James Callahan, Aridus Winery, poses in front of some awesome stainless tanks.—Photo by Thomas Ale Johnson

Aridus Wine Company is a new custom crush winery in Willcox, Arizona. The winery in housed in an existing 24,000-ft. insulated building that has been converted into a state-of-the-art custom crush winery. The winery was opened for business this year and was ready for the Arizona grapes harvest in late summer 2012.

Wines of Sam Pillsbury Wines and Carlson Creek Vineyards, the first custom-crush clients, will be served at the Willcox Chamber of Commerce sponsored ribbon-cutting ceremony for Aridus Wine Company’s this Saturday, October 27, 2:00pm-4:00pm at 145 N Railview Ave in Willcox.

You’ll be able to check out the magnificent facilities. The winery production area features a covered crush pad with crushing, pressing, and fermenting tanks, indoor fermenting room, climate-controlled barrel storage, and bottling room. Other buildings house offices, lab, staff, and client work areas. A lab is available for many analysis requirements. Special analysis will be in association with ETS labs.

The custom crush winery is a welcomed asset to the growing Arizona wine industry, and opened just in time for 2012 record harvests.

Get to Willcox EARLY!

Might as well make it a day trip to Willcox—it’s only about 90 miles from Tucson.

Show up early at the Zarpara Vineyard, just off Kansas Settlement Road (left on Lucky Lane, then follow the signs). They will be hosting the Arizona Wine Growers Association Arizona Grape Stomp 5K tomorrow morning. You can register beginning at 7:00am tomorrow and the race will begin at 9:00am. There will be sangria and a special tasting discount for the event.

Check out this sweet little bunch of grapes known as Kipper at the Carlson Creek Vineyards Hallo-wine tasting room as you make your way across Willcox this weekend. Boo!

Then check in at Lawrence Dunham Vineyards for their Burgers and Big Ass Reds event (the LDV 2010 Petite Sirah will be making its debut), Hallow-Wine fun at Carlson Creek Vineyards, music and tapas at Coronado Vineyards, art and wine at TRUST at the Keeling Schaefer Vineyards tasting room, and the fall pumpkin celebration at Apple Annie’s Orchard will round out your day. There should be time to stop by the Aridus ribbon-cutting along your journey (see above).

Cheers!