Running through the Keeling-Shaefer Vineyards in the 2010 Grape Stomp 5K

We’re heading to Willcox, AZ for the the first leg of the 2011 Grape Stomp 5K, series sponsored by the Arizona Wine Growers Association on Saturday, September 10 to participate in a 5K jaunt through the beautiful Coronado Vineyards. What better way to enjoy Arizona’s beautiful wine regions than with your family and friends than running, jogging, or walking with other wine lovers through the vineyards? Well, wine tasting at the other wineries in the Willcox growing region will be a perfect follow-up to a fun morning.

This year, the 5K races are set for the following dates and locations:

Race 1: September 10th at Coronado Vineyards, Willcox in Southeastern Arizona. Racers will be able to run through the vineyards at this award-winning winery. Following the race enjoy wine tasting at the area wineries in Willcox.

Race 2: October 1st in Historic Downtown Cottonwood in Northern Arizona. Racers will begin in Old Town, run to Dead Horse State Park, crossing the Verde River, and finishing back in Old Town. After the run 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 3: October 22nd in the Sonoita/Elgin area in Southern Arizona. Racers register starting at 7:00 a.m. at Callaghan Vineyards and the course runs through Rancho Rossa’s Vineyard, along scenic Elgin Road with views of the Huachucca Mountain range, the Biscuit, and rolling grasslands. The finish line is at Callaghan Vineyards with refreshments and an awards ceremony. Childcare provided for children under running age (limited space available, RSVP to kelly@doscabezaswineworks.com).

Race 4: November 5th at the Fountain Park in Fountain Hills in Central Arizona. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. with race start at 9:00 a.m. The race course traverses Fountain Hills Park with beautiful views of Four Peaks, Red Mountain, and the park’s centerpiece fountain. A mini-wine garden will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. where non-racers can enjoy a taste of Arizona wines for a fee (wine tasting for racers is included in their registration), an art fair, and special Fountain Hills Cultural Council docent-led public sculpture tours will follow the race.

To register for any or all of the races, go to at the Arizona Wine Growers Association website. The registration fee of $35.00 includes a runners’ tote bag, event t-shirt, wine glass, and discount coupons. The wine glasses can be used at local wineries for discounts. Many of the wineries have formed teams so join your favorite winery team to receive a discount of $5 dollars for teams of 10 or more.

Willcox, AZ

Coronado Vineyards is adding three new wines to its family this weekend.

• Voodoux is a delightful blend of white wines seduced into releasing their inhibitions and ample fruitiness, while maintaining a delicate balance of glamour and allure—an excellent accompaniment to oysters on the half-shell and other tempting treats.  This wine is made to be enjoyed with someone you find extraordinary.
• The 2010 Riesling is a traditional German-style Riesling, pairing nicely with summertime fare, fruits, and cheeses.
• Coronado is also welcoming back the Two Heads Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.  An old favorite of many.

A fun celebration for the three new wines for Coronado Vineyards will kick off this Saturday, June 25, from 10am to 4pm followed by the first Coronado Vineyards winemaker dinner at 6pm (reservations for dinner required).

Meet the winemaker behind the wine and learn about your favorite blends at Coronado Vineyards. Wine lovers and those just beginning to appreciate the grape will learn just how to pair their favorite foods and wine. Each person will take away a little information about wine to impress guests at your next gathering.

The winemaker dinner evening will begin with assortment of fresh appetizers prepared by Chef Zach and nicely paired with the new Coronado Vineyards Voodoux. The cold beef habanero blood orange vinaigrette salad will feature the vineyard’s new 2010 Riesling. Source verified pork medallions an apple puree, jasmine risotto and chef vegetables will delight palates when perfectly paired with the reinvented Coronado Vineyards Two Heads Red. Dessert is still ahead on the menu. A sweet finish to the evening with a delectable dessert paired sweetly with Coronado’s gold medal Dolce Veritas.

A meet and greet with Coronado’s winemaker, Philippe Liotto, will entertain and enlighten guests.

“This is Coronado’s first Winemaker Dinner and we are thrilled with the chance to have new palettes try our new additions,” says Jacque Cook, owner of Coronado Vineyards. “This event is new for us and will surely become a tradition for many years to come.”
Coronado Vineyards is located in the Willcox wine region.

Monument fire...view from the Rancho Rossa Vineyards in Elgin, AZ, 6.15.2011

As Rod Keeling of Keeling Schaefer Vineyards in Pearce, AZ, learned of Horseshoe 2 fire’s encroachment into Rock Creek about three miles east of his vineyard late last week, he drove northwest to Casa Grande and picked up his brother’s old fire truck. He filled the truck with water the next morning and set up extra emergency water tanks and generators for the water pumps, in case the power was shut off.

“Hope we don’t need any of it,” he posted. At a US Forest Services’ meeting in Sunglow, AZ, he learned that had some time before they had to worry…or not.

Early the next morning, Keeling went up Rock Creek a mile or so to the fire line and discovered about 100 firefighters just finishing-up the night’s operations. They had burned-back against the fire all along a 4-mile line and through the creek.

“Looks like the fire no longer has a direct fuel line to the vineyard. The mountain is black from the base to the top; lots of trees still green,” he posted.

Another Willcox region winemaker was not so fortunate. Over at the Colibri Vineyards, located near Portal, AZ, closer to the heart of the Horseshoe 2 fire, Bob Johnson, owner and past-president of the Arizona Winegrowers Association (AWGA), was examining the damage. Fire had swept through his vineyard in East Whitetail Canyon. The thirty-foot-high wall of flames spared the house and winery, but caused damage to the vineyard; they are still accessing other damages.

The outpouring of support from fellow winemakers is swift and sincere.

Meanwhile, other Arizona winemakers in the Sonoita/Elgin region keep a watchful eye on the Monument fire that is raging about 25 or more miles away, in and around Hereford and Sierra Vista, AZ. Like other major raging fires in Arizona for the past two months, this one is fueled by extremely low humidity, low dew point, high temperatures, bone-dry vegetation, and raging winds. Additionally, the Monument fire’s path has been unpredictable, currently traveling through a more densely populated area and has destroyed many residents and buildings in its path.

According to Peggy Fiandaca, president of the AWGA from the Lawrence Dunhama Vineyards,  “We are very concerned about the impact this fire has had on Colibri Vineyards and hope the damage is not great. It is my understanding that they are still assessing the damage. As a result of the current wildfires we must also be concerned about the debris run-off from the mountains when the summer monsoons begin that can impact vineyards in the Chiricahua foothills. Basically the grape growers are dramatically impacted by the weather and winemakers are impact by the quality and quantity of grapes that they can get. There is not enough wine grapes being grown in Arizona to meet the demand so any crop that is damaged has a ripple affect. Let’s hope that we have a perfect summer and wonderful harvest season. The Arizona wine industry needs one.”

The Arizona winemakers are a hearty and heart-full bunch; growing grapes and producing wines in this terroir is not the most weather-blessed experience and there are continual challenges. But when times get tough, the entire community rises to the occasion and supports one another. In spite of it all, the good grapes grow, they are picked, processed, and produced to yield gratifying and amazing wines that rival any and all produced around the world.

Cheers to this genial bunch of grape growers; and please pray for rain in Arizona soon.