Tucsonans won’t have far to travel to celebrate North American Wine Tourism Day this weekend.

First stop: Festival in the Foothills

Bear Track Winery

Bear Track Winery is hosting its Grand Opening Festival in the Foothills beginning this Friday, May 10th from 5:00-10:00 p.m. and Saturday, May 11th from noon-10:00 p.m. on the NE corner of Swan and Sunrise. For an entry of $30 at the gate (see below about advance sale), patrons receive a festival glass, 8 wine tastings, and a food voucher.

According to owner Rick Riddle, Arizona wineries will be pouring, and you’ll get the opportunity to taste wines from New Mexico and other parts of the world. You may also buy wine by the glass and/or case. If you’re game for wine tasting, wine education, entertainment, and local food trucks, I’ll see you there.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit The Humane Society and The Optimists Club.

Stop by the wine bistro at 4743 East Sunrise Drive, Tucson AZ, to purchase $25 advance sale tickets or call (520) 975-0050, or email beartrackwinery@gmail.com for further questions.

Second annual Bacchanal Festival at AZ Hops & Vines
Those crazy girls are at it again—yep, it’s time for the second annual Bacchanal Festival at AZ Hops & Vines, featuring wine music, food, and beer. That’s this Saturday, May 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  at the winery near Sonoita, only an hour from Tucson.

Look at that vineyard view!

Owners Shannon and Megan will bring together their great wines, micro-brewed beers, The Sober Shack, family crafts and activities with a whole bunch of great food and marvelous people. Looks like the weather is going to be perfect as well, so guests can enjoy the patio, pet and feed some goats, and gather with the like-minded for some good ol’ fashioned fun and debauchery. No doubt, a good time will be had by all—so don’t miss out!

It’s up to you to find the best direction to head to celebrate this first North American Wine Tourism Day this weekend. Check the Arizona Vines & Wines website for an event scheduled near you. Or just head out in nearly any direction to discover local wine industry folks who are ready to share some mighty fine locally produced wines.

Cheers!

“I love to cook with wines; sometimes I even put them in the food.” This long-time Julia Childs’ quote will resonate with wine lovers forever. This week marked what would have been her 100^th birthday, and I have raised more than one toast to her spirit. If I was to dine with any one person, alive or dead, I’d choose Julia. She’d do the cooking, of course; I’d try my hand at selecting the most appropriate wines… or so I imagine.

Julia also is known for her thought, “You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces—just good food from fresh ingredients.” That may just be the mantra of Renee Kreager of Renee’s Organic Oven. This week was my first experience dining in this sweet little nook of a Tucson restaurant at 7065 E Tanque Verde, and it will not be my last.

I chose the “Slice and a Glass” from the lunch menu for $8.00, and was more than pleased with my selection. The slice of pizza was a plate-sized portion of the good stuff. It was based on gluten-free crust (full and tasty, not the cardboard flavor I had come to expect), and featured fresh basil, crushed garlic, feta cheese, and two fresh vegetables of my choice—mushrooms and green peppers. The vegetables were warm but still crisp on delivery, and the garlic and basil married, celebrating with every bite.

The house red wine served was a certified organic (no added sulfites) Badger Mountain Pure Red—a tasty blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Syrah, 24% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc—which hails from Washington’s Columbia Valley. It pleased me with a juicy and bright, slightly acidic taste with layers of cherry, vanilla, and a light spice. Perfect with that party that was going on with the pizza.

Julia would be certainly proud that Renee has combined fresh ingredients with a good wine for just the right touch. Bon Appetit! (I always wanted to say that.)

Coronado Vineyards Grape Crush

We move from Julia to another favorite mentor, Lucy, I’m wondering how many people ever wanted to duplicate her infamous to stomp around in a barrel of grapes. Now is your chance; no stomping experience necessary. Awarding winning Coronado Vineyards 6th Annual Grape Stomp is happening this weekend, August 18th and 19th, from 10:00am to 4:00pm both days. The event features two days full of festivities with live music, featuring GRIND Saturday and BUZZ & THE SOUL SENDERS on Sunday, food, and, of course, wine tasting. It’s your chance for a firsthand experience in winemaking.

Take the whole family for this festive Italian-tradition. Adults are $10 and admission includes a souvenir wine glass, all the grapes you can stomp to live music, and a wine tasting of the winery’s current releases.

Coronado Vineyards is located just a short trip east from Tucson at 2909 E Country Club Drive, in Willcox, Arizona.

Grape to Glass Symposium Teaches about Sustainable Farming Practices, Pairing Wine/Food

On Saturday August 25, 2012, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Lawrence Dunham Vineyards invites you to help them celebrate this year’s harvest. Participants can learn more about the wine grape-growing and winemaking process at the 3rd Annual Grape to Glass Symposium, held at the winery in Pearce, Arizona. The event includes a tour of the vineyard/winery with the winemaker and gourmet lunch paired with Lawrence Dunham Vineyards’ wines. Lunch features locally-grown cheeses and produce, as well as mesquite-grilled beef paired with the winery’s Petite Sirah that received 88 points from Wine Spectator (2nd highest rating for an Arizona grown wine), grilled salmon and shrimp, perfectly paired with Sky Island Grenache, plus a variety of salads and desserts.

Cost is $65.00. Register for the Grape to Glass Symposium at (602) 320-1485 or online.

Wo(men), Wine, and Wellness for Girl Scouts

Now that school’s started, it’s time to take a deep breath and “wine down” at Wo(men), Wine, and Wellness, on Friday, August 24 2012, 6:00 until 8:00pm, at Self-Centered Yoga & Fitness, 4425 N Campbell Avenue.  Plenty of wine will be served along with live music, local gourmet food with Kuisine by Kathy, artwork by painter Calvin Hammond and photographer Liora Kutler, Aveda Spa attention, and jewelry by Ruby Jane. Win prizes, mingle with the community, and enjoy an evening of fun while giving to the Girl Scouts of Southern AZ. Tickets are online under Yoga Events for only $20 in advance & include a free yoga class pass. At the door price is $25 without a class pass. RSVP is necessary.

Curious about how all that wine joy made it to that one little glass? The opportunity to learn about the journey from grape to glass will take place on Saturday, August 27, 11:00am to 3:00pm, at the Lawrence Dunham Vineyards in Pearce, Arizona, just south of Willcox.

To help them celebrate this year’s harvest and learn more about the wine grape-growing and winemaking process, sign up to attend the second annual Grape to Glass Symposium held at the winery. The event is limited to 80 participants who will tour the vineyard and winery with the winemaker and enjoy a gourmet lunch paired with Lawrence Dunham Vineyards’ wines. Lunch features locally-grown cheeses and produce as well as mesquite grilled flat iron steaks paired with Petite Sirah, grilled salmon and shrimp perfectly paired with Sky Island Grenache, and a variety of salads and desserts.

Unique to this event is that the attendees participate in the state’s largest tasting panel. The panel input provides the winemaker valuable feedback on the upcoming 2010 blending process. Wines are evaluated throughout the maturing process typically only by the winemaker or trusted wine enthusiasts. The Symposium allows participants to taste and evaluate several different blends compiled by the winemaker directly from the barrel.

Lawrence Dunham Vineyards creates hand-crafted Rhone-varietal wines that reflect its unique Southeastern Arizona environment. The 5000’ elevation provides warm days, cool nights, mountain breezes, and four-season climate essential for quality wine production. The transformation that wine grapes go through as they journey from the vineyard to the bottle centers around the gentle handling of the grapes through the winemaking process.

“We process small batches and do not fine or filter our wines which we believe creates an extraordinary mouth-feel and well-balanced taste,” said Curt Dunham owner/winemaker. “The harvest that began this month is a critical point in the journey from grape to glass as it culminates the growing season and begins the transition to the winemaking process,” Dunham said.

“Harvest has begun a little earlier this year and the timing of the Symposium could provide an added experience for participants. The Viognier grapes have been harvested and we are hoping for a bit more hang time in the vineyard for the Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah. However, it has been warm and they are ripening fast,” said Dunham.

From veraison (grapes changing color) to harvest, the real skill of the vineyard manager comes into play as the weather is closely monitored. Last August, the Lawrence Dunham Vineyards received over ten inches of rain, a great deal more than the typical rainfall allowing them to reduce the irrigated water application. This summer rain has been plentiful too causing Ash Creek, which cuts the property in half, to overflow its banks.

Time will tell if the journey from the vine to the wine exceeds the winemaker’s expectations. But one thing for certain, the quality of the wine produced will be heavily influenced on the unpredictable journey from the grape to the glass.

Several spots are still available to experience this symposium. To register for the Lawrence Dunham Vineyards’ Grape to Glass Symposium email your attendance to info@lawrencedunhamvineyards.com or call 602/320-1485. Cost is $45.00 and includes lunch and wine, tours, and barrel tasting panel.