Tucson chefs will be turning your favorite Girl Scout cookies into amazing desserts to serve with wines in the inaugural Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona’s Cookies & Cabernet event this Friday, January 6, beginning at 6pm at Medicine Man Gallery, 7000 E. Tanque Verde Road.

The event will feature hors d’oeuvres, fine art, outstanding wines, and amazing desserts hand-crafted by Tucson’s chefs using Girl Scout cookies. Chefs from Feast, Pastiche Modern Eatery, Kingfisher Bar & Grill, Bob’s Steak and Chop House, HUB Restaurant and Ice Creamery, and The Abbey will be concocting the fare.

“This is the inaugural year for Cookies & Cabernet and we are very excited by the community’s response, especially the talented chefs who have teamed up with us to make this possible, and our wonderful host, Medicine Man Gallery,” explains Debbie Rich, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona. “Cookies & Cabernet will help kick off the Girl Scout cookie season in style and of course allow our supporters to have fun and enjoy great desserts as well.”

And good wines, of course.

Medicine Man Gallery will be donating 20 percent of the proceeds from art sold that night to the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona. Proceeds will help support Girl Scout programs for the 14,000 girls served in the Council’s jurisdiction.

Tickets to the event are $45 online and $55 at the door.

Cheers to a fun event!

The Arizona Wine Growers Association Festival at The Farm in Phoenix is a spectacular annual event, featuring the fruits of labor of winemakers from all over the state. While it’s delightful to catch up with my favorite winemakers, this year I focused on the newcomers to the lot. They prove that Arizona wines have come a long way and all of the wines produced in the state are worth a second taste by wine enthusiasts everywhere.

Burning Tree Cellars 2009 The Lotus

Burning Tree Cellars features the efforts of co-conspirators, Corey Turnbull and Mitch Levy. Corey says he’s been working to make this dream a reality for the past four years, under the tutelage of Eric Glomski in the Verde Valley region. Turnbull and Levy’s efforts have paid off, as their wines earned two medals in this year’s competition.

I took a liking to one of the award-winners, Burning Tree Cellars 2009 The Lotus. This 48% Petite Sirah, 26% Merlot, and 26% Syrah blend is rich and supple, yet soft. Aromas of damson plum, black cherry, and dark chocolate and subtle notes of charred earth, coffee, and sage rewards with a long chocolate-y finish. This one would be a contender to any hearty meal—perhaps that turkey and dressing?

The Lotus fruit was sourced from Ranchita Canyon Vineyard, San Miquel, CA (Petite Sirah)
Bonita Springs Vineyard, Sulphur Springs Valley, AZ (Merlot), and Colibri Vineyard, Portal, AZ (Syrah). It was open-top fermented, cap-punched three times daily, and oak-aged 11 months.

Burning Tree Cellars wines are available only at the Arizona Stronghold tasting room in downtown Cottonwood, AZ, but you can sign up for the winery’s email list and more information about how to get these wines delivered.

Sierra Bonita Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, the delicious, light, and well-rounded unfiltered Sierra Bonita Vineyards 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is loaded with light fruits and oak. Cherries, strawberries, and hints of chocolate give this wine its complexity. This wine makes a great companion to soft, sweet cheeses, steaks, or with chocolate at dessert. I brought a bottle home with me to share—most likely with my evening square of dark chocolate.

Sierra Bonita Vineyards, named for its location adjacent to the historic Sierra Bonita ranch established in 1872, is located 22 miles northwest of Willcox, Arizona, at an elevation of 4,300 feet in a beautiful and rich agricultural valley.

In January 2011, the Smith’s released their first wines to the public—150 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon and 120 cases of Syrah. The 11-acre vineyard was first planted in 1997, and they continue to add new vines. In 2009, they built their winery where they can process the grapes as soon as they are harvested—pesticide-free, returning all cuttings and skins to the vineyards, fostering a sustainable and eco-friendly vineyard. The wine is available exclusively from the vineyard property. While they have no tasting room, they will gladly arrange delivery upon request.

Sand-Reckoner Vineyards 2010 Rosé Cochise County

Located on the Willcox Bench at 4300 feet in elevation, Rob and Sarah Hammelman tend to the Sand-Reckoner Vineyards. The beautifully rugged high desert land provides potential for their vines—they must struggle, drawing from the challenging terroir: wind, dramatic temperature swings, limestone sub-soils, clear skies, and rumbling summer storms. 2010 is the first Sand-Reckoner Vineyards’ vintage.

I enjoyed sipping the Sand-Reckoner 2010 Rosé Cochise County, a blend of 65% Nebbiolo, 31% Sangiovese, and 4% Syrah. A bit heartier than some light-sipping summer Rosé, it featured a juicy acidity, full of strawberries and cream, and a hint of citrus in the finish. This would pair well with light foods and cheeses—perhaps served as an intro to your pre-meal appetizers at the Thanksgiving feast?

Thank you Arizona Wine Growers for your hard work and fortitude. Cheers!

Arizona wine has an estimated economic impact of $38 million, according to a recent study funded by the Arizona Office of Tourism and completed by Northern Arizona University. The Arizona wine industry is one of the fastest growing value-added industries in the state, creating jobs and wealth while preserving sustainable agriculture statewide.

In 1980, there were less than 10 wineries in Arizona. Today there are more than 50 bonded wineries, with many more in the development phase. The number of vineyard acres has grown dramatically, and many new vineyards and wineries are planned. The state’s wine is surging in popularity, earning national acclaim from Wine Spectator to Sunset Magazine to USA Today. Arizona wine also has been served at James Beard House dinners and poured at the White House.

At least 20 of the producers of Arizona wines will showcase their talents outdoors among the pecan groves at the annual Arizona Wine Growers Festival at The Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix this Saturday, November 19, 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at the gate, although admission is limited to the first 1,000 people.

EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS

Don’t miss this chance to meet the folks behind the rising Arizona wine movement and sip the juice from our state’s beautiful wine regions. In addition to tasting the fruits of labor from more than Arizona wineries, participants can attend educational seminars that will be taking place. Here is the schedule.

People’s Choice Award Voting will take place from 1:30-3:30pm. Participants will taste some of the top scoring wines from the 2011 Arizona Wine Growers Competition. Choose the “people’s choice” winners and enjoy a lively discussion with the folks who are on the front lines selling Arizona wines. Hear from them regarding the challenges they face getting AZ wines out to the public.

Have you ever struggled to find the perfect wine to go with a special dinner? Or create the perfect menu to go with a terrific bottle of wine? Learn the answers to those questions at Food and Wine Pairing 101, 1:30-2:00pm. The secret about food and wine pairing is simple—there are no rules. The days of having white wine only with fish or chicken and red wine with meats are gone with the rule of not wearing white after Labor Day. Hear from two experts—highly acclaimed Chef LaPrad, Quiessence, and winemaker (and devoted foodie) Curt Dunham, Lawrence Dunham Vineyards—discuss the art of food and wine pairing.

Uncover the Mystery of the Wine Label & Other Wine Facts, 2:30-3:00pm. Some wine labels have a lot of information, some very little. You’ll learn from AJ’s Fine Foods cellar masters Mark Stanton, Sharon L Webster, and Steven Sphar what is required on a label, what the words mean, and what they would like to see more or less of on a label to help you learn about a wine and make a good buying decision.

From 3:00-4:00pm, join in at Celebrate AZ Award Winning Wines. The Arizona Wine Competition is conducted annually by the Arizona Republic with an expert panel of judges. Taste some of the winners from the 2011 Wine Competition and learn why the judges selected the wine as the best of the best. Each winemaker will provide the vision for the wine, background on how the wine was created, and discuss that vintage’s growing conditions that might have influenced the wine’s quality. Host and moderator will Richard Ruelas of the Arizona Republic; winemakers will be determined when the winners are announced.

"Embracing Mourning Leaves" by two TRUST artists (Archie Sutton & Xymyl) who worked together to create this completely original work of art. Mixed media copper and wood surround an original oil monoprint. Signed by both artists; must see in person to appreciate. Retail value is $1240.

Place your bid on wine, special dinners, gift certificates, and more at the Silent Auction from 1:00-3:30pm. Tom Johnson of TRUST the Gallery (located in the Keeling-Schaefer Vineyards tasting room in Willcox) tells me they have donated three pieces to this portion of The Farm event.

The event ends with a very lively Live Auction beginning at 3:30pm. Amazing auction lots include Chef/Winemaker pairings, vacation packages, and wine tasting experiences. The Chef-Winemaker pairings will include an opportunity to bid on a culinary and wine tasting adventure. This year’s packages include dinners for six prepared by the chef along with wines produced by the winemaker. Make sure to pre-register at the silent auction in order to qualify for some great giveaways!

See you at The Farm, this Saturday, November 19, 2011—Cheers!