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!

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!

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!

Bud break–about 2 weeks ago in the Pillsbury Wine Co. Vineyards, and the vines are now sprouting leaves and beginning to grow. This week brought the threat of frost, but the babies survived!

Writing Pour Me Some Grapes for TucsonCitizen.com has led to a fantastic personal opportunity that will make me a wiser wine blogger. I have just moved 89 miles from my Tucson “roots” (okay, only 21 years)—to the Pillsbury Wine Company vineyard property in Willcox Wine Country. Soon I will be managing a new tasting room at this rustic working vineyard/farm in the Sulphur Springs Valley, just a couple miles from the Zarpara Vineyards tasting room, which opened a little over a year ago.

Why would any semi-respectable 60-some-year-old woman do such a crazy thing? If you’ve followed Pour Me Some Grapes at all, you know I am a champion for the wines produced in Arizona. Likewise, I have become captivated by the people who turn Arizona grapes into these palatable concoctions. I’ve said often that I’d really like to get more hands-on experience in the wine industry. Be careful what you wish for!

Who better to direct me into the Arizona wine business than famed New Zealand film and television director, Sam Pillsbury, who now gets red carpet reviews for the amazing wines he’s been creating with Arizona grapes since 2000.

Last December, Sam and I were musing on Facebook about the well-connected and supportive Willcox wine community. I mentioned I had considered moving to Willcox if I ever found suitable accommodations. Sam, who also operates a tasting room in Old Town Cottonwood, AZ, mentioned his charming cottage in the Pillsbury vineyard, which he’d like someone to open up as a tasting room.

Long story short, I now reside in that quaint vineyard cottage off Kansas Settlement Road, readying for my new life as a grapista*. I’ll continue blogging, writing, editing, and social marketing, which will be easy—with majestic mountain views all around, fruit and nut trees in bloom, birds galore, and, of course, vineyards everywhere, this is perhaps the most inspirational place I’ve ever lived and wrote.

A view of the Pillsbury Wine Co. vineyard estates. The plowed area is all prepped and ready for planting an organic vegetable garden. Tasting room is situated upper right side of photo.

The tasting experience here at the Pillsbury Wine Co. Vineyard Tasting Room will be as unique as its rustic locale. We plan to greet you with a complimentary taste of the Pillsbury Wild Child (red, white, or rose), making it well worth your time to seek out our distinctive setting and try our wines. The wide open spaces surrounding the tasting room beckon hanging out to enjoy the views and sharing a packed lunch and wine. Four days a week—Thurs.-Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m., I will share my digs with lively wine tasters, beginning sometime in mid-May.

Because I love my wine and respect where it comes from, I’ll also be pitching in—pruning, planting, harvesting, bottling, etc.—for the growing number of Willcox grape growers with vineyards nearby (22 vineyards at last count). I’m certain there is much joy to be discovered in the effort—and what a great balance to my many hours spent in front of the computer.

Cheers to my new life! Stay tuned as I continue to bring the Arizona wine news to you—from an insider’s perspective.

*DEFINITION—Grapista: One who pours wines (personally coined identity)

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!

Naked wine is defined as stripped down to the basics—wine that represents the terroir, as it was meant to be. Feiring calls naked wines wholesome, exciting, provocative, living, sensual, and pure. This is quite the opposite of many of today’s new world-style wines being produced—which she describes as “over-ripe, over-manipulated, and over-blown.”

In this book, described as her “personal journey into the new (but centuries old) world of natural wine,” Feiring takes the dare to try her hand (and feet) at natural winemaking—making wine with nothing more than crushed grapes. She learns that it isn’t all that easy, but she remains steadfast in her belief that additives and chemicals used in the process should be used only when necessary. This includes the addition of yeasts, enzymes, and processes that use machines to alter alcohol level, flavor, or texture, or that promote premature aging.

Meet Alice Feiring, Author of “Naked Wine” at Tucson Festival of Books, Sunday, March 10, 2:30 p.m.

In her first book, THE BATTLE FOR WINE AND LOVE or How I Saved the World from Parkerization, Feiring fearlessly takes on Robert Parker, whose rating system she believes set the stage to tempt winemakers into produce fruit-bomb, over-processed wines to score his approval. Both of Feiring’s books are fascinating fodder for anyone interested in wines.

Alice Feiring is a James Beard Foundation Award-winning journalist whose blog, alicefeiring.com, was named one of the seven best by Food & Wine. Formerly the wine/travel columnist for Time, she has written for the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, and Los Angeles Times Magazine. She lives in New York City.

She will be on-hand to sign her books immediately following the presentation.

Cheers to Tucson Festival of Books!

Cheers to the Carlson Creek Vineyard family on three great years! L-R: John, Bob, and Robert Carlson.

Cheers to Carlson Creek Vineyard who will be pulling out all the stops to celebrate its third anniversary this Saturday, February 16, 2013, at its tasting room, 115 Railview Avenue in Willcox from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Food, music, and wine will mark the milestone for the winery.  Limited amounts of their vintage wines—including Carlson Creek Sauvignon Blanc and the vintage Syrahs—will be available for sale during the celebration.

Camp Verde celebrates local wine & pecans

Wine, live music, art, antiques, and contests will be featured at Camp Verde’s Pecan, Wine & Antique Festival, February 15-17, on Main Street in Camp Verde (just off I-17). Over a dozen wineries—including Arizona Stronghold, Alcantara Vineyards, Page Springs Cellars, Caduceus, and Burning Tree Cellars.  For a $15 entrance fee, receive a commemorative wine glass, entrance into the Fort Verde State Park, and five wine tasting coupons. Additional tastes or glasses of wine may be purchased.

Arizona Beer Week begins in Phoenix

Arizona Beer Week kicks off with the 13^th Annual Strong Beer Festival, at the Steele Indian School Park in Phoenix on February 16, 2013, 1:00 to 5:00pm. Strong beers (those with high alcohol content) are the focus at the festival, but there will also be a variety of craft beers, as well as specialty styles and unique brews. Festival-goers will receive a commemorative 4 oz. tasting glass and 15 tasting tickets for the price of admission. Arizona Beer Week is celebrated February 16-23.

Callaghan Library Tasting

Check out Callaghan Vineyard’s annual tasting of older vintages, some of which will be for sale. The February 23 event (4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.) will focus on Callaghan vintages from 1999 to 2006. The last bottles of ’02 and ’03 will be included. Cost is $20 per person. Callaghan Vineyard is situated in the Sonoita/Elgin region; its first vintage was 1991.

Barrel Tasting at Lightning Ridge

On Saturday, March 9, 1:00 p.m., Lightning Ridge Cellars in Elgin will hosts the fourth annual Barrel Tasting in its beautiful old-world style barrel room, featuring 6 wines from its 2011 and 2012 vintages. Catered Italian hors d’oeurves will be served. Cost is $45; reservations are required as seating is very limited. Sign up in the tasting room, email, or call: Ann@LightningRidgeCellars.com, 520-455-5383.

Cheers!

“Since year-end 2010,” said Peggy Fiandaca, recently re-elected as president of the Arizona Wine Growers Association, “AWGA has experienced a 27% increase in total revenues and membership with 45 master growers and 18 growers in-development. The 2013 vintage was large and there is much anticipation for the wine it will produce.”

Statewide, there are over 60 licensed and bonded wineries—up from nine in 2004—and more are in the development process. As the vineyards are being pruned and prepped for the beginning of a new season, the AWGA gathered to select its leadership for 2013. Together, the board will work to advance with integrity the sustainable growth and production of authentic Arizona-grown wines.

Arizona Wine Growers Association 2013 officers (left to right): Casey Rooney, Barbara Predmore, Robert Carlson III, James Callahan, Peggy Fiandaca, and Kent Callaghan.

Joining AWGA President Fiandaca, Lawrence Dunham Vineyards, will be:

Willcox Regional Vice President: James Callahan, Aridus Wine Company

Sonoita Regional Vice President: Kent Callaghan, Callaghan Vineyards

Verde Valley Regional Vice President: Barbara Predmore, Alcantara Vineyards

Urban Vice President: Cory Whalin, SuVino Winery

Treasurer: Robert Carlson III, Carlson Creek Vineyards

Secretary: Casey Rooney, City of Cottonwood Economic Development

The AWGA also recognized the dedicated service of outgoing executive committee members Fran Lightly (Sonoita Vineyards), Rob Hammelman (Sand-Reckoner Vineyards), and John McLoughlin (Bitter Creek Winery).

In the coming year, the AWGA will work to further expand membership and strengthen its financial position. The organization will continue to play an active role in legislation in Arizona and Washington, D.C. and work with the Yavapai College Wine Center and viticulture/enology programs to help it move forward with funding and support. Plans include a series of educational seminars for members and others interested in the wine industry.

AWGA has confirmed the dates for yet another signature event, Wine Festival in the Pines, to be held in Pinetop-Lakeside this June 14-16. Rest assured, Arizona wines will continue to receive increased attention from respected experts as well as national awards for quality and taste.

Cheers!

Canelo Hills’ owners Tim and Joan Mueller tell their story on their website: “In 2003, a doctor, a counselor, and a classical singer, in true pioneering spirit, moseyed on down to the rolling ranchlands of Sonoita to plant some wine grapes. Now they harness Arizona-grown grapes to make award winning, old-world style wines.”

For 10 years, they’ve enjoyed the successes and challenges (freezes, frosts, hail storms, etc.) of running a family winery and producing fine Arizona wines; they are now ready to move on to other ventures.

The Muellers, owners of Canelo Hills Winery—l-r, Kathryn, Tim, Joan—embarking on new ventures.

Tim has been the winemaker at Canelo Hills. A Harvard and Stanford-educated doctor, he enjoyed turning his scientist’s mind to the art of wine making. Luckily, he liked to be busy—in addition to making the wine, he  served as handyman in his ‘free time’ from a full-time position as a psychiatrist at the VA Hospital in Tucson.

Joan has served as the business manager and farmer of Canelo Hills. She left a successful private practice in mental health counseling to tend to the needs and whims of the grapes and to run the tasting room; she generally ran the family farm.

Daughter Kathryn, has served the business as director of marketing while pursuing her professional singing career.

Flying Leap to take over

Canelo Hills is now under contract to one of the newest Arizona wine ventures, Flying Leap Vineyards. The owners of Flying Leap, Mark Beres and Marc Moeller, both 1991 graduates of the US Air Force Academy and seasoned pilots, are committed to the success of their business and brand. With the help and support of their families, they have made this the primary focus of their lives.

Mark Beres, hard at work in the Flying Leap vineyards.

“With developed acreage in both Sonoita AVA and Cochise County, Flying Leap will now offer a diverse portfolio of ultra-premium, carefully crafted wines from tasting rooms at its newest estate vineyard on Elgin Road along the Sonoita Wine Trail and its newest tasting room in historic downtown Willcox, opening in March,” said Beres.

Beres, a retired Special Forces pilot in two theaters of war, most recently worked in the engineering and system integration business at Raytheon. He grew up in the Walla Walla valley of southeastern Washington State and spent his formative years working in local vineyards and cattle ranching. He has enjoyed several years of successful large-scale commercial viticulture experience including all phases of vineyard development.

Marc Moeller tending to the weeds in the Flying Leap Vineyards

Among his many aviation achievements, Moeller served as an instructor pilot for Air Force II, which transports the Vice President of the United States. Moeller is a first-generation American who grew up with deep and diverse connections to his European family that owns a private vineyard, grows wine grapes, and has produced wines for many generations—he learned the wine-making craft first-hand.

These former pilots have more recently been flying much closer to the ground, plying their talents as farmers, engineers, and managers to the literal roots of establishing Flying Leap Vineyards in their Willcox vineyards, planted in 2011. Their humble mission: To be the Southwest’s most successful commercial vineyards and winery by sustainably producing premium wines from the highest quality Arizona-grown wine grapes.

It’s no mistake they chose to buy this winery ‘next door’ to Callaghan Vineyards; owner Kent Callaghan, their mentor and consultant hand-crafted Flying Leap’s 2011 vintage.

Stop in to say good-bye… and hello

Joan, Tim, and Kathryn (and their shop dogs) are winding down their stay in the Canelo Hills tasting room on Fridays and Saturdays for the rest of this month. Saturday, January 26 will be your last chance to stop by and wish them well and pick up some of the classiest wines in the region.

Beres said, “We are working like crazy to get everything ready to open. A massive sandblasted HDU Flying Leap sign—8-feet wide and almost 50-inches tall, weighing several hundred pounds—will be erected so visitors to the beautiful southern Arizona wine country can find us.”

This winery is located at 342 Elgin Road in Elgin, 7.5 miles southeast of the Sonoita Crossroads.

Cheers to the Muellers, Moellers, and Beres on their new ventures!

Bear Track Bistro and Winery Welcomes You!

A brand-new exclusive wine bistro has quietly opened its doors in Northeast Tucson this week, and I suggest you make tracks to try it out before it gets so busy you can’t get through the doors.

At the Bear Track Wine Bistro, located on the northeast corner of Sunrise at Swan, you’ll be greeted by an 8-foot friendly wooden bear just outside the door. Once inside, you’ll enjoy a wine experience like no other in Tucson.

Choose for wine selections that were personally gathered and/or produced by proprietor Rick Riddle, a sommelier, New Mexico winery owner, professional golfer (also UofA team), and all-around ingenious guy. His dream of such an establishment has morphed into many layers of engagement for Bear Track customers. His sister Celia will manage the shop.

Patrons will enjoy tasting a highly selective repertoire of fine wines from California, New Mexico, Arizona, and all around the world,  including many from Riddle’s own New Mexico winery. Customers will be able to blend their own wines here as well.

Select from an upscale European-style menu featuring homemade bread sticks and ciabatta made by Mona’s Danish Bakery (just a few doors down from Bear Track) for dipping in the fine olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Accompany this with all-natural artisan-cured meats seasoned with organic spices, smoked oysters, stuffed olives, and an amazing selection of cheeses.

Ah, the cheeses—these are all-exclusive too. Riddle has been working with an award-winning fourth-generation Wisconsin cheese maker to create incredible combinations.

Over a bottle of Riddle’s hand-crafted 2010 Montepulciano, we shared a sample of green chili with roasted garlic cheese, and some cheddar made with Chimayó chiles and El Patrone tequila. The groupings enjoyed a party courtesy of my palate.

Bear Track will offer all wine and cheese products retail, plus olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and Sabino Artisan Chocolates. As Riddle puts it, “You won’t find these wines at BevMo or Total Wines.”

This is going to be some fun, especially if you’re willing to play along with all that Bear Track has to offer. It will become a favorite place to find special gifts for any foodie or wine-lover you might need to please. Riddle intends to make Bear Track a totally green operation as well.

Cheers to Rick Riddle’s new adventure with Bear Track Wine Bistro!