(TucsonSentinel) - Wine lovers David and Judy Berndt traveled from Riverside, Calif., to see what Verde Valley’s wineries have to offer. Arriving at Javelina Leap Winery, they were already impressed with the syrah wines at Oak Creek Vineyards and Winery. “Their wines are not too tannic, they’re drinkable, they’re left at room temperature and work real well with steaks and pastas,” David said. The Berndts weren’t ready to rank the Verde Valley up with California’s Napa Valley. But they said some of the wines they’d tasted were comparable, if not better.