At the Arizona Southeast Wine Festival in mid-April at the Kief Joshua Vineyards, it was my pleasure to meet a long-time Facebook friend, well, face-to-face. Imagine my joy when my new ‘old’ friend JD Marshall, gifted me with a bottle of Stetson Winery Hop In The Cab Darlin’—a 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

According to the Stetson Winery website, it was a beautiful spring evening when Don and Jo Stetson were sitting with friends on their patio, enjoying the sunset and sipping on a glass of wine, when their vision was born. Someone said: “Can you picture this valley planted in grapes with all of us on the veranda of a tasting room enjoying a sunset like this one?” The next day they were digging for a soil sample to send for testing to assess how well wine grapes might grow there— the sample showed the soil to be ideal for cultivating a vineyard, and their dream of a winery and event center took flight on 11.11.2012.

Today, the Stetson Winery and Event Center is located 15 miles north of Kingman, AZ, and just a few minutes from historic Route 66—the only winery and event center in northwestern Arizona.

New lodging

After a long day of standing on my feet pouring Pillsbury Wines with owner Sam Pillsbury for nearly 1,500 people at the wine festival, I retreated to what I recalled as a ruggedly charming but run-down Stage Stop Inn in Patagonia. The 30-minute drive was actually relaxing, as I maneuvered the amazingly beautiful sun-kissed hills and valleys along Route 82W, with that bottle of wine from the north in my thoughts. You see, on a day of pouring wines, most of us don’t drink wine at all, so I looked forward to uncorking this sexy looking bottle of Hop In The Cab.

I was thrilled to discover that the Stage Stop Inn hotel is now under new ownership and undergoing renovations—and I was the first patron to enjoy a newly refurbished room, just off the handsome courtyard with pool. The room was decked out with stunning new floor tiles, spotless everything, even brand-spanking-new sliding glass entry doors—double pane, of course.

Before settling in, I took a short walk to the Wild Horse Restaurant—about 100 paces from the hotel’s entrance, where I ordered my first good meal of the day. At this spotless and friendly restaurant, I was hoping for comfort food to soothe my tired and hungry soul.  I chose the grilled beef tenderloin medallions. Well worth the $15 and 20-minute wait to get my order to-go.

Back in the room, before digging into the fork-tender beef topped with a very light and tasty rich mushroom sauce, I popped the Hop In The Cab Darlin’ cork to enjoy as I dined. The garlic mashed red potatoes and the seasoned cauliflower and peppers were both fresh and savory. My small house salad featured fresh dark green veggies and mushrooms. The Cab was a delightful accompaniment to every last bite.

Made with Napa grapes and master-crafted by award-winning Arizona vintner, Eric Glomski, this Cabernet Sauvignon is classic—complex, lots of body, and well-balanced, with a slight hint of chocolate on the finish. The label suggests: “Just like that beautiful old pick-up truck that always turns your head.”

I confess, I was much too tired to even enjoy a second glass—it was early to bed with an early return to the second day of pouring wines at the festival in Sonoita. However, I’m happy to report that the Cab held up to further enjoyment once I returned to Willcox late the following evening.

Looking forward

I can’t wait to savor more of the wines made from the grapes grown in the Kingman valley by the Stetson Winery.  Stay tuned for a follow-up, sometime after Don and Jo bottle their first harvest.

I am delighted to have re-discovered the renewed Stage Stop Inn in Patagonia as a choice place to stay next time I head to the Sonoita/Elgin region for some more wining. And that happens a lot.

Also hoping to share many more thoughts on other Arizona wine discoveries with my ol’ Facebook buddy JD. Thanks, man!

Cheers!

Whatever you do, pour yourself into it. –Robert Mondavi

The Robert Mondavi Winery will be hosting a live happy hour toast on Facebook and Twitter today at 5pm (PST, CST, and EST). Some of the very first wines I fell in love with many years ago were created by Robert Mondavi, so it’s only fitting that I join in the virtual celebration of his 99th birthday today.

The world’s eyes were suddenly opened to the potential of the Napa Valley for good wines with the release of Robert Mondavi Winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon in the late 60s. The Mondavi legend was entrenched by the historic Paris tasting in 1976, where two former winemakers of the Robert Mondavi Winery won first prize.

I’ll be raising a glass of Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir 2011 (80% Pinot Noir, 12% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 1% Thompson Seedless). The soft, rose petals, strawberry, and cherry aroma mingles with smoky oak for a nice richness in the mouth and lingering finish–perfect to drink with my dinner of roasted chicken and vegetables.

So here’s to Robert Mondavi, thank you–and best wishes to the entire Mondavi family for many more great wines to come.

Cheers.

Napa Valley winemaker Robert Craig will be pouring a few of his stellar wines this Thursday, September 29, 2011, from 5:30-7:30pm at Tavolino Ristorante in Tucson.

Robert Craig celebrates three decades of producing distinctive Cabernet Sauvignons from vineyards in the highest, most remote reaches of the Valley. He has been a pioneer in Napa Valley mountain vineyards and a visionary in creating a new wine style for mountain Cabernets that emphasizes ripe fruit, supple tannins, and early balance and integration.

The Robert Craig wines being tasted will be: 2008 Affinity Napa Valley, 2001 Spring Mountain Cabernet, 2007 Mt. Veeder Cabernet, 2008 Howell Mountain Zinfandel, and 2008 Durell Chardonnay.

All wines will be available for purchase at amazing retail prices. Cases of 6 or 12 can be pre-ordered; mix and match available. All pre-orders will be signed by Robert Craig. Wine tasting attendees will also receive 10% off their entire dinner bill if they stay for dinner. Reservations are recommended.

 GRAPE STOMP 5K—next stop: Verde Valley

This Saturday, October 1, runners and walkers will gather in Historic Downtown Cottonwood in Northern Arizona for the second leg of the Arizona Wine Growers Association’s Grape Stomp 5K. This year’s theme is Liberate Your Juices, and this is surely a great way to do that.

Racers will begin in Old Town at 8:00am, run to Dead Horse State Park, crossing the Verde River, and finishing back in Old Town. After the run, you can stay, relax, eat, shop, and enjoy the wine tastings rooms. Then take in some music and food at the Rhythm & Ribs Festival in Old Town or venture out to the wonderful and scenic wineries in the countryside surrounding Cottonwood. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what Cottonwood and the Verde Valley have to offer its visitors.

Race day check-in and registration takes place at Crema Café from 6:00-7:30am. The starting line is at the Lions Club Park on the corner of Main Street and Willard Street. Be there by 7:30 a.m.

Canelo Hills Winery celebrates Anniversary

Head on down to Canelo Hills Winery this weekend for their 4th anniversary celebration.

Vintners Joan and Tim Mueller will be pouring in the tasting room from 11:00am-4:00pm both Saturday, October 1, and Sunday, October 2, featuring the release of two new red wines: Zinfandel and Syrah. There will be vineyard and winery tours hourly to show off eight years of history since they started digging. And don’t forget the anniversary cake.

Bring your own glass for a discount on the tasting. Canelo Hills Winery is located on Elgin Road, just about an hour’s drive from Tucson. Congratulations to the Muellers on reaching this milestone.

Cheers!