Heading east on I-10 a windy Sunday, our target was to explore Willcox, Arizona wine region wines.

Mark Jorve showcases Zarpara Vineyards 2007 Origen in their new tasting room in Willcox, AZ

First stop, the newly opened Zarpara Vineyard’s tasting room, located on the Willcox Bench off Kansas Settlement Road, nestled in Arizona’s largest grape growing region. The directions claimed it was a few minutes south of historic downtown, but I found myself thinking they possibly could paint the road yellow to make it a bit easier to find. Once arrived, I discovered that Zarpara’s tasting room was well worth the search.

Friendly Mark Jorve (owner) explained the selection we were about to taste: “We feature carefully selected, hand-crafted, and hard-to-find wines from our Willcox Wine Country neighbors.” Pourings included wines from Sand-Reckoner (a sweet, herb-y Malvasia and 2, a red blend), Sierra Bonita (Syrah), Golden Rule (Sangiovese), and Lawrence Dunham Vineyards. All were delightful ‘finds’ among Arizona wine offerings.

I discovered that the 2009 Lawrence Dunham Vineyards Petite Sirah, 100% Cochise County grown grapes, particularly pleasing to my palate. A beautiful nose, the mouth-feel and finish was peppery and spicy with big tannins—just as expected from a classic Petite Sirah. This wine would be perfect with pizza or spaghetti and meatballs, or to share with a romantic steak dinner.

While Zarpara hopes for its first harvest this year, Mark proudly pours us a sampling of their first offering, 2007 Zarpara Origen, a blend of Cochise County Grenache and Syrah grapes. This wine is complex and mature—having aged for 3 years in neutral oak and a year in the bottle. Fabulous just for sipping, I enjoyed it with a salmon salad this week. The tasting notes suggest pairing it with lamb, thin sliced flat-iron steak, or pork tenderloin. Look for great things to come from this new vineyard.

On to Coronado Vineyards, I once again enjoyed the winery’s 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon and Two Heads Red (two of my all-time everyday favorite affordable Arizona wines). I finally took the challenge to try the Coronado Vineyards Conquistador Red, a dessert wine (well out of my comfort zone). Amazingly, it was not too sweet—instead, it was full of berries and cherries with sort of a green tea finish. Big, sweet, smooth, and easy-drinking. I bought a bottle to take home, knowing I will enjoy this some evening soon with a great chocolate-inspired dessert.

We headed about 25 miles east of Willcox to the Fort Bowie Vineyards. The modest tasting room is located behind this little town’s post office (don’t blink!) but it offers about a dozen of some of the most surprising Arizona wines you’ll find—at amazingly affordable prices—from Sweet Water (white) to Syrah and everything in between. The Fort Bowie Pecan Delight is a distinctive sparkling wine with the essence of pecan for only $9/bottle.

Fort Bowie Vineyards is a family-owned and operated farm in Bowie, Arizona. In addition to the vineyards, they grow pecans, walnuts, peaches, and cherries.

Southeast AZ Wine Growers Festival Features 17 Wineries at Kief-Joshua

Looking forward to tasting even more Arizona wines on April 14 and 15, at the Southeast Arizona Wine Growers Festival at the Kief-Joshua Vineyards, 370 Elgin Road. Tickets ($15/person) are on sale now or can be purchased the day of the event. Ticket covers wine tasting and a souvenir glass.

Here is your chance to learn more about the wines grown throughout Arizona by 17 Arizona wineries, including:

Sedona/Verde Valley/Cottonwood Region: Arizona Stronghold, Page Spring Cellars, Jerome Winery, Dribble Creek

Urban Wine Region: Kokopelli, Su Vino Wineries

Willcox Region: Keeling Schaefer Vineyards, Golden Rule Vineyards, Coronado Vineyards, Carlson Creek Vineyards, Zarpara Vineyards, Gallifant Vineyards

Sonoita/Elgin Region: Charron Vineyards, Wilhelm Family Vineyards, Kief-Joshua Vineyards

In addition to wine tasting (11am to 5pm), the expanded festival will include sensory wine-tasting and wine-pairing seminars. Buzz and the Soulsenders will be singing the blues from noon to 5 pm. Locally Arizona and Sonoita’s very popular Steak-Out Restaurant will be on site selling chicken wings, pulled pork sandwiches, sirloin steaks, and much more for your enjoyment.

Only about an hour from downtown Tucson, this will be a most gratifying way to spend a day outside the hub-bub of Tucson.

Cheers!

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!