Are you one of those who scrunches your face and says, “Arizona wines? They can’t be good.” Then this weekend is out to prove you wrong. Head down the Sonoita Wine Trail, Arizona’s original and oldest wine-growing region, for the Southeast Arizona Wine Festival at Kief-Joshua Vineyards this Saturday and Sunday, 11:00am-5:00pm . The festival is a perfect and affordable event for the entire family–and a great way to check out the wines of 17 wineries from throughout the state–from the Verde Valley to Willcox. I could guarantee that you’ll not leave there without more than one new favorite wine, made right here in Arizona. Check out my earlier posting for more details. See you at the festival!

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.