Eddie Rodriguez, long-time CataVinos grapista, pours one last glass

Let’s tip our wine glasses and bid ‘Sayonara’ to one of the CataVinos Wine Shoppe much-loved grapistas (my term for wine barista), Eddie Rodriguez.

Eddie, a Catalina Foothills High School graduate, is off to Japan to put his customer service skills plus his University of Arizona Asian Studies degree to work – he’ll be managing two tea room/bars and teaching English.

For over two years, Eddie has shown genuine respect to each and every wine shoppe customer, and was always most receptive to individual needs. He quickly mastered the aspects of wine serving, tasting methods, and the palates of the patrons. He took plenty of time to explore his own palate as well – it has become sophisticated and keen (and sometimes, downright jammy).

Eddie is a perpetual learner who will go far in life. Always looking to expand his horizons, on his inaugural tour of the Elgin/Sonoita wine region earlier this month, Eddie got the ‘bug,’ if you will. By last week, he was already a favorite visitor to the tasting rooms throughout the region. Most inspired by Kief Joshua Manning, I’m certain, I can almost see that advanced degree in oenology and viticulture, and a winery of his own in the future. (I’ll bet he’s already checking out the University of Melbourne, Kief.)

I wish Eddie much success, and he should consider this my official application for work in his winery’s tasting room.

Cheers to your fantastic future, Eddie! You will be missed.

The Wilhelm Family Vineyards in the Sonoita/Elgin wine region will be hosting two wine and cheese socials, featuring the pre-release of three new wines:  Kristian’s Kianti II; Unwind; and Karyl’s Kreation II.  The socials are set for Saturday, October 23, and Saturday, October 30, both 6:00 to 8:00pm.

Fresh goat cheeses will include raspberry chipotle chevre; sun dried tomato and basil queso fresco; bacon cheddar chevre; and green onion and chive queso fresco.

Participants also will enjoy Karyl’s Harvest to Barrel tour, a great opportunity to tour the winery with the owner and see how wine is made. A few small tastes of wine currently barrel-aging might even be in order (the Syrah and Zinfandel?).

Karyl Wilhelm says these socials provide wine lovers the chance is a great way to try and buy the wines before they’re released in the tasting room. Cost is $20 per person; seating is limited, so please make reservations quickly. Wilhelm Family Vineyards is located at 21 Mountain Ranch Drive, Elgin, AZ, phone 520-455-9281.

Arizona vintner makes it to Best of Best list

The Viognier 2009 vintage produced by Sam Pillsbury, Cochise County, Arizona winemaker, was named on the Wine Inquirer’s Best of the Best list. The $36/bottle wine is described as sporting a gorgeous burst of floral essence and hints of tangerine, lime and peaches. It pairs ideally with fish, Asian-style cuisine, and roast pork.

There was a time when Arizona’s surging wine industry was a well kept secret. No more. National acclaim continues to flow as Arizona wines get nod after nod of acceptance.

Get ready for Arizona Wine Week

The Arizona Wine Growers Association will celebrate with the first-ever Arizona Wine Week, beginning Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010.

To kick it all off, AWGA is wrapping up the Great Arizona Grape Stomp 5K in Phoenix on Saturday, October 30. The run starts at Parkway Church (1751 E. Maryland Ave., Phoenix) in North Central Phoenix and runs along the Arizona Canal. Runners will receive a free wine glass that can be used for discounted wine tasting at two after parties – The Duce and the Phoenix Public Market, both in downtown Phoenix. Bring your friends and family for a good time!

The Arizona Wine Week celebration will take place at Arizona vineyards and wineries throughout the state, culminating Saturday, November 6, with The Festival at The Farm, the association’s signature event.

The festival is preceded by the Celebration of the Arizona Growers Reception on Friday, Nov. 5, 2010. Guests can mingle and meet with winemakers from across the state, including Arizona Grower’s Cup and Winemaker’s Medal award winners. There will also be an opportunity to sample top scoring wines from the 2010 competition. The event takes place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Quiessence Restaurant at The Farm at South Mountain.

Set among the pecan groves of Phoenix’s intimate The Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix, the festival offers wine lovers an opportunity to sample the best from across the state, all in one place. More than 20 local wineries are expected to attend, representing growing regions from northern Arizona’s Verde Valley, southern Arizona’s Sonoita and Elgin, and southeastern Arizona’s Willcox.

The festival will include tastings from more than 20 Arizona wineries, plus a picnic lunch catered by Barbara Catering, live auction for packages that include access to top Arizona chefs and winemakers, live music, and seminars.

Tickets for each event are $65; $120 for both.

Kokopelli Krush koming

Kokopelli Winery, Arizona’s largest and most decorated winery, will be hosting its biggest event in the KRUSH history – the ninth annual Kokopelli Krush, sponsored this year by Mercedes Benz of Chandler. The event has been ranked as one of the top 10 things to do in Phoenix.

Taking place on October 22 through October 24 in historic downtown Chandler, the Kokopelli Grape Krush competition will be held for teams of two to win great prizes, from wine to trips.

Friday’s schedule is from 5:00pm to midnight, featuring two Krush heats at 7:00pm and 11:00pm. On Saturday, there will be three heats at 1:00pm, 7:00pm, and 11:00pm. One heat will be held on Sunday at 1:00pm, and then the finalists from each day will compete for the grand prize at 3pm. Live music will provide the entertainment between heats.

New awards will be presented in two new categories this year — a corporate team division and a children’s division 12 and under.

All the activity will center about the Kokopelli Winery and Bistro at 35 W Boston Street in Chandler.

Wine is the fashionable way to celebrate just about everything these days, and I ask, why not? This time we’re celebrating Pawsh, a new adoption center and pet boutique located at La Encantada, introduced by the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.

The event will run from 4pm – 8pm, this Saturday, September 18. Wine tasting will be sponsored by Pastiche, live music by Chavez, Hallowell, & Long, a book signing with the author of Am I Boring my Dog, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, adoption specials, and more! This event is FREE, pet-friendly, and open to the public.

Pawsh is located on the second level above Crate & Barrel. The shop will be featuring amazingly low adoption ‘specials’ all week long at all three locations. To celebrate the open house at Pawsh, the HSSA will have adoption specials all week long at all 3 locations. For more information on HSSA or Pawsh, visit The Humane Society website or call 327-6088.
Arizona Wine Growers Association Hosts Arizona Wine Week

Remember when Arizona’s surging wine industry was a well-kept secret? Well the cork is out on how good these wines really are. National acclaim continues to flow as Arizona wines get nod after nod of acceptance. The Arizona Wine Growers Association will celebrate with the first-ever Arizona Wine Week beginning Saturday, October 30 through Saturday, November 6, with The Festival at The Farm, the association’s signature event.

Set among the pecan groves of The Farm at South Mountain in Phoenix, the festival offers wine lovers an opportunity to sample the best from across the state, all in one place. More than 20 local wineries are expected to attend, representing growing regions from northern Arizona’s Verde Valley, southern Arizona’s Sonoita and Elgin, and southeastern Arizona’s Willcox.

The festival will include tasting wines from more than 20 Arizona wineries, a picnic lunch, live auction, live music, and seminars.

The festival is preceded by the Celebration of the Arizona Growers Reception on Friday, November 5. Guests can mingle and meet with winemakers from across the state, including Arizona Grower’s Cup and Winemaker’s Medal award winners. There will also be an opportunity to sample top scoring wines from the 2010 competition. The event takes place from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Quiessence Restaurant at The Farm at South Mountain.

Tickets for each event are $65, or $120 for both.

Favorite Things wine/dinner at The Dish

The Dish bistro-bar, located inside Rum Runners, 3131 E. 1^st Street (just off Speedway), is hosting “A Few of Our Favorite Things” wine pairing dinner, Sunday, September 19, at 6:00pm. The cost is $85 per person (inclusive) and pre-paid reservation are required; call (520)326-0121.

Run through the vineyards

Come run a 5K with us this Saturday,  September 18. This will be a unique, once-in-a-lifetime chance to run through the vines at Keeling Schaefer Vineyards in Willcox, AZ. The third leg of the Great Arizona 5K Grape Stomp in Willcox will go start at 8:00am. Registration begins at 7:00am. If you’re not yet registered, you can print the entry form and bring it with you on Saturday.

Each participant in the race receives a nice quality wine glass from the Arizona Wine Growers Association following the race, which can be used at the local Willcox wineries to receive discounts.

Northwest US wines delight

The Northwest United States, specifically Washington State and Oregon, produce some mighty fine wines, particularly Pinot Noirs, a grape that grows very well in that terroir. CataVinos is serving up six of these to taste-testers this weekend, so drop by and try them out. Wine tasting September 17 and Saturday, September 18, from 4:00-8:00pm. Cost is $10 per person. You receive $2 discount when you buy $10 worth of wines or more in the shoppe; free if you purchase a case. All wines at CataVinos are $15 or less per bottle. Stop by and check this great little niche out, 3063 N Alvernon Way, just one block south of Ft. Lowell.