Scenic Desert Wine Distillery Brewery Route 66 Tour

Kingman’s desert country makes an unlikely wine region, which is exactly what gives this Route 66 food-and-drink tour its appeal. In one day, you can visit the Arizona Route 66 Museum, taste wine among mountain views, sample rum made at an airport distillery, drink local beer, and sit down to lunch in a family-run cafe.

I like the mix of local history and small producers, rather than a day spent only at tasting counters. I also like the relaxed pace and small-group format, with guides such as Mike, Sue, Bob, Michael, and Brandon known for adding stories about the area, plants, roads, and old Route 66 lore.

The main consideration is the distance between stops. This is a full half-day, and the desert roads are part of the experience, but anyone expecting a compact town walk or a large commercial winery may find the ride and modest tasting pours less appealing.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven possible wine tastings: Sample Arizona wines at local producers, with selections that may include Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, rosé, and red blends.
• A real Route 66 setting: The day includes the Arizona Route 66 Museum and Powerhouse Visitor Center in Kingman.
• A strong spirits stop: Desert Diamond Distillery makes rum and whiskey on-site and offers a look at its production and barrel rooms.
• Lunch is included: A meal is served at a local cafe or another selected location, depending on the day.
• Small groups matter: The maximum group size is 13, with an air-conditioned vehicle and pickup offered.
• Check the operating calendar: Desert Diamond Distillery is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the beverage lineup can change.

Why this Kingman tour works so well

I see this as a good choice for anyone who wants more than a tasting room. The drink stops are tied to the place: desert vineyards, an airport distillery, a brewery on historic Beale Street, and a downtown cafe with family roots.

You also get a useful introduction to Kingman. The Route 66 museum gives the day some context before the tastings begin, and the guide fills in the gaps with local stories. Guides have included Mike, Sue, Bob, Michael, and Brandon, though you should not assume a particular person will lead your departure.

The tour lasts about five to six hours and starts at 8:00 a.m. That early start gives you time for several stops without turning the day into a rushed checklist. Pickup is offered, but you need to give the pickup location when booking and confirm that it falls within the current service area.

The published information says this tour is not available from Las Vegas. Some past departures were arranged for people staying there, but you should rely on the current booking details and plan to begin in or around Kingman unless the operator confirms something different.

Starting with Route 66 in Kingman

The Arizona Route 66 Museum and Powerhouse Visitor Center is an important first stop because it gives the day a sense of place. Kingman is closely tied to the old highway, and the museum helps explain why this stretch of road still matters to people who travel through northern Arizona.

I would not treat this as a long museum visit. The tour has several stops ahead, so expect an introduction to Route 66 rather than hours of close study. Still, it is a useful counterweight to the drinks, especially if you are interested in transportation, roadside culture, and the old highway towns.

The Powerhouse setting also helps you understand Kingman as more than a stop between larger destinations. After seeing the exhibits, you will have a clearer idea of the roads and communities you are passing through during the rest of the day.

Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery and desert vines

The first winery stop is Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery, a family-run property on six acres with more than 4,000 vines along Winery Row near Route 66. The setting is one of the strongest parts of the day, with outdoor seating, grapevines, and mountain views.

This is not a polished estate built for large crowds. It is a small operation where the owners explain the process from growing grapes to filling bottles. Their storytelling is part of the stop, and the atmosphere is casual rather than formal.

The tasting selection can include the winery’s Pink Bikini, a grape and strawberry blend, along with Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, rosé made from Zinfandel, and fuller red blends. If you usually think Arizona is too hot and dry for wine, this stop offers a pleasant correction.

The visit lasts about 45 minutes. That is enough time to taste, hear the family story, and enjoy the scenery without making the winery the entire day. The winery is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, though the tour schedule determines how your visit fits into those hours.

One fair warning: wine preferences vary, and this is a small producer. Some people will enjoy the personal style and unusual blends, while others may prefer a more traditional tasting room with a wider or more predictable range of bottles.

Desert Diamond Distillery and its award-winning rum

Desert Diamond Distillery, also called D3, is one of the more unusual stops. It is located at Kingman Airport, just off Route 66, and has operated as a family-owned craft distillery since 2008.

The production visit takes about 20 to 30 minutes and includes the production room and barrel room. You can see where the spirits are fermented, distilled, aged, and bottled on-site, rather than simply tasting products shipped in from somewhere else.

The distillery uses a German still and makes several rum styles, including white rum, dark rum, and agave rum sweetened with agave nectar. Whiskey options include corn whiskey moonshine, aged wheat whiskey, and a Rum and Rye collaboration.

The 11-year barrel reserve rum received a score of 99 at the 2023 International Wine and Spirit Competition in London. That detail gives the tasting some weight, but the value of the stop is not limited to awards. You get a look at a working small distillery and a chance to compare spirits made from different methods and ingredients.

The tasting bar has its own bit of character. It is a vintage bar rescued from the old Las Vegas Strip and associated with Rat Pack-era history. That gives the stop a visual hook beyond rows of bottles.

There is one important scheduling issue. Desert Diamond Distillery is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so the tour may substitute a brewery or adjust the beverage stops when the distillery is unavailable. If rum is the main reason you want to book, confirm the planned itinerary before paying.

Lunch at Sirens Cafe and Custom Catering

Sirens Cafe is a family-run downtown cafe operated by Carmella Hynes and Denise McMillan. It is known for scratch-made sandwiches, Euro-style paninis, homemade soups, and a comfortable setting with a mermaid theme.

Carmella studied cooking in Florence, Italy, and prepares daily specials based on available seasonal ingredients. The menu may include artisan bread, homemade ricotta, artichoke spreads, and locally sliced meats.

Two named dishes are the Curry Tito, made with curry chicken salad, green apple, craisins, and cashews, and the La Rocco panini. These details matter because lunch here is not just a packaged meal added to fill a gap between tastings.

The cafe sits near the brewery, with indoor seating and a patio option. It is open Monday through Friday, so the lunch location can change on other days. The operator notes that lunch may also be served at another location to provide the best available meal for that departure.

Lunch is included in the $159 price, but gratuity is not specifically included. I would carry money or a card for a tip if service is good. Snacks are also not included, so bring something small if you tend to get hungry between breakfast and lunch.

Black Bridge Brewery on Beale Street

Black Bridge Brewery, often called B3, opened in 2013 and is recognized as Kingman’s original craft brewery. It occupies a historic Route 66 setting on Beale Street, where the brewery’s name recalls a railroad bridge once used as a local gathering place.

The taproom has a small indoor bar and a larger backyard patio. A redwood stage hosts live music on many weekends, although music should not be treated as guaranteed entertainment for every departure.

There are more than 20 beers on tap, including year-round choices such as Evil Red IPA, Wicked Poison, Locomotive Stout, and Scorched Earth, a beer made with ghost pepper. Seasonal options can include Prickly Pear Pale Ale.

That range makes this a useful stop even if you do not normally drink beer. You can try something light, dark, hoppy, or unusual, and non-drinkers can order handcrafted ginger beer or cold-brew coffee.

Food is not served directly at the brewery. Nearby restaurants can deliver to your table, but the included meal is generally arranged through the tour schedule and may take place at Sirens Cafe or another selected restaurant. If you want a full brewery meal, clarify the plan in advance.

How the itinerary feels in practice

The day has a good rhythm because the stops are different from one another. The museum provides context, the winery gives you an outdoor break, the distillery adds production detail, the cafe handles lunch, and the brewery closes the beverage portion with a more casual feel.

You should expect driving between locations, including countryside views and stretches of open desert. That travel time is not wasted if you enjoy scenery and local commentary, but it does mean you should not book this expecting a concentrated downtown tasting walk.

The air-conditioned vehicle is important in Arizona, especially during warmer months. Bottled water is included, and all listed tasting fees and taxes are covered. The vehicle is described as serving private and small-group tours, with a maximum of 13 people.

Past departures have used smaller vehicles, and one practical criticism was that the bus felt cramped. I would ask about the vehicle if comfort matters to you, especially if you are traveling with a full group or have mobility concerns.

What the $159 price includes

At $159 per person, the price is reasonable if you plan to use all the included parts. You are paying for transportation, a driver, lunch, wine and distillery samples, bottled water, and fees and taxes. You also avoid arranging a designated driver for a day built around alcohol tastings.

The value is strongest for visitors without a car or anyone who wants a guide to connect the stops. It is harder to justify if you already have a vehicle, do not care about Route 66, and would rather spend several hours at one winery.

You should also account for the fact that tasting quantities are controlled by each producer. A sample may be modest, and the operator cannot dictate how much each winery or distillery pours. This is a sampling and sightseeing day, not an all-you-can-drink event.

The small-group format adds value. Guides such as Sue and Mike have been praised for explaining the desert, local plants, and regional history while keeping the pace easy. A good guide makes the long stretches between stops feel like part of the visit rather than dead time.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend it to adults who enjoy local food and drink but also want scenery and history. It suits couples, families with adult children, and small groups of friends who prefer a relaxed day over a formal wine education program.

It is especially useful if you are staying in Kingman and want to see places that are awkward to connect without a car. The mix of wine, rum, beer, lunch, and Route 66 also gives you plenty of variety.

I would think twice if you want only premium wine, a quiet luxury vehicle, or a tightly controlled tasting menu. The wineries and breweries are local operations, and the day has a friendly, informal character. The distillery may also be replaced when it is closed.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour requires at least two people and depends on availability, so do not assume a solo booking will operate by itself.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

You receive confirmation at booking, and the operator confirms the tour one to two days before departure. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time, based on local time.

Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded, and late changes are not accepted. The tour also requires suitable weather and a minimum number of participants. If the operator cancels for either reason, you can choose another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

Should you book the Kingman wine and Route 66 tour?

Book it if you want an easy, social way to connect Kingman’s history with its small wineries, distillery, brewery, and local food. The best parts are the family-run winery, the on-site rum production, the Route 66 setting, and guides who add useful local detail.

Skip it if you want a short tasting outing, a Las Vegas pickup, or a luxury wine-country itinerary. Before booking, confirm the pickup area, the lunch location, and whether Desert Diamond Distillery is operating on your date.

For the right visitor, $159 buys more than drinks. It buys a full day of transportation, context, conversation, scenery, and a taste of the small businesses that make Kingman worth a stop.

FAQ

Where does the Scenic Desert Wine Distillery Brewery Route 66 Tour take place?

The tour takes place in and around Kingman, Arizona. Stops include Route 66 attractions, local wineries, Desert Diamond Distillery, Black Bridge Brewery, and a downtown cafe.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 8:00 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five to six hours.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, but you must provide your pickup location when booking. The current information says the tour is not available from Las Vegas.

What is included in the $159 price?

The price includes an air-conditioned vehicle, transportation and driver, lunch, bottled water, wine and distillery samples, and all listed fees and taxes.

Is the distillery always included?

No. Desert Diamond Distillery is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. When it is unavailable, the tour may use a brewery substitute or adjust the beverage stops.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.