Willcox Wine Country

Make your way to Willcox this coming weekend—an hour’s drive east from Tucson—to the town’s quaint historic Railroad Park. You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped back in time—when days were slower, air was fresher (and 10-degrees cooler), people were friendlier, music was meaningful, art was spectacular, and the wines were, well, these wines ARE amazing!

The Willcox Wine Country Spring Festival  will take place this Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19, 10:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. The event will include food, live music, arts, crafts, and wine tasting with 16 featured Arizona farm wineries.  

About those wines

Arizona winemakers will be on hand to serve more than 70 local Arizona wines for your tasting. The wineries scheduled to showcase their wines include Arizona Stronghold, Carlson Creek Vineyard, Coronado Vineyards, Gallifant Cellars, Golden Rule Vineyards, Keeling Schaefer Vineyards, Kief-Joshua Vineyards, Kokopelli Vineyards, Lawrence Dunham Vineyards, Page Springs Cellars, Pillsbury Wine Co., Sand-Reckoner, Zarpara Vineyard, Flying Leap Vineyards, Dos Cabezas featuring Cimarron, and Rolling View/Saeculum Cellars.

As you enjoy your wine and browse the vendors, entertainment kicks off Saturday with V Lundon and Tell Me Something Good providing vital energy to the new voice of local folk/rock—a new sound that is comfortable and distinctly Arizona. Sharing the first music segment of the festival will be the Tucson-based folk/rock/pop group Roll Acosta.

Saturday afternoon, you’ll hang with tunes by 13 to the Gallows. This group mixes classic country style with contemplative lyrics and a self-described “spaghetti western” vibe. The Peoria, AZ based band is a gem shining from the dust of the Arizona desert.

On Sunday, Buzz and the Soul Senders with Nowhere Man & a Whiskey Girl will entertain the crowd all day. Buzz and the Soul Senders is a versatile group of talented musicians from southern Arizona with a strong background in blues and funky soul.  Nowhere Man and a Whiskey Girl will play as part of Buzz and the Soul Senders, occasionally adding their own critically acclaimed songs to the mix.

Food will be provided by Cocina Antigua and Dragoon Cafe.

Attendance and parking at the festival is free and open to the public. Wine tasting will be $15 for patrons over 21—which includes eight tasting coupons and a commemorative Willcox Wine Country glass.

More reasons to hang out…

TRUST Art & Design will give away an original artwork by a local artist and a one-night stay at beautiful Sunglow Ranch. Everyone who buys a bottle of wine can enter the drawing; winner must be present to accept the prize. Drawing will take place in the park on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.  

A movie and live auction will take place immediately following the festival on Saturday, beginning in the Keeling Schaefer Vineyards tasting room—directly across the street from the wine festival. Join Willcox winemakers Rod Keeling and Sam Pillsbury for a live auction and film showing, to benefit the non-profit Willcox Historic Theater Preservation. There will be no admission charge. Donations will be accepted. Wine & B&B packages will be auctioned prior to the movie screening.

Sam, the director, will speak informally prior to the screening of his 2001 film Crooked Earth. Set in New Zealand, it portrays the forces of tradition and tribal pride colliding with government authority, when Will Bastion returns home from the army after an absence of 20 years to bury his father, the former chief of the Maori tribe. Note: This movie is not rated, but contains language and subject matter consistent with an R-rated film.

Make it a weekend!

You may want to stick around to check out other things happening about town. For example, Apple Annie’s new Country Store will be opening on May 18 as well. Located just off of I-10 exit 340 where Stout’s Cider Mill used to be, the store will be open year-round—offering their famous pies, apple bread, fudge, jarred goods, gifts, and other Apple Annie’s goodies.

To the south of town, I will be hosting the grand opening of the Pillsbury Wines Vineyard Tasting Room to tasters from 11:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. all weekend. Hope you’ll come out to see me, too.

Visit Arizona Vines & Wines for a list of other places to stay and activities for the whole family.

Quality Inn Willcox and Holiday Inn Express Willcox offer special rates for wine festival attendees.

Cheers to a laid-back and lovely weekend away from the big city!

Tucsonans won’t have far to travel to celebrate North American Wine Tourism Day this weekend.

First stop: Festival in the Foothills

Bear Track Winery

Bear Track Winery is hosting its Grand Opening Festival in the Foothills beginning this Friday, May 10th from 5:00-10:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 11th from noon-10:00 p.m. on the NE corner of Swan and Sunrise. For an entry of $30 at the gate (see below about advance sale), patrons receive a festival glass, 8 wine tastings, and a food voucher.

According to owner Rick Riddle, Arizona wineries will be pouring, and you’ll get the opportunity to taste wines from New Mexico and other parts of the world. You may also buy wine by the glass and/or case. If you’re game for wine tasting, wine education, entertainment, and local food trucks, I’ll see you there.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit The Humane Society and The Optimists Club.

Stop by the wine bistro at 4743 East Sunrise Drive, Tucson AZ, to purchase $25 advance sale tickets or call (520) 975-0050, or email beartrackwinery@gmail.com for further questions.

Second annual Bacchanal Festival at AZ Hops & Vines
Those crazy girls are at it again—yep, it’s time for the second annual Bacchanal Festival at AZ Hops & Vines, featuring wine music, food, and beer. That’s this Saturday, May 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  at the winery near Sonoita, only an hour from Tucson.

Look at that vineyard view!

Owners Shannon and Megan will bring together their great wines, micro-brewed beers, The Sober Shack, family crafts and activities with a whole bunch of great food and marvelous people. Looks like the weather is going to be perfect as well, so guests can enjoy the patio, pet and feed some goats, and gather with the like-minded for some good ol’ fashioned fun and debauchery. No doubt, a good time will be had by all—so don’t miss out!

It’s up to you to find the best direction to head to celebrate this first North American Wine Tourism Day this weekend. Check the Arizona Vines & Wines website for an event scheduled near you. Or just head out in nearly any direction to discover local wine industry folks who are ready to share some mighty fine locally produced wines.

Cheers!

Just yesterday, on CBS This Morning, a bottle of Arizona Stronghold wine graced the news desk as well-known and respected wine expert Jancis Robinson discussed her new book–co-authored with Linda Murphy–American Wine: The Ultimate Companion to the Wines and Wineries of the United States. This beautiful large format book features dozens of Arizona wine growers and their wines receiving rave reviews, and the photos do the Arizona wine growing regions proud.

Check out Arizona wines firsthand, as the spring tasting season is revving up with new releases, festivals, and new tasting rooms–all within a scenic 1- to 2-hour drive from Tucson. Arizona winemakers have pruned their vines and are keeping a close watch on the weather, hoping for precious few frosts, as they look forward to sharing their wines with you at these public events.

Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts

Head to Tempe, Arizona the weekend of April 5-7, 2013, to sip, sample, and savor local Arizona wines. Fourteen wineries will showcase their wines and offer tastings along with sales by the glass, bottle, or case at this event sponsored by the Arizona Wine Growers Association. The wine festival admission of $15 includes six tastings and a commemorative wine glass. The festival will be located on 7th Street, just west of Mill Avenue in Tempe. Tickets available for purchase in advance.

Celebrate in Sonoita

Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21, 2013, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., head to the Kief Joshua Vineyards on Elgin Road for the second Southeast AZ Wine Growers Festival. There will be more than a dozen winemakers and live music, fabulous food vendors, and many wineries will be releasing new wines. The lovely Jeordie (daughter of ’60s musical artist Melanie; remember her?) is the featured musician. Plan to stay for the day (or the weekend). This is a laid-back, simply enjoyable weekend to hang out in the KJV vineyards.

Second Annual Bacchanal Festival

Looking for nothing but fun? There’s always something hopp’ning at Arizona Hops & Vines. Megan and Shannon are prepping for their Second Annual Bachannal Festival, Saturday, May 11, 2013. This all-day, all-out festival includes wine and beer tastings, homemade root beer, great food from local restaurant and food truck delectables paired with wines from Arizona’s best vineyards, family crafts, a petting zoo, and plenty of fun and debauchery for all ages. Located on Hwy 82, about 5 miles east of Hwy 83, this gorgeous vineyard enjoys some of the best valley views.

Willcox hosts AZ Winemakers

Downtown Willcox in Historic Railroad Park is the scene of one of the most peaceful, easy-feeling wine festivals in the area. Well, that’s until a train flies by about every 9 minutes; but that just adds to the ambiance.

The Willcox Wine Country Spring Wine Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and May 19, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Your $15 tasting fee includes 8 tastings, commemorative glass, and some of the best live entertainment in all of Southeast AZ.

Following the festival on Saturday, at 6:00 p.m., will be a special showing of Free Willy III at the historic Willcox movie theater, immediately across the street. This movie is one of dozens directed by film director-turned-winemaker, Sam Pillsbury of Pillsbury Wines. The movie viewing is free for one and all, but donations are welcome to help support the theater.

Rumor has it there will be at least two new tasting rooms opening up in the Willcox area by then as well. Well worth the drive (about 1.5 hours from Tucson); lots of places to spend the night.

Alice Feiring Recap

The presentation of Naked Wine at the Tucson Festival of Books earlier this month featured well-known author and wine critic Alice Feiring. The wines tasted and discussed by the panel of experts and audience participants were:

• Tournelle Fleurs Savagnin 2007
• Pitancier Sauvignon Blanc 2011
• Matariki Sauvignon Blanc 2009
• Coturri Carignane 2009
• Olivier Cousin Pur Breton 2011 (my personal favorite)

Cheers!