Alcantara Vineyards [May 2023]

Alcantara take three… I realized the first time Alcantara appeared in my blog it was in the Verde Valley Wine Trail list of wineries and I told you I’d tell you more about it when I wrote the Water to Wine blog. However, when I looked back at that post, I mostly talked about our amazing kayak trip not much about the winery. Now I’m going to write about this pretty cool horseback ride to winery excursion!! I will try to tell you more about the winery this time, but let’s move right into the main event… the horseback ride!! I’m not sure on which social media platform I first saw it, but when I did, it sounded like a lot of fun and several friends instantly popped into my mind.

We all met up there, and this must have been a newer company or a new excursion they were starting, because soon after we arrived, another group of six gals showed up for our tour!! Too bad we were there first, and were already on the horses!! The other group was late, so they missed out and did not get to go. I felt kind of bad for them and all, but I also felt very happy for us! Let me introduce you to a new friend, front and center... the gorgeous young lady taking the selfie, miss Jade Toombs. When I first met and worked with her at Valleywise, she was also a traveler as well as an accomplished horsewoman. She eventually went to a permanent position. Jade is such a sweet, caring, hardworking, beautiful soul and such a treat to work with! We always talked about getting together for a glass of wine.

In fact, she brought her bar on wheels, an old horse trailer that she converted and was the bartender for my backyard 50^th birthday the previous month before our ride!! Anyway, since Jade wasn’t traveling with her horses, this seemed like the perfect combo outing for us!! You may see her at a later wine date if you’re paying attention. To Jade’s left, you should recognize one of my wine besties, Sherri. [who is quickly becoming a staple in my wine blogs!! Haha!!] She brought her wonderful daughter, Kelsie who is pictured in the photo at the winery. Let me introduce another young, totally charming friend, Morgan MacCleary. [with the beautiful smile below] We met and worked together at Thunderbird. I was first drawn to her by the sound of her melodic voice.

Though Morgan is not a wine drinker, she has an old radiant soul and we quickly hit it off. Since I no longer work with her, I only get to see her about once a winter, maybe twice if I’m lucky, but we always keep in touch!! Our go-to is usually at one of the local Mexican restaurants, so there may be a margarita or two involved!! HA!! I know I have introduced you to another friend from Thunderbird, Barbie Corcetti, at least once before. [she is the one wearing teal in the photos] She is not a big wino like I am, but due to her fun and generous spirit, I alway gravitate to her. I’m very fortunate to call her my friend and to see her several times a winter!! We survived the ride, but after we got back, our tour guy asked is anyone wanted to take another little rife and give the horses their head so to speak. No, nope, no way, not me!! LOL!!

In my humble opinion, Barbie, me, and the girl wearing white were the only sane ones in the bunch!! Haha!! The rest of our crazy group took back off with our guide and their horses and boy did they come back with stories… Thankfully we were all able to hear all about it after moving on the wine drinking part of our excursion. You can see us all below and while I do not regret the horseback riding part, I think it was a once and done deal for me. It seems that oops.. I did it again!! I went on and on about my wonderful friends and how much fun we had, and it seems that I still didn’t go into the bones of Alcantara.. I also did not take many photos of the vineyard. I will tell you that they are a family-owned winery that was opened in 2004 by Barbara and Bob Predmore.

However, I am going to make it my mission to go back to Alcantara just for you, my loyal readers so I can write an Alcantara take four blog and do this beautiful vineyard the justice that it deserves!! Let me know if anyone out there wants to join me!!

Make sure you ride along next week as Wine with Wixy starts the trek North for summer!! You never know what we may find along our route!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!