Everything to know about visiting Maynard James Keenan's new Arizona winery and trattoria

Richard Ruelas, Arizona Republic
Updated ·3 min read
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Here’s what you need to know about visiting Maynard James Keenan’s new Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in Old Town Cottonwood.

The facility is located at 770 N. Verde Heights Drive in Cottonwood. That address will take you up a road and into a parking lot. Alternatively, visitors can find a spot to park along Main Street in Old Town Cottonwood and take the stairs or the tram up the hill.

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Wait there’s a tram in Cottonwood?

Merkin Vineyards Gelateria is located at the bottom of the hill, allowing visitors to walk or ride a tram to the top of the hill where the vineyards, tasting rooms and restaurant are located.
Merkin Vineyards Gelateria is located at the bottom of the hill, allowing visitors to walk or ride a tram to the top of the hill where the vineyards, tasting rooms and restaurant are located.

Visitors wishing to head up to the winery and restaurant from Main Street have three options.

Walk or drive along Verde Heights Road and access the facility through the parking lot.

Take the metal staircase accessible through a door near the Merkin Vineyards Pocket Park Gelateria.

Take the tram, raised and lowered by an attending operator. There is a $2 charge for the tram, but the cost will be waived with a purchase at the gelato stand (open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.).

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What's on the menu at Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria?

Merkin Vineyards owner and winemaker Maynard James Keenan (left) poses for a photo with 18-year-old chef Kai Miller at the Merkin Vineyards Trattoria on Sept. 25, 2023, in Cottonwood.
Merkin Vineyards owner and winemaker Maynard James Keenan (left) poses for a photo with 18-year-old chef Kai Miller at the Merkin Vineyards Trattoria on Sept. 25, 2023, in Cottonwood.

The menu at the trattoria will include pizzas, pastas and salads.

Wines are between $8 and $16 a glass. Flights of three wines will average about $7.

Bottles are available for dine-in and to-go. Prices vary. Generally, the Merkin lines are $20 to $45 a bottle. Caduceus starts at $30 and escalates from there, with the exclusive wines for the Velvet Slippers Club being the priciest.

How to access the exclusive Ventura Room

Maynard James Keenan, of the bands Tool and Puscifer, is building the Caduceus Cellars Hilltop Facility, VSC Ventura Room and Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in Cottonwood, Arizona. It will be a central location where people can sample all his labels.
Maynard James Keenan, of the bands Tool and Puscifer, is building the Caduceus Cellars Hilltop Facility, VSC Ventura Room and Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in Cottonwood, Arizona. It will be a central location where people can sample all his labels.

The Ventura Room on top of the Caduceus Cellars offers what is described as an “exclusive, in-depth” look at the history of Caduceus Cellars. The 90-minute experience includes a vineyard tour, winery tour and a wine and dining experience. Available on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., each seating is limited to eight people.

Booking an experience at the Ventura Room offers the only opportunity to tour the winery. Ventura Room diners will also be the only customers given the opportunity to purchase wines made from grapes grown on the hillside vineyard. The website for reservations will be shared on the Caduceus and Merkin social media pages.

The price for the experience is $199 per person. Dates and times can be changed, but the reservation cost is non-refundable.

What are the hours at Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria?

The grand opening is on Oct. 6, after which hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Service is first come, first served. Reservations not accepted.

Details: 770 N. Verde Heights Drive, Cottonwood. 928-639-1001, merkinvineyards.org.

Reach Ruelas at 602-444-8473 or at richard.ruelas@arizonarepublic.com. Follow the reporter at @ruelaswritings on X, formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What to know about Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery & Trattoria in AZ