With complex “kitchen-sink wine,” grapes from extraterrestrials (yes, you read that correctly) and direction from winemaker and musician Maynard James Keenan, it should come as no surprise that the newest wine bar in Cottonwood, Four 8 Wineworks, exudes an eccentric and intimate experience.
From multi-faceted winemaker Maynard James Keenan, the frontman of alternative bands Tool, Puscifer and A Perfect Circle and co-wine maker of Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards, comes the newest addition to his growing wine collection, Four 8 Wineworks. Named after Arizona, the 48th state, Four 8 Wineworks features an intimate design, with 1,500 square feet of raw wood elements, hard metals and low lighting. A collection of oddities can be found throughout the space, including vintage popcorn machines, sightings of Queen B and (un)informative weekly editions of The Weekly Forger, the winery’s No. 1 source for news to help you stay (mis)informed.
A storefront can also be found on-site, with a revolving supply of sundries from the Merkin Gardens & Orchards, including olives, apple butter, jam and scratch gelati and sorbetti. Each artisanal item is created with only the freshest seasonal ingredients available and with recipes created by members of Keenan’s family.
Unlike its rotating provisions, the grapes used to create Four 8 wines are quite literally otherworldly, with Keenan “believing” the grapes used to make his wines stem from extraterrestrial origins, from a time when E.T.s coexisted with humans in the 1700’s.
Quirky tales aside, each bottle of Four 8 Wines is carefully curated utilizing a variety of grapes, stone fruit and citrus, depending on what is grown each season. We recommend a flight to help you experience and savor each label. Some wines you can expect to enjoy include the Four 8 White (Malvasia Bianca), Four 8 Pink (Rosé), Four 8 Red (Dolcetto, Syrah) and, our personal favorite, Legion. Legion is the highlight of the menu, jokingly referred to as the winery’s “kitchen-sink wine” for its unique creation process. The wine is very complex, with bold flavors crafted by a mix of various rebellious grapes plucked in different stages of growth at the end of each season. The wine is very limited, with only 400 cases produced annually. Each label features a unique design from selected artists. Daniel Martin Diaz designed legion’s latest label.
In addition to Four 8 wines, an assortment from Keenan’s other brands appear on the menu, including sips from Puscifer’s Queen B collection and a variety of canned wines, including red, white, rosè, cider and sweet, sparkling mead. Each glass can be paired exceptionally with a shareable plate from a curated selection of bites, including the Bruschetta II Orto, with toasted scratch ciabatta, tomato jam, goat cheese crumbles and Merkin micro greens; Olives & Almonds, an assortment of roasted and seasoned Marcona almonds with amaro-marinated Merkin olives from Judith’s Orchard; or the staple, fan-favorite Merkin Vineyards Gelato, prepared in-house with fresh ingredients from the orchard. Eventually, this menu will have a hot fried chicken pairing.
Four 8 Wineworks is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m.
To learn more about Four 8 Wineworks in Cotton, visit four8wineworks.com.
816 N. Main St.
Cottonwood, AZ 86326