Jul. 27, 2011 - Issue #823: The Naked Truth

Veni, Vidi, Vino

Hot new region

I said 'desert' wine, not 'dessert' wine

Arizona is not yet in the public's vocabulary when it comes to wine. Frequent questions are, "Arizona has vineyards?" Or, "Isn't it too hot to grow grapes in Arizona?" The Arizona wine region is in fact very much like Argentina's Mendoza with its high-altitude desert vineyard plots. Most of the grape-growing area is between an elevation of 3800 ft to 6000 ft. In the winter, snow falls on the high mountain roads that take you all the way up to Flagstaff, where you can expect breathtaking views of the large canyons in the area.

Few people are aware that modern-day Arizona hosts a wine territory that has grown exponentially since 1973, from a few small wineries to 45 currently in full operation. With 23 tasting rooms on the Arizona wine trail, there is plenty for the adventurous and thirsty traveller. There are three main growing regions: Verde Valley in the north near Sedona, Cochise County in the southeast—which produces the highest quality of grapes—and the Sonoita/Elgin region in the south classified as the only official AVA (American Viticultural Area). Expert winemakers will help enhance your road trippin' with info about the unique terroir and the wine itself. With Arizona wine territory expanding, be sure to check out the new and upcoming Skull Valley region in the north, as well as Tombstone and a few other areas around the state.

Warm days and cool nights are a significant factor in the ripening process of quality Arizona grapes. The warm days ripen the grapes while the cool nights preserve acidity, colour and flavour. Wine Spectator and Robert Parker—two famous journalist sources for wine—are definitely behind the top quality of the wines being produced in this region.

Although growing grapes in Arizona does not come without its hardships—frosty temperatures after bud break frequently take a percentage of the crop—the winemakers themselves will tell you how worthwhile the challenge is when popping a cork and tasting the quality of the artisanal wines. Unique rocky soil and terroir offer a great opportunity for winemakers to express their personal style with grapes from the Southern Rhone along with Italian varietals and other diverse Vitis vinifera that grow in the high altitude plains of Arizona.

Fruit-driven red blends and complex mineral whites will sensationalize your palate. Pleasing and simply delicious: with or without food, these wines are quaffers. While blends may be a bit more popular, the single-varietal wines that are available are not lacking in fruit-driven power. So enjoy the Arizona stars from this up-and-coming hidden gem of a wine region. V vueweekly.com comments: powered by Disqus