Sonoita Vineyards welcomes Arizona wine lovers to its Harvestfest 2011, this weekend, July 30 and 31, 10:00am to 4:00pm. For $15, visitors receive a souvenir wine glass and cork keychain, and enjoy tasting current releases, wine and food pairings, winery tour by the winemaker, and vineyard tour by horse-drawn wagon or tractor-drawn trailer.

Let you hair down and have fun stomping grapes at 1:30pm either day. Sonoita Vineyards is located at 290 Elgin-Canelo Road, just 3 miles south of Elgin (about an hour and 15 minutes from Tucson).

Great Arizona Grape Stomp 5Ks return

Running through the Keeling Schaefer Vineyards in the 2010 Grape Stomp 5K

The Great Arizona Grape Stomp, a series of four different 5K Fun Runs, is back for round two. This is a fun way to make a tour across Arizona enjoying the fresh air, beautiful unique landscape, and tasting some fabulous wines.  Liberate your Juice is this year’s theme.

I enjoyed participating in the inaugural Grape Stomp race series in 2010, so I’m putting on my training gear to get in shape for this. I particularly enjoy running in the high desert where Arizona’s vineyards and wineries are located—it’s always a few degrees cooler than here in Tucson.  Mostly, I love tasting the amazing wines and meeting the wonderful wine people throughout the state.

The Grape Stomp 5K series kicks off with a run through the vineyard in Willcox, AZ, on September 10, 2011. On October 1, 2011, participants will run through historic Old Town Cottonwood in the Verde Valley region. We’ll head to Sonoita on October 22, 2011, to run through the scenic vineyards of Elgin. The final leg will be held to kick off Arizona Wine Week on November 1, 2011 with a run around the fountain in Fountain Hills, AZ.

Participants will receive a Grape Stomp t-shirt, a logo wine glass with which you can taste local wines for a discount following the race, and a goody bag.  Proceeds from The Great Arizona Grape Stomp 5K Fun Runs benefit the Arizona Wine Growers Association, which serves grape growers and winemakers in Arizona, allying its members for representation, promotion, and education. The association strives to advance the sustainable growth and production of authentic Arizona-grown wines. Registration is $35 per person per race.

CataVinos Wine Shoppe & Tasting Room, 3063 N Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ

When Tucsonan Beth Holick learned about all the animals that were displaced as a result of the Monument Fire in Southern Arizona, she immediately contacted CataVinos Wine Shoppe owner, Yvonne K. Foucher, and set up a benefit for those who were taking these animals in. This Sunday, July 10, from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, wine lovers and animal lovers will unite for the cause at the store, located at 3063 N. Alvernon.

RSVPs are recommended (323-3063). The cost is $20 per person; half of each person’s admission will be shared by the New Frontier Animal Clinic who cared for more than 250 displaced animals, and World Care.

Holick said, “I hope you’ll join me for a relaxed afternoon of sipping our favorite beverage from the vine and help in this fundraising benefit to aid those critters in need.”

Art and Wine in Willcox

"Shattered Rock" by artist Archie Sutton

TRUST, the gallery at Keeling-Schaefer Vineyards, will be featuring the mixed media copper art of Archie Sutton in the tasting room in Willcox, AZ on Saturday, July 16, from 3-7pm. Winemaker Rod Keeling will also be presenting Keeling-Schaefer’s new wine releases. The tasting room is located at 154 N. Railroad Avenue, in Willcox. Visit us on the Web at www.willcoxtrust.com.

Canelo Hills grapes gaining ground

‘Farmer’ Joan Mueller tells us, “The Canelo Hills Winery’s vineyard is bouncing back from the setbacks of the past year. A month ago the vines were looking pretty shabby. They had experienced three successive spring frosts, the last one on May 10. That means they are one month behind schedule and the crop load is small. But they are there.

“The Cabernet Sauvignon is sending up beautiful green shoots, the Syrah is growing its unruly canopy, and the Tempranillo is setting up a nice crop. I don’t know what will happen with the late start but that will be an interesting development to follow for the rest of the growing season.”

That’s good news from the vines, let’s all think thoughts of a hearty harvest this year.

Cheers!

Willcox, AZ

Coronado Vineyards is adding three new wines to its family this weekend.

• Voodoux is a delightful blend of white wines seduced into releasing their inhibitions and ample fruitiness, while maintaining a delicate balance of glamour and allure—an excellent accompaniment to oysters on the half-shell and other tempting treats.  This wine is made to be enjoyed with someone you find extraordinary.
• The 2010 Riesling is a traditional German-style Riesling, pairing nicely with summertime fare, fruits, and cheeses.
• Coronado is also welcoming back the Two Heads Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.  An old favorite of many.

A fun celebration for the three new wines for Coronado Vineyards will kick off this Saturday, June 25, from 10am to 4pm followed by the first Coronado Vineyards winemaker dinner at 6pm (reservations for dinner required).

Meet the winemaker behind the wine and learn about your favorite blends at Coronado Vineyards. Wine lovers and those just beginning to appreciate the grape will learn just how to pair their favorite foods and wine. Each person will take away a little information about wine to impress guests at your next gathering.

The winemaker dinner evening will begin with assortment of fresh appetizers prepared by Chef Zach and nicely paired with the new Coronado Vineyards Voodoux. The cold beef habanero blood orange vinaigrette salad will feature the vineyard’s new 2010 Riesling. Source verified pork medallions an apple puree, jasmine risotto and chef vegetables will delight palates when perfectly paired with the reinvented Coronado Vineyards Two Heads Red. Dessert is still ahead on the menu. A sweet finish to the evening with a delectable dessert paired sweetly with Coronado’s gold medal Dolce Veritas.

A meet and greet with Coronado’s winemaker, Philippe Liotto, will entertain and enlighten guests.

“This is Coronado’s first Winemaker Dinner and we are thrilled with the chance to have new palettes try our new additions,” says Jacque Cook, owner of Coronado Vineyards. “This event is new for us and will surely become a tradition for many years to come.”
Coronado Vineyards is located in the Willcox wine region.