Review: Pahrump Valley Winery

Just over an hour from the Vegas strip lies one of the area’s best kept secrets.  Bill & Gretchen Loken, owners of Pahrump Valley Winery,  produced the first Nevada commercial wine from grapes grown on their own property. Nevada Ridge, a zinfandel bottled in a deep red bottle silkscreened with gold Nevada mountains, was harvested in 2005 and bottled for distribution. Since the couple took over the winery in 2005, they have won close to 200 awards from wines they produced from California grapes.

They implemented extensive renovations, as well, including adding additional rooms to make guests more comfortable as they wait for a table or enjoy a glass of wine. The lounge features a stunning graphic display of each of their award-winning wines.

Symphony, their hidden jewel of a restaurant, is worth the 90-minute drive.  (Do order the lobster bisque; I mean do.) It was named after their light summer wine of the same name which has won Double Gold and Best of Class awards in international wine competitions. If you plan on joining up to 800 revelers who annually attend September’s grape stomp, make sure you make reservations to dine, early.

Pahrump Valley Winery (map it)

(775) 751-7800

3810 Winery Rd # 1, Pahrump (just look for the signs to the Winery)

Photo courtesy of Alan Goya.

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