So where does one go to visit a winery without leaving the Las Vegas area?  Reality dictates that only one working winery exists within our immediate area; the Pahrump Valley Winery.  Situated just about 60 miles from Las Vegas, along highway 160, it takes about one hour to make the drive.  As you approach from the city, turn right at the Shell station, Winery Road, and proceed about one mile until you see the winery on the left.  

 

    The picturesque winery seems completely incongruous with the town of Pahrump.  Quite honestly, Pahrump doesn’t have a lot to offer beyond desert vistas, slightly cooler temperatures, and the Pahrump Valley Winery.  But the winery itself makes the drive worthwhile.  The charming white buildings with blue trim resemble a small winery in the heart of the California wine country.   And the greenery of the trees and lawn framing the complex conjure up thoughts of being somewhere else rather than in the middle of the desert.

    Owned and operated by Bill and Gretchen Loken, husband and wife, the grounds have a small vineyard, a tasting room, a cellar, an outdoor lawn for banquets, and a very nice restaurant.  The Lokens take much pride in their efforts to produce a fine wine.  They have acquired very modern winemaking technology and continue to renovate the property to make it more state of the art.  Final plans for the site include a completely new tasting room, a modern wine cellar that will rival almost anything on the Strip, and some renovations to the already very charming Symphony restaurant.  

 

    At present the tastings take place in a nice room that visitors first enter upon arriving at the winery.   The Lokens have a plethora of wines available for tasting and sale.  Those wines include a chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir, a crème sherry, and a floral varietal entitled “Symphony.”  The grapes for all the wines are sourced from various California and Oregon vineyards.  The Lokens utilize various winemakers from the regions where the grapes are grown to assist them in producing some of their wines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

        They do have plans to release the first “Estate” wine made from start to finish in Nevada, a 2005 zinfandelna   med “Nevada Ridge.”  All the grapes for this wine come from the small vineyard located beside the winery.  Currently undergoing barrel aging in the winery’s cellar, the wine will be released later this year.  I tasted this wine from one of the barrels, and found it quite nice.  Unfortunately, the first vintage of this wine will only amount to about 100 cases, most of which has already been pre-sold.  If you see some available in a restaurant, you should certainly give it a try.  

 

    The winery offers regular tours of its facilities free of charge.  You should call in advance to reserve a place on the tour, as they sometimes become crowded.  You may purchase the Pahrump Valley wines at the winery, or at several retail establishments here in the Las Vegas area.  Local retailers that stock some of the wines include Whole Foods, Albertsons, Smiths and Lee’s Discount Liquors.   All wines are affordably priced at less than $20.00 per bottle.

    The Symphony’s restaurant provides another reason for visiting the Pahrump Valley Winery.  Open for lunch and dinner, it features a wide ranging list of entrees at reasonable prices.  The dinner menu includes several specially prepared chicken, seafood, steak and pasta dishes, all for around $20.00.  All dishes come with nicely paired side dishes.  The diner can complement these entrees with a great choice of appetizers, salads, soups and desserts.  I had the bruschetta for a starter with the chicken Tuscany entree, and both
looked just as appetizing as they tasted.  The lunch menu also has a good assortment of sandwiches and wraps.  Although informal dining, the dining room provides a nice ambience, open and surrounded by windows that look out upon the winery’s green trees and lawn.

 

    If you feel the need for a short getaway to a wine destination, the Pahrump Valley Winery offers a rewarding choice for Las Vegas residents or visitors.  I  heartily recommend a visit...