Don’t fall in love with a specific Arizona wine—just as soon as you commit, it becomes so popular, it flies off the shelf and it’s on to the next vintage. That’s not a bad thing—each vintage seems to improve with age and winemaker experience. It’s delightful to discover a new one each time you make it to a tasting room in one of the three Arizona wine regions—Elgin/Sonoita; Willcox; and the Verde Valley. This week, I’m concentrating on the Verde Valley wine-finds discovered just a few weeks ago. If a wine I recommend is not available, don’t worry; these over-achieving winemakers never stop trying to compete for your palate.

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.

The Arizona Wine Growers Association’s first Arizona Wine Week celebration is now history, but the memories and photos are still being shared on facebook and among friends. Many new wines were discovered last Saturday as Arizona wine growers showcased their best in the pecan grove at The Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix.

Trust Yvonne Foucher of CataVinos when she says she can find you a wine that you'd like -- she got the people's choices both right!

Our Tucson contingent particularly enjoyed the People’s Choice event, where we tasted eight different wines (four reds, four whites) and voted for our personal choices, while the ‘experts’ discussed the art of wine tasting and its subtleties. My guest, Yvonne K. Foucher, owner of CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room, told us she wasn’t going to vote for her favorites, she was going to select the ones she thought the most people would like best. Dang, she was right on! The People’s Choice winners were Merkin Shinola (red) and Arizona Stronghold Site Archive Bonita Springs Chardonnay (white). Next time Yvonne tells you she can help you find a wine you’ll like, trust her.

My personal favorites were Caduceus Kitsuné (red) and Callaghan’s Lisa’s Blend (white), for what it’s worth.

Award Winners – AZ Wine Week

Eric Glomski and Maynard James Keenan’s wines made quite a showing in the Arizona Republic Wine Competition, held in conjunction with Arizona Wine Week. The Caduceus Kitsuné 2008 took the Gold Arizona Grower’s Cup in reds; Keenan’s Merkin Vineyards’ The Diddler 2009, took the Gold in whites. A couple of Bronzes and another Silver (rosé) rounded out their take in the Growers’ Cup competition (wines produced from Arizona grown fruit).

Other wineries winning big in that competition included Arizona Stronghold (Gold in rosé with Dayden 2009) and Sonoita Vineyards (Peach Sparkles NV garnered the Gold in dessert wines). Callaghan, Dos Cabezas, Carlson Creek, Coronado, Wilhelm, and Four Monkeys also took home prizes in the Grower’s Cup.

In the Arizona Winemaker’s Medal competition that judge wines produced in Arizona (not necessarily with AZ grown grapes) saw Alcantara Vineyards take Gold honors in the red wine category with their Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. They also captured Silver and Bronzes in the same category, as well as a Silver in the white wine category. Caduceus Dos Ladrones 2009 won the white wine Gold; they also had two wines win Bronze honors in the red wine category. Page Springs also captured a Bronze in white wines.

Coronado Vineyards Anniversary Celebration

Coronado Vineyard in Willcox (just off Interstate 10 at Exit 344) will celebrate its 4th Anniversary and Release Party, November 20, 2010 10 am - 4 pm, with wine tasting, anniversary cake, and complimentary appetizers. They will also be releasing the new 2009 Coronado Vineyards Meritage (50% Cabernet Sauvignon; 50 % Merlot), a wonderful new addition to the Coronado family of wines. (They’ll begin serving this new release at dinner, Friday, November 19, at 5:00pm, if you’d like to be among the first to sample the Meritage).

Canelo Hills Holiday Wreath-Making Workshop & Wine Tasting

Join Elgin winemakers Tim and Kathryn Mueller for the Canelo Hills Vineyard and Winery annual grapevine wreath-making afternoon. Make your own grapevine wreath and take a piece of Canelo Hills home with you for the holiday.

Participants will cut their own vines from the vineyard, fashion them into a wreath, and personalize with their choice of decorations – all while tasting Canelo Hills’ wines and snacking on holiday treats. Each participant will make one decorated wreath, and can make unlimited plain wreaths to adorn at home.

The cost is $35 per person. Reservations are required, call 520-455-5499, or email info@canelohillswinery.com to reserve a space.

Tempe Wine Festival / Festival of the Arts

Plan now to attend the Arizona Wine Festival of the Arts in Tempe, December 3-5, 2010, from 10:00am to dusk. This is an exciting opportunity to visit talented artists from all over the country and, of course, taste and purchase wine.

Participants will taste wines from 12 Arizona wineries. $12 buys a glass and 6 tasting tickets (additional tickets are available).  Check with the Arizona Wine Growers for more details.

Did you know?

One ton of grapes will fill two oak barrels with wine. Just a bit of vine trivia from Canelo Hills Vineyard and Winery.