CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room owner Yvonne K Foucher readies for Grand Tasting to celebrate the 5th anniversary in Tucson, Sat, Sept 22, 2-6pm

CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room in Tucson is turning 5 years old  and will celebrate with a Grand Wine Tasting outdoors in a tented pavilion this coming Saturday, September 22, 2012, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm. You can bet there will be some serious high fives, clinking of glasses, and pats on the back with its owner.

Architect and owner Yvonne K. Foucher’s business concept of opening a classy little wine shop in Tucson where all wines were priced at $15/bottle or less was well-thought-out and should have been a slam-dunk, based on the best projections at the time. Instead, her journey could be compared to the Poseidon Adventure, a 1969 movie loaded with an unlikely cast of characters trying to escape a potentially catastrophic voyage. The movie’s plot centers on a luxury liner’s voyage when the ship is overturned by a tsunami caused by an underwater earthquake. CataVinos’ passage through five tumultuous years has been likewise filled with tsunami-like detours, drama, taking on too much water, and a whole lot of overcoming adversity at every port.

At approximately the same moment Foucher opened the doors to several hundred fabulous, potential customers on that inaugural day in September 2007, the economy tanked globally. Although the curious tasting crowd and wine-buying base grew in number, people were rapidly losing jobs and savings, and obviously buying less; sales suffered from the start. Then, within months, two big-box wine retailers took up residence in Tucson, backed by national marketing campaigns. Bev Mo opened two locations nearby, and Total Wines threw open its doors—all complete with full-color multi-page advertisements.

How was a small Tucson business to cope in this sort of market? Stubborn Foucher kept her doors open and dug deeper to stand her ground. It wasn’t so much about who could sell the cheapest wines; it became more about who knows the most about what they sell and what were the best wines available for the money; plus the growing cast of CataVinos characters that could be enjoyed while discovering one’s palate. A ‘board of taste-testers’ emerged from the customer base; they dedicated week nights and/or Sundays to evaluating shop-worthy wines with which to stock the shelves. CataVinos quickly became a community project and all who participated became part of the ‘success.’

Then along came Summer. Most Tucson retailers will cringe when they talk of the summer months; this town has seen too many fine eateries, specialty shops, and well-seasoned businesses throw in the towel during the dry-heat-without-customers months. But CataVinos’ loyal customer base held tight; the place became the community center for a fun-loving diverse assembly of wine lovers, most of who faithfully attempted to do their duty to help this special little place survive.

One year. Two years. Three years. Four. Can you believe this is year FIVE and Foucher still hasn’t closed the doors?

In the ill-fated Poseidon Adventure, we fretted as actress Shelley Winters tip-toed precariously through the ship’s rickety rafters and dove through the waters to safety, even though she couldn’t even swim—all with Gene Hackman’s urging, of course. Well, as far as I know, Gene hasn’t shown up at CataVinos yet. It’s been the loyal friends and patrons who have witnessed Foucher hold her breath, dive right in, hang on with white knuckles, and tread lightly to keep the shop alive with boundless value wines and rousing wine tastings. We’ve never even asked her if she was afraid of water.

At the same time, Foucher has reciprocated by helping patrons become ever-curious about all wines, select the right ones for dinners and gifts, and meet new friends who bring more to our lives. Actually, CataVinos has evolved into one of the coolest places in Tucson to just hang out, even if it’s for an hour or two each week to taste wines, or just to stop by, pick up a few bottles, and rub Cuvee’s belly (shop dog) to help us through the day.

Pour Me Some Grapes offers a rousing cheer to the little shop that could, wishing smooth sailing to Yvonne, Cuvee, and the entire crew at CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room for another fabulous five years. Thank you, from the bottom of my wine-loving heart.

Nearly 40 specially selected wines will be poured by Arizona wine distributors at the Grand Wine Tasting celebrating CataVinos’ milestone. Light appetizers and palate cleansers will be served and yes, there will be music! Each patron will receive a free commemorative etched lead-free crystal glass and choice of tastings for $18 admission. All wines in the shoppe will be 10% off that day only. Voted Best of Tucson by Tucson Weekly, CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room is located at 3063 N. Alvernon Way at Presidio. Hope to see you there!

Wine Tasting Sunday Benefits NOCC

Here in Tucson, a Sunday afternoon tasting (April 15, 4:00pm-6:00pm) at CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room, 3063 N Alvernon Way. Your $20 tasting ticket is good for six wines and heavy appetizers. Proceeds will be donated to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC).

Vertical Syrah Tasting at Keeling Schaefer Vineyards

The wine tasting fun continues. Next Saturday, April 21, from 1:00pm-5:00pm at the Keeling Schaefer Vineyards in Pearce, Arizona in the Willcox Wine Region, Jan and Rod will be opening the Keeling Schaefer wine library for a retrospective of their six Syrah vintages. The $50 tasting ($35 for KSV club members) will include Keeling Schaefer Three Sisters Syrahs, Home Place Reserve, and Keeling Brothers Shiraz. Special hors d’oeuvres and tapas by Chef Rod Kass of Cafe Roka in Bisbee will round out the fare. Wine sales will begin at 3:00pm, featuring special pricing for participants. RSVP by Monday, April 16 to Jan, 520-824-2500 or email jan@keelingschaefervineyards.com. Space is limited.

Carlson Creek Vineyard Vine Planting

Planting vines is the perfect way to get involved in the Arizona wine scene–the vines you plant will be around for generations and a plaque with your name on it will be placed at the end of any full row that you plant at the Carlson Creek Vineyard. The holes are already dug…all you need to do is bury a baby vine in each one. Plantings are scheduled for April 14, 15, 21, and 22, starting at 7:00am. Breakfast and non-alcoholic drinks will be provided, and lunch will be catered by Taste of Coronado for $15. Contact Robert Carlson for more information and to sign yourself up!

Blessing of the Vineyards

The 34th Blessing of Sonoita Vineyards will take place April 28, 2012 from 10:00am-4:00pm in Elgin, AZ. Admission of $15 includes a souvenir glass, wine and food pairings, wine tasting, horse-drawn wagon rides through the vineyard, and winery tour. Lunch and horseback rides may be purchased separately. Reservations not required.

CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room, 3063 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ

When Tucsonan Beth Holick learned about all the animals that were displaced as a result of the Monument Fire in Southern Arizona, she immediately contacted CataVinos Wine Shoppe owner, Yvonne K. Foucher, and set up a benefit for those who were taking these animals in. This Sunday, July 10, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, wine lovers and animal lovers will unite for the cause at the store, located at 3063 N. Alvernon.

RSVPs are recommended (323-3063). The cost is $20 per person; half of each person’s admission will be shared by the New Frontier Animal Clinic who cared for more than 250 displaced animals, and World Care.

Holick said, “I hope you’ll join me for a relaxed afternoon of sipping our favorite beverage from the vine and help in this fundraising benefit to aid those critters in need.”

Art and Wine in Willcox

"Shattered Rock" by artist Archie Sutton

TRUST, the gallery at Keeling-Schaefer Vineyards, will be featuring the mixed media copper art of Archie Sutton in the tasting room in Willcox, AZ on Saturday, July 16, from 3-7pm. Winemaker Rod Keeling will also be presenting Keeling-Schaefer’s new wine releases. The tasting room is located at 154 N. Railroad Avenue, in Willcox. Visit us on the Web at www.willcoxtrust.com.

Canelo Hills grapes gaining ground

‘Farmer’ Joan Mueller tells us, “The Canelo Hills Winery’s vineyard is bouncing back from the setbacks of the past year. A month ago the vines were looking pretty shabby. They had experienced three successive spring frosts, the last one on May 10. That means they are one month behind schedule and the crop load is small. But they are there.

“The Cabernet Sauvignon is sending up beautiful green shoots, the Syrah is growing its unruly canopy, and the Tempranillo is setting up a nice crop. I don’t know what will happen with the late start but that will be an interesting development to follow for the rest of the growing season.”

That’s good news from the vines, let’s all think thoughts of a hearty harvest this year.

Cheers!

Kermit Lynch, renowned wine importer/producer, entertains with a blend of roots-inspired country blues sounds on his new CD release, KITTY FUR. Photo credit: Gail Sokoff

Kermit Lynch, the renowned wine importer/producer and author, is also an accomplished singer-songwriter. His third album, Kitty Fur, released via Dualtone on March 29, is as outstanding as any fine wine he’s ever imported. Produced by Ricky Fataar, the roots-inspired country blues record was recorded with some of Nashville’s top musicians and includes the original title track and distinctive covers of Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Bunny Wailer, and Jimmy Reed, among other.

In wine-tasting terms, this CD is an artisanal blend of sweet thoughts mingled with over-ripe memories; complex tones of sheer joy and aged sadness layered with mellow musings; powerful lyrics and strapping instrumental dominance make this a full-bodied top-shelf selection, one  you’d be proud to share with distinguished guests and old friends alike. Oh my, how those pedal steel guitar riffs and sweet sax tones linger on the finish.

Kicking back with a nice glass of Kermit Lynch Côtes du Rhône ($14.99/bottle, an amazing value wine), I enjoyed the first cut on this CD called Kitty Fur, written by Lynch himself. Bluesy and flowing, Lynch’s voice is both gravely and rolling, rife with feeling. That same crackling voice takes on Winter, a Mick Jagger and Keith Richards creation.

Lynch eases us through old favorites like Every Time We Say Goodbye (Cole Porter), Bright Lights, Big City (Jimmy Reed), and Hank Williams’ Cold, Cold Heart—his voice takes on such sadness in this one that it makes you just want to cry. My pick of the CD was Winterlude, the classic Bob Dylan song that Lynch so powerfully executed.

Kitty Fur, new release by Kermit Lynch

The finest feature of this new release is the precision blending and production of electric, acoustic, and steel guitar, bass, mandolin, fiddle, saxophone, trumpet, harmonica, drums and percussion, piano and organ provided by a list that reads like a who’s-who of musicians. The music is fresh, sounds alive, and is almost holy in its presentation.

Lynch made the leap from writing songs, fronting bands, and playing gigs to wine when he became disillusioned in 1971 with the ‘flower power’ scene and headed to Europe. The rest is history—since 1972, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant has become one of America’s most important and influential importers of high quality French wines. But he never left the music far behind.

In 2005, Lynch returned to music when singer-songwriter/vintner Boz Scaggs heard old garage tapes and invited Lynch to record at his studio. That year Lynch, along with co-producers Ricky Fataar and Scaggs, transformed those tapes featuring original compositions into Quicksand Blues at Scaggs’ San Francisco studio. Alvin Youngblood Hart joined Lynch and Scaggs along with Laurie Lewis, Jon Cleary, and Jackie Payne. Man’s Temptation followed in 2009, and is described by Lynch as “rootsy Americana” featuring four originals and a few gems from Curtis Mayfield, the Stanley Brothers, Bob Dylan, and Hank Cochran.

Truly Lynch and I share musical palates; he surely understands my taste in wine.

 The Beatles music live at Kokopelli Winery & Bistro

Kokopelli Winery & Bistro in Chandler announces its Beatles music event this weekend. The Beatles’ music lives on through tribute band Marmalade Skies, who will appear during dinner service both Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16.  

Marmalade Skies not only plays The Beatles’ hits, they dress in costume and take you on a delightful magical mystery tour of the ‘60s and ‘70s. To get in the mood, if you still have that Ringo hairdo or that Yellow Submarine outfit you’ll fit right in, plus dressing like The Beatles will save 10 percent off your entire bill. Call ahead today for your reservations on the patio and get close to Marmalade Skies, 480-792-6927.

Art Opening and musical debut at CataVinos

Hey, isn’t this blog supposed to be about wine? Well, at least it’s about the people and events that make wine so much fun.

Esterito Fishing Camp by Barbara Strelke

CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room provides a venue for artists to display their works, in celebration of a monthly tasting of blends—those carefully crafted selections that showcase wine as art. An Art Opening and wine tasting is planned for this Saturday, April 16, 4:00-to-8:00pm, to showcase the work of artist Barbara Strelke. The artist, raised in Wisconsin, spent many years in New Mexico, and now lives and works in Tucson, Arizona, and San Carlos, Mexico.

For the past several years, Strelke had combined work in landscape architecture, planning, and urban design with painting. She is now painting full-time and establishing a style as a colorist with a keen sense of landscape form and composition. She paints in oil, watercolor, and pastel. Her subjects range from Southwest desert and canyon landscapes to Sea of Cortez seascapes. Galeria del Desierto (http://www.galeriadeldesierto.com/) is the showcase for her paintings with a focus on the Sonoran Desert, the Sea of Cortez, and San Carlos, Mexico.

To enhance the art opening, Linda Bilque, of Phoenix, will entertain, with a new blend of music. With a voice that sounds like a female version of Willie Nelson, her songs tell stories of regular folks in many ways, much in the manner of Harry Chapin. Bilque’s songs are timely and heartfelt stories about life.

Her first commercial release Twists of Fate captures the flavor of the Southwest with songs like Mother of Mexico, which takes place in the Yaqui Indian community of Guadalupe. Lucky is a story of trailer-park love in Tucson, and Dat-So-La-Lee speaks of the tragedy of the lost art of the great Indian basket weaver. Her newest release Side Tracked visits Loretta at the dollar store, the legacy of the cowboy women of Cochise County in We Were the Cowboys, and the day of the dead and a love left behind in Dia De Los Muertos.

Don’t forget the Kief-Joshua Vineyards New Release Festival this Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17 too.

Plenty of fine wining and creative people enjoying to be done this coming weekend for sure. Cheers!

CataVinos Wine Shoppe, 3063 N. Alvernon Way, location of first Taste of Arizona Wines, Sunday, April 3.

What’s your favorite Arizona wine?  What’s that you say? “Ewwww, you’ve got to be kidding, Arizona wines???” Time to be surprised, be VERY surprised—winemakers and grape growers have honed their trade and the state’s vineyards have matured; Arizona wines now rank among my favorites. I am constantly pleased and amazed by the quality of wines being produced throughout the state.

 This Sunday, April 3, 2:00pm-5:00pm, over 40 wines from 10 of those Arizona wineries will be showcased at the first ever Taste of Arizona Wines event at CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room.

As I write this blog, an enormous outdoor tent is being constructed in the back parking lot of the wine shop at 3063 N. Alvernon Way and the pouring tables soon will be moved into place. Tasting sheets are being printed, food prepared, and last minute details are being tended. “It takes a village to put on an event of this magnitude,” claims shop owner Yvonne K. Foucher. But it will be worth the effort to silence those Negative Nans and Doubting Dans as to the quality and value of Arizona produced wines.

Bitter Creek Wines among those showcased at Taste of Arizona Wines in Tucson

Participating wineries will include Lightning Ridge Cellars (Elgin), Rancho Russo (Elgin), Canelo Hills (Elgin), Charron Vineyards (Elgin), Kief Joshua Vineyards (Elgin), Carlson Creek Vineyards (Willcox), Bitter Creek Winery, Jerome Winery, Dribble Creek Wines (Jerome), Arizona Stronghold (Cottonwood), Page Springs Cellars (Cornville), and Casavinos Winery (Phoenix).  Wines will include single varietals, amazing blends, whites, reds, sparkly, dessert, and after-dinner selections—something for everyone—many will be poured by the winemakers themselves.

The cost is only $15 per person (over 21 please), with discounts of $5 of $50 or more wine purchase and $15 off the purchase of a case.

The entertainment will only sweeten the event, as singer Anna Warr teams with Mike Kuhn on the sax to deliver incredible jazz and blues.

Speaking of sweet

Earlier in that same day, April 3, from 1:00pm-3:00pm, Taste of Chocolate will be held at the Doubletree Hotel on Alvernon, across from Reid Park. There will be 45 chocolatiers with their creations available for tasting and purchase, and Lightning Ridge Cellars from Elgin, AZ will be pouring several of their wines. The event benefits the Rincon Rotary Scholarship Program and PolioPlus. Entry fee is $10 per person.

Cheers to one great wine-ing weekend!

Next stop was just down the road at Canelo Hills Vineyard that revealed its 2008 Canelo Hills Sunrise, the “perfect house wine.” This blend of Nebbiola and Syrah (in roughly equal proportions) is made with grapes from AZ Stronghold Vineyards and Sweet Sunrise Vineyards. It tastes of pomegranate and cranberry. The finish is crisp, clear, and acidic, thanks to its 12.9% alcohol content. This is a great lighter red wine to be enjoyed in the coming warmer months, but it’s a great everyday wine year-round.

Tucked back off Elgin Road a ways, Rancho Rossa Vineyards is unpretentious. The tasting room/winery is surrounded by nearly 24 acres of orderly grape vines, ready for the growing season ahead. Owner Sarah Hamilton cheerily greets us and pours a few selections. My favorite was the 2006 Rancho Rossa CSM, a blend of 60% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Merlot grapes, all grown on the Rancho Rossa estate.

Hamilton explains that this wine has been aged in American and French Oak for 18 months, and may have been a “mistake” fashioned by winemaker husband Chris Hamilton, who was talking during its creation. But it’s no mistake that this is a totally enjoyable wine. It is fruit-forward as expected, and complex as blends should be; the finish is slightly dry and refreshing. Rancho Rossa donates ten cents to the American Cancer Society for every bottle of wine sold.

These wines and many of those reviewed in a previous Pour Me Some Grapes blog will be among the 40-some Arizona wines being poured at the Sunday, April 3, 2011 Arizona Wine Tasting Festival at CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room in Tucson (call (520)323-3063 for details). The 2:00pm-5:00pm event will feature nine Arizona wineries from around the state. If you haven’t visited the three wine regions in Arizona (Verde Valley to the North, Sonoita/Elgin to the Southeast, and Willcox to the East), or if it’s been a while since the last time, here’s your chance to sample just a few amazing wines waiting to be discovered by your palate.

Cheers!

The Arizona Wine Festival will be located on 7th Street, just west of Mill Avenue in Tempe, AZ. The festival is the perfect opportunity for partakers to sample and purchase Arizona wine.

The 2011 Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts features more than 400 fine artists and crafts persons displaying and selling their original work amid a street festival atmosphere in Tempe’s Mill Avenue District. The event is the largest festival of its kind in Arizona, hosting as many as 225,000 festival visitors. It consistently ranks among the top 20 festivals in the nation. The event also includes the Festival Jazz Stage, live entertainment, street performers, sports exhibits, Kids Innovation Station, and fun festival food. Sponsored by the Arizona Wine Growers Association.

Arizona wines are growing in stature and have been served at the White House. In 2010, Arizona wines were poured at three separate esteemed James Beard House dinners. More than 20 wines from eight Arizona wineries have scored at least an 88 rating from Wine Spectator.

Arizona Wine Festival at CataVinos promises great wines and good times

First Arizona Wine Festival in Tucson

CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room  is introducing Arizona-produced wines at the first ever Arizona Wine Festival in Tucson on Sunday, April 3, 2011, from 2:00pm-5:00pm. Ten Arizona winemakers will be pouring their finest—if you haven’t tasted Arizona wines for awhile, come out and be pleasantly surprised! Cost is $15/person; receive $5 off with purchase of over $50, and $15 off with the purchase of a case. For more information about the event call CataVinos at 323-3063.

Mark your calendars…plan to enjoy some mighty fine wines. Cheers.

Jerome Winery

Label features family aunt and uncle Paula and Hans Heinemann hugging next to their old automobile Aunt

The town of Jerome has no shortage of interesting tales, wines, and personalities. At the top of the list is creative Jerome Winery and Bitter Creek winemaker John McLoughlin. He wasn’t in town when we visited, but we were greeted by his sister, Melanie, in the Jerome Winery tasting room, where she is seven days of the week, while brother John minds the grapes and the business. She dances behind the copper counter pouring wines and sharing family secrets, often spurred by the individual wine labels depicting memorable family photos.

I most enjoyed the 2007 Jerome Winery Charbono, featuring aunt and uncle Paula and Hans Heinemann hugging next to their old automobile on the label; “Hug and Kisses” describes the tender scene on the back. Melanie shares a fond memory of the couple’s bakery in south Chicago. The unusual grape offered a grand fruity nose, nice fruit-driven tannins and acidity in the mouth, and a medium dry, almost cedary finish. This is a fine ‘sitting around sipping with friends’ choice, but I enjoyed a glass with my ginger-grilled salmon and cabrese.

Bitter Creek Winery

Bitter Creek Hierophant Wine - equal blend of Arizona-grown Cabernet, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel grapes

Our friend McLoughlin is supported by a cast of hard-working family characters that must make it delightful to ply his trade. A few hundred steps down from the Jerome Winery tasting room, we were greeted by Melanie’s husband and John’s brother-in-law, Isiah, who continued to entertain with even more family tales and camaraderie. While Jerome Winery wines are single varietals, the Bitter Creek wines are blends. Each bottle is named after a Tarot major arcana card—and, of course, each one sports characteristics of its own.

I previously reviewed The Fool by Bitter Creek Winery, so this time, I choose The Hierophant by Bitter Creek Winery—described on the label as a “Dogmatically Kind, Spiritual Leader, Speaking Truthfully.” (Isaiah hinted that the labels depict family members; is this one named for John? Ask Isaiah, the next time you stop in to see him in Jerome). This wine is a red blend of equal parts of Arizona-grown Cabernet, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel—it just doesn’t get any fairer than that. The Hierophant delivers with plum and pomegranate flavors and smooth lingering finish…a simply yummy match to my St. Patrick Day-inspired corned beef and cabbage.

Arizona Stronghold

Arizona wines were launched steps closer to the forefront of national notice in 2007, with the coming together of Eric Glomski and Maynard Keenan. Glomski, formerly with David Bruce Winery, is the owner/director of winemaking at Page Spring Cellars; Keenan, owner of Caduceus Cellars, is the lead singer for a band called Tool, Pucifer, and others—together they sport the Arizona Stronghold Vineyards banner.

The majority of their quality fruit is grown in the Dos Cabezas Vineyard near Willcox, AZ. The core of the new plantings of Syrah, Grenache, Mouvedre, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese, Viognier, and Malvasia Bianca are now finding their ways into some of the most palate-pleasing wines in the state. Maynard’s own Merkin Vineyards is also just coming into its own with grapes raised in the high Jerome terroir.

The Site Archive Lozen delivers fruit, spice, and balance

I previously reviewed the Arizona Stronghold Nachise, a Granache-based Rhone blend. This time around, I was drawn to the Arizona Stronghold Site Archive wines that are sold only by Arizona Stronghold. The Arizona Stronghold Site Archive Lozen 2009 is named for a very powerful and skilled Apache warrior and prophet, the inspiration for this powerful yet feminine Bordeaux blend. Cabernet Sauvignon-driven dark blackberry and cassis with Merlot-enhanced aromas of dark fruits and green spices balance out into a lingering Cabernet Franc graphite minerality, smoke-like finish. Great pairing for lamb, pork, steak, or burgers; or for just total enjoyment.

Merkin Vineyards Shinola

I tasted (and bought) the 2008 Merkin Vineyards Shinola at Maynard’s Caduceus tasting room in Jerome. The wine is a Merlot, Cabernet, Sauvignon blend with a nose and notes of earth and vanilla, opening up to delightful flavors of oak and smoke, and finishing strong. I’ll enjoy sharing this with ribs or pork tenderloin on the grill.  This is the final year for the California Shinola and it’s in short supply—however, the Arizona Shinola is bottling now. Only $25/bottle.

Wild Child Red  

Pillsbury Wine Company is the evolution of a dream-come-true project by New Zealand film director and winemaker Sam Pillsbury. Sam flew into Arizona to shoot a pilot for Universal Pictures, fell in love with an Arizona girl, and the Arizona landscape at the same time. 

Pillsbury Wine Company WildChild Red

Growing up in New Zealand Sam witnessed the phenomenon of growing classical wine grapes in unusual places. He thought he could try the same thing here. The location he chose was a high-altitude desert valley in Cochise County, 200 miles southeast of Phoenix. This all came from a desire to get away from mass-produced McDonalds-like wines and create a distinctive regional boutique wine that is 100% Arizona and 100% original. He gambled that the high-altitude, endless sunshine, sandy loam, and dry desert would make for a perfect terroir; in 2000 he planted 20 acres of Rhone varieties. It worked.  

The Pillsbury crowd-favorite WildChild Red is an enchanting value wine at $18/bottle. 100% Arizona grown, this new release is a dry red from a neighboring wild vineyard found dotted with crop circles. It’s a field blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Zin, and Cabernet, to which the winemaker added more Zin from neighbor Golden Rule Vineyards. Red currant and cranberry on the nose with a hint of leather, this finishes with fruity red-berry, orange peel, velvety with a smooth, rounded mouthfeel, according to the tasting notes. I got a bit of smokiness on the finish.

So many Arizona wines, so many more to experience. If your only experience with Arizona wines was 10 years ago, it’s time to hit the trail again. If you’re already a fan, do not worry if a favorite is no longer available; there are plenty more to come, with 45 wineries now producing throughout the state. New varietals are being promised across the state for Spring release. And as they say at the Javalina Leap Winery, no matter what, “Love the wine you’re with.” Cheers!

Don’t miss upcoming chances to taste Arizona wines like the Tempe Art Festival Celebrating Arizona Wines this coming weekend and Tucson’s first ever Arizona Wine Tasting event set for Sunday, April 3 at the CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room.

 

Arizona Wines

Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts -goers can sip, sample, and savor local Arizona wine at the Arizona Wine Festival, March 25-27. Twelve Arizona wineries will showcase their wines and offer tastings, along with sales by the glass, bottle, or case. The wine festival has an admission of $12 and includes six tastings and a commemorative wine glass.

 The Arizona Wine Festival will be located on 7th Street, just west of Mill Avenue. The festival is the perfect opportunity for festival goers to sample and purchase Arizona wine.

Arizona wines are growing in stature and have been served at the White House. In 2010, Arizona wines were poured at three separate esteemed James Beard House dinners. More than 20 wines from eight Arizona wineries have scored at least an 88 rating from Wine Spectator.

The 2011 Spring Tempe Festival of the Arts features more than 400 fine artists and crafts persons displaying and selling their original work amid a street festival atmosphere in Tempe’s Mill Avenue District. The event is the largest festival of its kind in Arizona, hosting as many as 225,000 festival visitors. It consistently ranks among the top 20 festivals in the nation. The event also includes the Festival Jazz Stage, live entertainment, street performers, sports exhibits, Kids Innovation Station, and fun festival food. Sponsored by the Arizona Wine Growers Association.

First Arizona Wine Festival in Tucson

CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room is hosting Arizona-produced wines at the first ever Arizona Wine Festival in Tucson on Sunday, April 3, 2011. Ten Arizona winemakers will be pouring their finest—if you haven’t tasted Arizona wines for awhile, come out and be pleasantly surprised! Cost is $15/person; receive $5 off with purchase of over $50, and $15 off with the purchase of a case. For more information about the event call CataVinos at 323-3063.

Mark your calendars…plan to enjoy some mighty fine wines. I’ll see you out and about at Tucson Festival of Books this weekend; look for the Pour Me Some Grapes t-shirt.

Cheers.

But she set out to prove them wrong, combining her efforts with Slow Foods Tucson and Yvonne K Foucher, owner of CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room, to pair wines and sweet treats as a prelude to Valentine’s Day. Nearly 20 curious guests enjoyed the delicacies, served on the patio at CataVinos last Sunday, February 13.

Essenmacher and Foucher explained that there are two manners of proper pairing. The first is to combine similar tastes in food with similar characteristics of the wine. An example of this was pairing Cara Mia Pinot Noir 2009, an elegant wine with strawberry, raspberry, and peppery spice flavors and a lush texture, with Creative Catering’s melt-in-your mouth dark chocolate raspberry truffle. To die for!

The other pairing option is to match directly opposite characteristics of the wine with the food. Essenmacher chose her delectable mini chocolate chili cupcake topped with a chocolate chili ganache with Foucher’s choice of Santa Digna Torres Vina Esmeralda 2009. This off-dry wine has a strong floral aroma with delicate flavors of white peaches, melon, apricots and ginger spice. The combination with the chili kick of the cupcake caused explosions of joy in my mouth.

Other pairings included the Gruet Sparkling Brut-Rosé with a chocolate covered strawberry; Darby & Joan Cabernet 2008 with chocolate-covered espresso bean hearts; McManis Zinfandel 2008 with a chocolate mousse shot;  and Viho Madeira with a chocolate hazelnut torte square.

I’d say that Essenmacher has proven whoever ‘they’ are wrong. I think back to the afternoon and it brings a sweet smile to my face. Well done, Slow Foods, on yet another fantastic event showcasing what Tucson’s finest have to offer.