Staff Reports | Happenings & Events
D.A.Ranch Estate Vineyards in the Verde Valley has partnered with Western Sky Helicopters to offer a vineyard experience that combines wine tasting with a scenic helicopter flight from Scottsdale to Sedona.
The experience begins at Western Sky’s private helipad at Scottsdale Airpark and includes a roughly one-hour flight over the Sonoran Desert and Sedona’s red rock formations before landing at D.A.Ranch. Guests then enjoy a guided vineyard tour and curated tastings of estate-grown varietals, according to a press release.
“This experience redefines wine tasting,” said Mr. Olen Petznick, owner of D.A.Ranch. “It’s an extraordinary journey where the thrill of flight meets the soul of our vineyard.”
Flights accommodate up to four passengers with a combined weight limit of 800 pounds. The base price starts at $2,995 for two passengers, with additional seats available for $200 each.
Departures are offered Wednesday through Sunday from about 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Western Sky operates under an FAA Part 135 certificate and requires pre-flight safety briefings.
“From the air, Sedona’s icons come alive in a breathtaking reel—Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, Devil’s Bridge, the Chapel of the Holy Cross and the ancient Anasazi cliff dwellings unfold beneath you,” said Vanessa Clifton, CEO of Western Sky Helicopters. “On a clear day, your eyes can even stretch as far as the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff.”
The experience includes opportunities to purchase wines such as Willow White, Malvasia Bianca, Mae Rosé, Red Barn Red, Capra and Homestead Red before departure.
