Winery short getaway from Las Vegas

While striving to meet the growing demand for wine in this country, the wine industry expands into unlikely areas for viticulture, places once considered too extreme for grapes to flourish. Located in the Mojave Desert just a mountain range away from Death Valley, the driest place in North America, Pahrump Valley ranks among the most unlikely locations for a winery. But there sits the Pahrump Valley Winery, a winebibber's oasis just an hour's drive from Las Vegas on Highway 160.

Establishing the Pahrump Valley Winery in 1990 demanded persistence and patience. Early on, the enterprise experienced disaster when wild horses broke down vineyard fences to get to the tender new growth on the vines. The vintners salvaged what they could, replaced ruined vines and built better fences. Rabbits, rodents, birds and coyotes feasted upon vines and fruit whenever they could gain access, and still enjoy occasional trespassing.

For many years, the winery augmented meager harvests with fruit imported from established vineyards in other states. Nevertheless, some of the winery's production competed well in the world of wines. In the past two years, the winery garnered more than 125 national awards. The Southern Nevada winery accepts its accolades and dubs itself "Nevada's most award-winning winery." It stacks up well against its statewide competition, the Tahoe Ridge Winery in Genoa, Nevada's only other winery.

Finally, in August 2004, the Pahrump Valley Winery harvested enough grapes from its own vines to produce a limited amount of zinfandel. After spending two years aging in oak barrels, the long-awaited wine appeared last April as "Nevada Ridge" in handsomely labeled bottles with a colorful sunset behind a dark mountain silhouette.

While the vineyards developed, the winery also tended the grounds surrounding the two-story main building located at 3810 Winery Road. Today, lush grounds with shade trees, lawns and gardens provide a beautiful setting, popular for special events like weddings, receptions and parties.

The building housing the winery also contains the Symphony Restaurant, a tasting area and a gift shop. The restaurant features gourmet lunch and dinner fare in an elegant dining room with expansive views over grounds and vineyards. Upscale business casual is appropriate for patrons planning to eat there. No reservations are accepted for lunch, served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Unless you don't mind waiting, make reservations for dinner, served from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Call for reservations at (800) 368-9463.

Winery tours assemble in a comfortable seating area. Tours run most days at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. without reservations. For more information, call the winery at (775) 751-7800.

While you wait for your tour, enjoy wine tasting at the wine bar, which opens at 10:30 a.m. In the gift shop, browse the wine-related gift selection for souvenirs of your visit or for presents. Buy wines you like and create personalized labels for thoughtful holiday gifts or for your own selection of table wines.

Many visitors strolling the grounds notice an extensive RV park adjacent to the winery approach. The RV park originally was part of the winery development. However, this facility is now a membership park.

Members may reserve one of the 190 spaces available. Amenities include the clubhouse with its media room and laundry facilities, a heated pool and spa, and horseshoe pits. Although the RV park accepts no drop-ins, RV owners investigating membership options may be accommodated there overnight. For more information, call Western Horizons Resort at (775) 751-7085.

Margo Bartlett Pesek's column appears on Sundays.