Scenic Desert Wine Distillery Brewery Route 66 Tour

Desert wine is not a mirage. This Kingman day trip pairs Route 66 history with Arizona wine, rum, beer, and a generous look at the countryside away from the Strip. I like the relaxed pace and the mix of small family businesses. I also like that lunch, tastings, transportation, and bottled water are built into the $159 price.

The main caution is distance. This is a long half-day in a vehicle, especially if you are coming from Las Vegas, and one past participant found the drive too much for the amount of wine served. The tour is based in Kingman, not Las Vegas, and the operator specifically says it is not available from Las Vegas. Confirm your pickup point carefully before booking.

Key points to know before you book

• A full Route 66 day in miniature: You visit the Arizona Route 66 Museum and Powerhouse Visitor Center, then move on to local wine, spirits, beer, and lunch.
• Four very different food and drink stops: Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery, Desert Diamond Distillery, Black Bridge Brewery, and Sirens Cafe each have a distinct personality.
• Small groups keep the day personal: The maximum is 13 people, with private and small-group departures available.
• The distillery schedule matters: Desert Diamond Distillery is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and the brewery may replace the distillery when it is unavailable.
• The guides shape the experience: Mike, Sue, Bob, Brandon, and Michael have all been praised for local stories, patience, and an easygoing manner.
• The price covers more than tastings: Transportation, lunch, wine and distillery samples, brewery substitution when needed, water, and taxes are included.

Why Kingman makes a good Route 66 base

Kingman is not trying to be Las Vegas. That is the point. The city offers a quieter, more local take on Route 66, with old roadside associations, a historic downtown, desert views, and small businesses that still feel connected to the community.

The tour begins at about 8:00 am, though your exact pickup depends on the arrangement made at booking. The air-conditioned vehicle matters in Arizona, especially when the day stretches to five or six hours. You will spend time on the road, but the drive also gives you a look at the open country around Kingman.

The Arizona Route 66 Museum and Powerhouse Visitor Center provide useful context before the tastings begin. I like this order. You first get a sense of the road, its travelers, its old cars, and its place in American travel culture. After that, the wineries and brewery feel like part of the region rather than a string of unrelated drinking stops.

Your guide adds much of the value. Mike has been praised for explaining Kingman and the surrounding area, while Sue received special credit for discussing desert plants and local scenery. Bob is known for local lore and historical stories, and Brandon has been praised for sharing plenty of area history. The exact guide is not guaranteed, but the operator clearly relies on people who know the area well.

Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery and the desert vineyard

The first wine stop is Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery, located on six acres along Winery Row just off historic Route 66. More than 4,000 vines grow here, which makes the setting a pleasant surprise in such a dry part of Arizona.

The winery presents an earth-to-bottle experience. You can see how the owners connect the vineyard, the winemaking, and the finished drink. The family-owned atmosphere is a big part of the appeal. This is not a polished corporate tasting room. It is a place where the owners tell stories, explain the wines, and make the visit feel informal.

The tasting may include Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, Rosé of Zinfandel, red blends, and the winery’s well-known Pink Bikini, a grape and strawberry blend. The selection gives you a useful spread of styles, from lighter and fruitier pours to fuller reds.

Allow about 45 minutes here. That is enough time to taste, hear a few stories, and sit outside among the vines if the weather cooperates. The outdoor seating area has mountain views, and the quiet setting may be the most memorable part for you.

I would set your expectations correctly. This stop is about personality and setting as much as wine. One past participant rated the first winery less favorably than the other stops, while several others found the owners funny and the visit very enjoyable. Wine preferences differ, so do not book this excursion expecting a formal European cellar tour. You are getting a friendly Arizona vineyard with a strong sense of place.

Desert Diamond Distillery and Arizona rum

Desert Diamond Distillery, often called D3, is one of the most unusual stops. It is located at Kingman Airport and has operated as a family-owned craft distillery since 2008. The business is recognized as Arizona’s oldest craft distillery.

The production process is handled on-site. The distillery ferments, distills, ages, and bottles its products using a German still. A tour of the production room and barrel room usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, followed by samples at a vintage bar rescued from the old Las Vegas Strip.

The rum selection is the main attraction. You may taste white rum, dark rum, and agave rum sweetened with agave nectar. The distillery also produces corn whiskey moonshine, aged wheat whiskey, and a Rum and Rye collaboration.

The 11-year barrel reserve rum earned a near-perfect 99 score at the 2023 International Wine and Spirit Competition in London and ranked first in its rum category. You do not need to be a spirits expert to appreciate the distinction. The useful point is that this is a serious working distillery, not just a souvenir shop with a tasting counter.

The schedule is important. Desert Diamond Distillery is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On those days, the operator may substitute a brewery stop, so check the operating day before you commit. One past participant was disappointed not to visit the distillery, but the reason was its weekly closure rather than a failure to offer the stop.

If you enjoy the production side of spirits, this may be your favorite part of the day. If you prefer wine and scenery, the winery may suit you better. The two stops balance each other nicely.

Lunch at Sirens Cafe and Custom Catering

Lunch is served at Sirens Cafe and Custom Catering, though the location can change on some days to provide the best available dining option. The cafe is a family business run by Carmella Hynes and Denise McMillan, a mother and daughter team.

Sirens has a home-style atmosphere and a menu built around artisan sandwiches and Euro-style paninis. The bread is baked in-house, and the kitchen makes items such as ricotta, artichoke spreads, soups, and daily specials. Carmella studied cooking in Florence, Italy, which helps explain the Italian influence in the menu.

The Curry Tito combines curry chicken salad with green apple, dried cranberries, and cashews. The La Rocco panini is another signature choice. Homemade soups are also a strong reason to take this lunch seriously rather than treating it as a basic meal between tastings.

The restaurant earned a place at number 85 on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the United States for 2024. That is a notable accolade for a small Kingman cafe, but the practical benefit is simpler: you are getting a proper lunch rather than snacks passed around in a vehicle.

The dining room has a mermaid theme, and there is patio seating near the brewery. Lunch is included, but gratuity is not specifically listed as included. One participant pointed out the need to budget for a tip, so carry extra money for good service.

Black Bridge Brewery on Beale Street

Black Bridge Brewery is Kingman’s original craft brewery, founded in 2013 on historic Route 66’s Beale Street. Locals call it B3, after the railroad bridge that became a gathering place in earlier decades.

This is the most casual stop of the day. The taproom has a small indoor bar and a large backyard patio with a redwood stage. Live music is held most weekends, though entertainment is not guaranteed for every tour date.

You may find more than 20 beers on tap, including year-round choices such as Evil Red IPA, Wicked Poison, Locomotive Stout, and Scorched Earth. The last is made with ghost pepper, so approach it with caution unless you enjoy heat in your beer. Seasonal selections can include Prickly Pear Pale Ale.

Non-drinkers are not left out. Handcrafted ginger beer and cold-brew coffee are available. That makes this a better group stop than a place focused only on alcohol.

Food is not prepared on-site, but nearby restaurants can deliver to the table. On some tour schedules, Black Bridge may also serve as the replacement when Desert Diamond Distillery is closed. You should ask the operator how the stops will be arranged on your date, since the brewery can appear as both a scheduled brewery visit and a substitution.

The brewery often works well as the day’s final drink stop. After the formal tasting at the winery and the production visit at the distillery, you can settle into a more social setting with a wide choice of beer.

What the $159 price really covers

At $159 per person, this tour is not the cheapest way to visit one tasting room. It is also not priced like a simple shuttle. You are paying for a half-day package that combines transportation, a Route 66 attraction, several tastings, lunch, bottled water, a driver, and taxes.

The included items are:

• Air-conditioned transportation
• Driver and tour transport
• Lunch
• Wine tasting and distillery samples
• Brewery substitution when the distillery is unavailable
• Bottled water
• All fees and taxes

The tour can include up to seven wine tastings from Cella Winery and Stetson Winery according to the main tour description, while the detailed route highlights Little Old Wine Drinkers Winery. Since the exact tasting partners can vary, confirm the planned wineries when you book.

The value is strongest if you want someone else to drive. That is especially important when wine and spirits are involved. You also gain access to small local businesses that would be difficult to combine efficiently without a vehicle.

The value is weaker if your main goal is heavy pours or a long formal tasting. One past participant described the wine samples as too small, while the operator explained that serving sizes are controlled by each winery. The sensible approach is to treat this as a cultural and food outing with tastings, not as an all-you-can-drink event.

The long-drive question

The drive is the central tradeoff. The tour lasts roughly five to six hours from the Kingman area, but the overall day can feel longer if your pickup is far away. An old comment describes a 2.5-hour drive from Las Vegas, but the current details state that this tour is not available from Las Vegas. Do not assume a Las Vegas pickup is possible just because some older experiences began there.

The operator asks you to provide your pickup location when booking and confirms tours one or two days before departure. The minimum is two participants, and the maximum group size is 13. That is a useful size for conversation without making the vehicle feel like a large coach tour.

Some past participants found the drive worthwhile because it opened up the country beyond the bright lights of Las Vegas. Others felt the journey took too much of the day. I would book it when the road itself is part of your plan, not when you want a quick tasting close to your hotel.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this experience if you like small businesses, local food, Route 66, and a guide who tells stories between stops. It suits couples, families with adults, and groups of friends who want several kinds of drinks rather than one narrow wine itinerary.

It also works well for people who have already seen the main Las Vegas attractions and want a quieter day in Arizona. The excursion gives you a reason to visit Kingman, rather than simply passing through it on the highway.

You may want another activity if you dislike long drives, want a highly structured wine education, or expect large pours at every stop. The first winery is informal, the brewery can be lively, and the day depends on the schedules of small independent businesses.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The vehicle is air-conditioned, but the supplied details do not specify special mobility equipment, so ask the operator about your needs before booking.

Booking, weather, and cancellation advice

The tour is offered in English, with mobile tickets and group discounts available. It operates only when the minimum number of participants is met, and poor weather can also cause a cancellation. In either case, you are offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. The cutoff follows local time.

Because Desert Diamond Distillery closes Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I would ask three questions before paying: Is the distillery open on my date? Which winery or wineries are planned? Where exactly is pickup?

Should you book the Kingman Route 66 wine tour?

Yes, if you want a relaxed day that mixes roadside history, desert scenery, lunch, wine, rum, and beer. The strongest parts are the personal guides, the family-run businesses, the Route 66 museum, and the variety of stops. Mike, Sue, Bob, Brandon, and Michael have each helped make the day feel more like a local outing than a standard bus trip.

I would skip it if you are short on time or dislike being on the road for much of the day. The $159 price makes sense when you use the transportation, lunch, tastings, and local access. It makes less sense if you only want a quick glass of wine.

For the right pace, this is a memorable side trip into the quieter Arizona beyond the casino lights. Check the distillery schedule, plan for a gratuity at lunch, and arrive ready for stories as much as samples.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at about 8:00 am, with pickup details arranged at booking. You must provide your pickup location, and the operator confirms the tour one or two days before departure.

Is pickup from Las Vegas available?

No. The current tour information states that this experience is not available from Las Vegas.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately five to six hours.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 13 people. A minimum of two participants is required for the tour to operate.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included, although the lunch location may change on some days. Gratuity is not listed as included, so you should budget for a tip.

What happens if Desert Diamond Distillery is closed?

The distillery is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. When it is unavailable, a brewery visit may be substituted.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.