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Desert Vines Wine and Culinary Event at Castle Hot Springs

INTRODUCING DESERT VINES: AN EXCLUSIVE WINE & CULINARY SERIES LAUNCHING AT CASTLE HOT SPRINGS 

Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey Kicks Off the October 2025 Series Debut with Curated Tastings, Pairings, and Terroir-Driven Experiences

Morristown, AZ (PRESS RELEASE) – Tucked within a secluded Sonoran Desert canyon, Castle Hot Springs, recently named the No. 1 Resort in Arizona by Travel + Leisure, the fifth year running on the prestigious list and newly ranked among the Top 15 Resorts in the U.S., is introducing Desert Vines, a new multi-day wine and culinary series launching October 2025. Building on the resort’s acclaimed Wine Spectator Restaurant Award-winning wine program, the series will debut with a signature weekend hosted by acclaimed Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey. Set against the resort’s dramatic natural backdrop and working geothermal-fed farm, the series will celebrate hand selected varietals from unique and rare to the classics with immersive masterclasses and elegant wine-paired dinners. Guests can expect a wide range of vintages, thoughtfully led tastings, and intimate sessions with some of the most dynamic winemakers and sommeliers.

 Desert Vines’ Debut: Signature Experiences with Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey of Michelin-starred Frasca Hospitality Group
The debut event from October 21-23, 2025, will feature exclusive programming led by Stuckey, founder of James Beard Foundation Award-winning, Michelin-starred Frasca Hospitality Group. This signature experience invites guests to choose between two exceptional events, or enjoy both as part of an unforgettable sojourn, offering a rare opportunity to learn from and dine with one of America’s most celebrated wine professionals. Highlights include a wine education masterclass and a five-course wine-paired dinner, presented in collaboration with Castle Hot Springs’ acclaimed culinary team: Executive Chef Chris Knouse and Level 2 Sommelier Sarah Foote. Tailored for culinary travelers and wine enthusiasts alike, these events promise an immersive experience rooted in terroir, craftsmanship, and a deep connection to place, reflecting the resort’s commitment to innovation, farm-to-table excellence, and world-class hospitality. Details of the events include: 

• Masterclass | October 21, 2025: Discover the celebrated wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia during an engaging afternoon featuring tastings of iconic regional styles alongside a thoughtful exploration of next-generation producers and styles redefining the future of winemaking. $150 per person

• Wine Paired Dinner | October 22, 2025: Savor a five-course wine-paired dinner exploring some of Stuckey’s personal favorites, featuring dishes prepared by Chef Knouse in an enchanting evening that highlights the dynamic interplay of food and wine through thoughtful pairings and expert craftsmanship. $500 per person

 “At Castle Hot Springs, our culinary philosophy is deeply rooted in seasonality, innovation, and a true sense of place, where each ingredient tells a story and every dish and pour reflects the land it comes from,” adds Kevin Maguire, General Manager of Castle Hot Springs. “Desert Vines is a natural extension of our culinary ethos, bringing together immersive wine education led by the world’s leading tastemakers and ingredient-driven cuisine in collaboration with our on-site culinary team. From Bobby Stuckey’s masterclass to the five-course dinner led by our own Chef Knouse, each moment is thoughtfully crafted to offer guests a meaningful connection to flavor, craft, and the land, from the wines of Friuli Venezia Giulia to the farm-driven dishes that define the Castle Hot Springs experience.”

 A Culinary Program Rooted in Innovation + Experiences
At Castle Hot Springs, culinary excellence is deeply rooted in flavor, technique, and a reverence for the land. Under the direction of an expert team, the resort’s dining program blends classical training with a deep appreciation for the region’s natural bounty. Menus evolve daily, inspired by the freshest seasonal ingredients sourced directly from the on-site farm, where the agronomy team works closely with the culinary team to cultivate more than 200 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and florals. At Harvest, the resort’s award-winning signature restaurant, the five-course tasting menu transforms this hyper-seasonal produce into dishes that celebrate nuance in flavor, texture, and presentation. The beverage program mirrors this approach, offering curated wine pairings and non-alcoholic creations crafted with ingredients grown just steps away. Building on this philosophy, the experiences with Bobby Stuckey serve as a thoughtful complement to the program, inviting guests to embrace the resort’s culinary ethos through immersive education and intentional pairings.

For guests seeking continued immersion in Castle Hot Springs’ culinary program, the resort also offers seasonal experiences beyond Desert Vines. This includes The Sonoran Epicurean Escape, a four-night retreat returning in late 2025 over the dates of November 30–December 4 and December 14–18, featuring hands-on classes, tastings, and open-air dining, all in support of the Fresh Start Women’s Foundation. For those looking to extend their wine journey, the Vines & Vistas Package pairs scenic luxury with Arizona viticulture. Guests enjoy a private aerial tour over Sedona’s red rocks before landing at D.A. Ranch Estate Vineyards in the Verde Valley AVA for an exclusive tasting experience in a stunning vineyard setting. 

​​Beyond the Plate: Nature-Driven Wellness and Adventure at Castle Hot Springs
Castle Hot Springs offers much more than world-class dining; it’s a historic sanctuary rooted in wellness. Established in 1896 as Arizona’s first luxury and wellness resort, it has long been known as the retreat of choice for America’s titans of industry, such as the Cabots, Vanderbilts, Wrigleys, Roosevelts, and Astors. Tucked against the Bradshaw Mountains just 50 miles outside of Phoenix, the 1,100-acre nature-driven resort melds its natural surroundings with a thoughtful blend of restorative programming and adventure activities designed to cater to travelers looking to experience the perfect mix of ‘soft adventure’ and ‘slow travel.’ Guests can experience the rejuvenating benefits of the ancient, lithium-rich hot springs, one of just ten in the U.S., or unwind with nature-derived spa treatments and wellness offerings such as Watsu Water Therapy, Intentional Wellness, and Paddleboard Yoga. For those craving adventure, experiences range from UTV Razor Tours and Castle Peak Via Ferrata to Crater Canyon Exploration. 

Reserve Your Wine Getaway
The inaugural Desert Vines events will take place from October 21–23, 2025, with featured programming priced at $150 additional per person for the wine education masterclass on October 21, and $500 per person for the five-course wine-paired dinner with Stuckey and Executive Chef Chris Knouse on October October 22, excluding accommodations. For more information or to book, visit THIS LINK or call (888)-767-4615.

About Castle Hot Springs  
Castle Hot Springs is a hidden desert oasis located amidst the stunning landscape of the Sonoran Desert and Bradshaw Mountains, just 50 miles north of the Phoenix/Scottsdale metro area. Named among Travel + Leisure’s T+L 500 Best Hotels (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Travel + Leisure’s #1 World’s Best Arizona Resort (2021, 2022, 2024, 2025), one of Travel + Leisure’s Top 15 Resorts in the United States (2025), one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers' Choice Awards’ Top Resort Spa Destinations (2021, 2022, 2024), U.S. News & World Report’s #2 Best Hotels in Arizona (2024), USA TODAY’s 10Best Spa Resort (2023, 2024) and Best All-Inclusive Resort (2020, 2021, 2022), as well as a Wine Spectator Restaurant Award recipient (2022, 2023, 2024), the historic resort is inspired by the West’s natural elements and mineral-rich hot springs, which are situated at the heart of the sprawling 1,100-acre property. Established in 1896 as Arizona’s first luxury and wellness resort, Castle Hot Springs quickly became a favorite retreat for America’s captains of industry, including the Cabots, Vanderbilts, Wrigleys, Roosevelts, and Astors. The iconic resort features 31 standalone bungalows and cabins, a world-class culinary experience, and an impressive agricultural program based on a ‘Flavor Farming’ philosophy—growing more than 300 varieties of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and florals. The resort also offers a thrilling adventure program, including Arizona’s first Via Ferrata adventure course. Nightly rates at the luxurious all-inclusive resort include upscale guest accommodations, all meals and associated gratuities, and a plethora of guest activities and amenities. Restaurants, hot springs, and resort grounds are available exclusively for registered overnight guests, and in an effort to protect this unique experience for all, arrivals and departures are set on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday only. For those seeking to dive deeper into Castle Hot Springs’ legacy, Oasis in Time – the Emmy® Award-winning documentary that tells the colorful history of the resort – is available for viewing here. For more information or to book, please call (888) 767-4615, visit www.castlehotsprings.com, or follow on Instagram at @castlehotsprings.

 

Fat Ox Unveils a Lush Summer Menu with Bold New Dishes and Cocktails

(PRESS RELEASE) Fat Ox welcomes the season with a fresh lineup of summer dishes and cocktails that celebrate the bounty of the warmer months. New menu highlights include the Burrata D.O.P. with Prosciutto, topped with pomegranate, cherry mostarda, pistachio, and served with Noble Bread and EVOO, an elegant balance of richness and acidity. Fresh pasta dishes shine with seasonal ingredients, like the Pici, served with miso-grilled trumpet mushrooms and a dandelion pine nut salsa verde, and the Capelletti, stuffed with squash and finished with fermented garlic honey and zucchini sott’olio. The Sorpresine is a standout, pairing veal alla vodka with yellow tomato, nduja, caciocavallo, and a balsamic crumble, offering layers of savory-sweet complexity.

To complement the food, Fat Ox’s bar program introduces an innovative summer cocktail menu. Bright, floral, and refreshing options include Good Fortune (vodka, hibiscus aperitivo, peach, lemon, local orange blossom honey, moscato) and Pipino (gin, lime, cucumber, smoked jalapeño, jasmine), both perfect for Arizona’s long sunny evenings. Other highlights include the tropical-inspired White Lotus (rum, banana falernum, lime, pineapple, coconut) and the herbaceous and cooling Melone Verde (tequila, honeydew melon, génépy, lemongrass, mint). Agave lovers will appreciate the smoky-meets-citrus blend in Aconna Rain, with mezcal, sotol, apricot, grapefruit, and Aleppo chili salt. Spirit-forward creations like Saturnalia (bourbon, passionfruit, lemon, Italian herbal liqueur) and A Night in San Gimignano (pink peppercorn rye, Jamaican rum, fig, sweet vermouth) round out the new offerings. The crowd-favorite Strawberries & Cigars returns, combining blended scotch, lemon, strawberry, rhubarb, rose, black walnut, and a hint of Laphroaig and rosemary.

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Named after the famed Italian cattle, food, and wine festival, Fat Ox serves up Chef Matt Carter’s modern take on the authentic, ingredient-driven, and hearty recipes of rural Italy. Think sharable starters such as hand-pulled cheeses, house-made pasta, and farm-fresh ingredients, all paired with Fat Ox’s Italian-kissed cocktails, craft beers, and a globe-straddling wine list overseen by an in-house sommelier. Visit Fat Ox for Aperitivo Hour daily from 3:30 – 6:30 pm at the bar and high tops or during regular hours Sunday – Thursday 3:30 – 9:00 pm, Friday and Saturday 3:30 – 10:00pm. Fat Ox is located on Scottsdale Road and Lincoln Drive.