Thursday Virtual Happy Hour: Arizona Wines

The key varieties used to make Arizona wines are Syrah, Viognier, Muscat and, of course, the ubiquitous Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel. They perform best in cooler areas, particularly in the southwest. Grapevines have been grown in Arizona for more than 400 years, originally by Spanish missionaries who required wine for religious purposes. This is a common story all over the United States – particularly in the south and west – and also in South American countries. Although Arizona was almost entirely devoid of viticulture after Prohibition, the industry has since undergone something of a renaissance. There are now two subregional AVAs with hopes and plans for a third, and the wines are beginning to gain notice internationally.

Despite its long viticultural history, Arizona has not developed into a major wine reason for the simple reason that its hot, dry climate results in too short a growing season. The grapes therefore can rarely attain suitable levels of phenolic ripeness and tend to have high sugar levels and low acidity. However, there are areas of Arizona that lie at increased elevations (its finest vineyards sit at 5000ft/1525m), where high sunshine levels are tempered by cooler temperatures and more-pronounced diurnal temperature variations. Accordingly wine producers are grouped in three main areas.

The Sonoita AVA (American Viticultural Area) is one of these locations where producers are turning out quality wines in the style of the warmer European regions such as France's Southern Rhône Valley. The appellation was established as early as 1985, and lies in the southeast of the state, around 40 miles (65km) southeast of Tuscson.

Willcox AVA is much newer, coming into existence in 2016. It also lies in the southeast of the state in the north of Cochise County, the south of Graham County and the northern part of Sulphur Springs Valley.

In addition, the dozen or so wineries in Verde Valley (and along its tributary Oak Creek) are campaigning to become the state's third AVA. This group of wineries lie around the towns of Clarkdale, Cottonwood and Cornville.

We have a choice of videos to watch including:

1. https://youtu.be/Zd-lnXCceO8?si=ZAT11tXLvuCjZi7D - Arizona Wines: The Edge of What’s Possible - AZPM (8:17)
2. https://youtu.be/QlSG2lYs-ng?si=nORqyyWu70I6m9tQ - Arizona Wine Country - Visit Arizona (9:54)
3. https://youtu.be/OBIULPo-GdA?si=7b2r-88mnF5ZwUmK - Is Arizona's Sonoita Wine Country The Next Big Vacation Spot? - Jared Dillingham (2:17)

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So, pick up a bottle and watch a couple of videos. Let us know what you’re drinking and eating, and, if possible, the region from which your wine comes. Do you have any comments (positive or negative) about the videos? And, as always, tell us what’s going on in your life - what's happening with you, how you're feeling about things, updates, successes, challenges - as much or as little as you’re willing to disclose. We are in this together. And - thank goodness - we have wine!

Cheers!!