Just yesterday, on CBS This Morning, a bottle of Arizona Stronghold wine graced the news desk as well-known and respected wine expert Jancis Robinson discussed her new book–co-authored with Linda Murphy–American Wine: The Ultimate Companion to the Wines and Wineries of the United States. This beautiful large format book features dozens of Arizona wine growers and their wines receiving rave reviews, and the photos do the Arizona wine growing regions proud.

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!

Shannon, Amanda, Megan–our hosts and chef for dinner in the vineyards at AZ Hops & Vines

Thank so much to Shannon Austin Zouzoulas and Megan Austin Haller of AZ Hops & Vines in Sonoita, AZ, for hosting a fabulous evening of remarkable foods, GREAT wines, fantastic people, and good cheer, on Saturday, August 17. Amazingly, they managed to keep that great storm-filled lightning-flashing weather at a peaceful distance, as a couple dozen friends of the winery dined overlooking the view under the sometimes star-studded sky.

What better way to showcase the offerings in your wine portfolio than to pair each with a superbly prepared dish? A hat tip to Allison Embacher for the cooking; she’s a true chef extraordinaire. You out-did yourself, girl!

One of my favorite combinations was the AZ Hops & Vines Summer (a blend of 44% CA Verdelho, 44% CA Albarino, and 12% Sauvignon Blanc from Lightning Ridge Cellars, AZ) with the cervices-style shrimp cocktail in its delightful avocado-pineapple salsa. The wine’s clean mineral undertones combine with a somewhat oaky passion fruit flavor, and it really took the shrimp cocktail and salsa to new heights.

Another to-die-for dish on the ambitious menu was dark-chocolate panna cotta with smoked salt and cayenne—I could have gone for seconds on this, and I’m not a dessert sort of girl. Must be because it was paired with a Hops & Vines fan-favorite, The Fluffer, which provided perfect balance to the dessert’s kicky flavor. This Muscat (grapes from New Mexico) is sweet, crisp, and fruity with a clean finish—the perfect ending to a tremendous meal and evening.

The next big event scheduled for AZ Hops & Vines is its first annual Great Crush Festival, Saturday, September 8, 11:00am to 4:00pm. There’ll be music, food, Dragoon beers, and wines, of course, for only $10 per person for a souvenir glass and a taste of each wine and beer. As always, the Sober Shack will be serving up super special sodas with activities to keep the kids busy.

CHEERS to you Shannon and Megan; love you both, and thanks once again. You are both simply brilliant… doing what you love.

Kief Joshua’s Magdalena Bash

Kief Joshua and Grandma Magdalena planning the party

Join the Kief Joshua Vineyard family’s Magdalena Bash, this coming weekend, August 25, from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. This is a celebration to honor Grandma (for whom the KJV Magdalena is named), who turns 93. She may be on hand to sign some bottles of her signature wine.

The event will showcase new wine releases, and feature entertainment by Jeordie, daughter of 1960’s pop-star Melanie. She’ll even sing her mother’s hit single, “I’ve Got A Brand New Pair of Roller Skates” along with other hits such as “Red, Red Wine.” Food will feature chicken wings and sandwiches by Locally Arizona. Wine tasting of $5 includes a souvenir glass.

Cheers to your birthday Grandma, enjoy!