Arizona’s Verde Valley Wine Trail
For Immediate Release
February 26, 2010
Contact: Mike Finney
Phone: 480.897.3331
Arizona’s Verde Valley Wine Trail
Cottonwood, AZ- When people hear “Arizona” they often think about a cactus in the desert or cowboys and Indians in the Wild West, but wine? Most people don’t think of vineyards or wineries in Arizona but it’s happened! Arizona’s first wine trail is in the beautiful setting of the Sedona red rock country in the Verde Valley, about 100 miles north of Phoenix. See the Verde Valley Wine Trail wineries and area attractions at www.vvwinetrail.com. The wineries and tasting rooms are nestled between the communities of Cottonwood, Jerome and Sedona. There are four wineries: Page Springs Cellars, Alcantara Vineyards, Javelina Leap Vineyards, and Oak Creek Vineyards, and two tasting rooms: Caduceus Cellars and the Jerome Winery. The vineyards have matured over the past 9 years and are now producing award winning wines.
The Verde Valley is one of the most beautiful places in Arizona with the extraordinary red rocks of Sedona and Mogollon Rim to the north and east, the scenic hills of artsy Jerome, the luscious Verde River and Oak Creek, and the Black Hills and Mingus Mountain dominating the western and southern portions of the valley. The valley is also rich with culture, art, and recreational activities. There are several state parks and national monuments in the area that allow for outdoor recreational opportunities. The Verde Valley is not only one of the most beautiful regions of Arizona, it is an exceptional place to grow grapes and make delicious Arizona wine.
Verde Valley as a wine region comes to the surprise of many people, but the Verde Valley is very comparable to many of the great wine growing regions throughout the world. The elevation and climate contribute to the success of growing grapes. The Verde Valley is at the same elevation as Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran - places where grapes were first domesticated and wine was first made. The elevation is between 3,800 ft. and 5,000 ft. and, combined with the right latitude, that provides the optimal climate for growing grapes. It is heat during the day and cold nights which stresses the grapes to intensify flavor. The heat is required for sugar production and cool nights are important for acid retention. Without the dramatic change in temperature the grapes would not develop complexity and character that is found in the Verde Valley wines. You may not get the quantity that you would if you planted on a more fertile plot of land but the quality is much better, and that is what winegrowers strive for to make great wine.
Rod Snapp, Javelina Leap Winemaker, says “Surprisingly, Arizona’s sunshine, heat, and the unique rocky soils of the Verde Valley are an excellent environment for growing grapes. The soils and stressful growing conditions force the vines to struggle to survive which causes the vines to put their energy into developing less abundant but higher quality, more intensely flavored fruit - just the characteristics the winemaker wants to craft great wine.”
The Verde Valley, Arizona’s wine country, is under-discovered but the people who have been to the region and tasted the wine it produces attest to its excellence. Quite a few of the Verde Valley wines have won national awards for their quality. The wineries’ offerings include Syrah, Petite Sirah, Viognier, Rousanne, Zinfandel, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, just to name a few. Each winery has its own unique personality and distinct wines for visitors to discover at each stop along the Wine Trail. This past year has been a great year for Arizona wine as the wineries have been win awards and gain increasing recognition. A feature film, Blood Into Wine, which documents the process of making wine in Arizona in a very entertaining way, was released in late February and is receiving rave reviews.
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Image Bank: www.arizonatravelnews.org/winetrailimagebank1.html http://www.vvwinetrail.com
For more information contact:
Lana Tolleson, Director of the Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce
1050 E. Southern Ave. Suite C-3
Tempe, AZ 85282