variety of stops, and the relaxed local character of the vineyard and cafe.

Think twice if you dislike long van rides or want to spend most of the day at one winery or museum. The $189 cost makes sense for convenience and variety, not for a single focused tasting. If that sounds like your kind of day, this is a pleasant way to trade Las Vegas crowds for Arizona roads, mountain views, and a glass raised along Route 66.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

Pickup is in Las Vegas at your hotel valet or the main office of your accommodation.

How long does the experience last?

The listed duration is 6.5 hours. Tours from Las Vegas have an earlier start time and a longer duration because of the drive to the Kingman area.

How many people are in each group?

The tour is limited to 12 participants.

What tastings are included?

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

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and comes from Siren’s Cafe, with options such as paninis, salads, sandwiches, and vegan and vegetarian choices.

Where is lunch served?

Lunch is enjoyed at Black Bridge Brewery. The brewery does not serve food directly, so the meal is delivered from Siren’s Cafe.

Is Route 66 part of the tour?

Yes. The tour includes scenic Route 66 drives, and a visit to the Arizona Route 66 Museum or Powerhouse Visitor Center may be available.

Are extra drinks included?

No. Extra wine or beer is not included in the price.

Who can take this tour?

Participants must be at least 21 years old. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women.

What should I bring?

Bring a passport, ID card, or driver’s license. The tour is conducted in English, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.