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| The Pahrump Valley Winery is surrounded by 2.5 acres of vines and lush grounds. |
Wine lovers among your clientele will have no trouble finding a good wine bar in Las Vegas. Hostile Grape at the M Resort, La Cave at Wynn, The Mirage’s Portofino, Mandalay Bay’s Aureole, DOCG at The Cosmopolitan and the Rio Wine Cellar and Tasting Room are a few that come to mind.
For your dedicated oenophiles who want something more immersive, however, tell them to head west to the town of Pahrump, just an hour’s drive from the Strip. There they will find two award-winning establishments dedicated to producing fine vintages: Pahrump Valley Winery and Sanders Family Winery. A visit to either of these makes for an entertaining day trip and there are excellent accommodations, as well as other attractions, for those who want to stay overnight — or longer.
If you’re thinking, “What are wineries doing in the middle of a desert?” Sanders Family Winery owner Jack Sanders has an answer for you: “I’ve been asked that question by thousands of tourists who visit our wineries here. Yes, Pahrump has become Nevada’s Wine Country and why not? Most grapes thrive in hot dry climates and love the sunshine that this beautiful high valley has year round. The average elevation is just below 2,700 feet giving us cooler nights than Las Vegas, affording wonderful growing conditions.”
Indeed, wine grapes have been growing in the valley for more than 150 years, a fact the Sanders family learned upon their first visit to Pahrump in 1985. A short time later, they founded the first modern commercial vineyard and winery there and were soon producing award-winning vintages. Free wine tasting is offered daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tours are available
Likewise Bill and Gretchen Loken, who took over the operation of Pahrump Valley Winery in 2003, found a vinicultural oasis nestled at the base of Charleston Peak. Surrounded by 2.5 acres of vines and lush grounds, the winery sits against the contrast of the harsh Mojave Desert. Along with tastings, the winery offers tours daily at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Visitors can also enjoy the gourmet restaurant, Symphony’s (named after the winery’s most popular white wines), which serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Among the many awards the Lokens have won for their wines they are most proud of the eight they garnered for wines made from homegrown Nevada grapes. These vintages now account for about one quarter of Pahrump Valley Winery’s annual production.
In addition to the wineries, Pahrump is home to Mountain Falls Golf Course and Lakeview Executive Golf Course and, for those who prefer a different kind of “driving,” there’s Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch. The ranch is the second largest road track in the world and is home to the official Ron Fellows Corvette Driving School, Cadillac Driving School and Radicals Driving School. Clients may buy a membership to Spring Mountain or just attend the driving schools but when they attend, they have access to all of the country club-like amenities, such as a gun range, club house, swimming pool, masseuses and more. The ranch also recently opened a fresh-water eight-acre lake that offers jetpacks, jetblades and paddleboarding.
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| The Sanders Family Winery offers panoramic mountain views. |
For entertainment, the Sanders Family Winery is home to the Betsie Sanders Performing Arts Theater, hosting all types of music, from jazz, blues, swing, country and classic rock, as well as comedy shows, plays and musicals.
Clients who want to stay overnight or longer can choose from several hotels in Pahrump, including the conveniently located (on the grounds of the Pahrump Valley Winery) Cottages at Wine Ridge. Along with all the usual amenities one would expect at a luxury resort, these cottages include a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area with table and chairs, and a large deck with Adirondack chairs, table and patio umbrella. Resort facilities include two swimming pools and a pair of spas.
Other options include the Pahrump Nuggets Hotel & Casino, Saddle West Hotel & Casino and Best Western Pahrump Station.
For those who prefer to spend their nights in Las Vegas, Imbibe Tours offers the “Southern Nevada Wine Country Scenic Day Tour.” The $125 cost of the approximately six-hour program includes visits to both of above-mentioned wineries. En route participants can observe the desert scenery of Red Rock Canyon National Preserve and trek over the Spring Mountain Pass. On the trip back, they’ll sample wines from around the world. Imbibe also offers a $75 trip to the annual Grape Stomp Festival at Pahrump Valley Winery, slated this year for October 3-4.