I am witness to a transformation in Southeast Arizona.
Where there was barren land, railroad tracks and cattle, there are now planted vineyards.
So cool. If you blinked you thought you were is Paso Robles Ca.
I had no plan to visit these vineyards and farms. My research antenna was buzzing.
Okay, Arizona wines? Where to begin.
Arizona is very new to the wine industry.
In 2005 the Supreme Court brought change to Arizona's wine industry. The Supreme Court ruled against Michigan's direct-to-consumer shipping laws. This ruling deemed all Arizona's laws unconstitutional & opened the door for all Arizona's wineries.
Now, Arizona is a very young, small (50 bonded wineries) and limited market.
What it has is an abundance of land & excellent potential for vineyard farming and wine growth.
Wineries may ship up to 2 cases of wine for Arizona consumers per calendar year as long as the consumer purchases the wine by physically visiting the winery. The wine purchased may then be shipped at anytime during the year to a residential or business address. The purchased wine can be broken down into multiple shipments during the year. No off-site orders are permitted at any time except by wineries holding a direct-to-consumer permit. If Arizona consumers wish to have additional wine shipped to themselves in subsequent calendar years, they will need to physically visit the winery each and every year.
So, as you see there are very tight purchasing & exporting rules... but it's a start, just ask their neighbor, California. The vines will need time (7 years min.) and the grape-growers will need to experiment with their soils and terrior.
Arizona only has 1 AVA...Sonoita AZ, and hopes to get a new designation soon.
There are 3 growing and tasting areas, Sonoita and Willcox in the southeast and The Verde Valley/Cottonwood area in northern Arizona. Do not lose hope, many cities host wine festivals, dinners and restaurants showcase and support the wineries.
Well, 50 wineries... I have tried 2 wineries: Dos Cabezas' Wine Works Red-Blend and Pillsbury Wine's Rhone Red. Wow, I like what is happening in these bottles. California and the wine world, watch out! Arizona is getting serious juice from the terrior.
Cheers!
