Grapes were first planted in what is now Arizona in the late 1700’s near Tucson, with the first commercial winery created in the early 1870’s. After Prohibition it took decades before anyone planted grapes (1979), with the first wines produced in 1980.
The Arizona Wine Growers Association, still active today with Jennifer Montgomery at the helm, was established in 1981, and a 1984 Domestic Farm Winery Bill paved the way for the growth to nearly 100 wineries today. Most of the operations are in the southeastern part of Arizona, as are the Sonoita and Wilcox AVA’s, with the Verde Valley AVA north of Phoenix and near Sedona. While the initial planting leaned toward the classic French varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, it became apparent that Italian and Southern Rhone varieties were more suitable.
Callaghan Vineyards, founded in 1990, has an incredible array of accolades and accomplishments, including having their wines served at the White House four different times. They’ve also struck Gold or better many times at top competitions like the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco International, and Jefferson Cup with several different wines. They specialize in Italian and Rhone varietals like Grenache, Graciano, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, and Tannat.
Dos Cabezas WineWorks refers to all its employees as WineWorkers in various roles, reflecting the warm family vibe created by Todd and Kelly Bostock (who serves on WineAmerica’s Board of Directors). The WineWorks began in 1995, Todd was hired as the winemaker in 2002, and the Bostocks took ownership in 2006. Their 80 acres of vineyards are at high elevations—Cimarron at 4,300 feet, and Pronghorn 4,800 feet—providing ideal climate conditions for the many varieties they grow, which frequently end up in unique blends,
Los Milics Vineyards’ owner Pavle Milic benefited from a personal and professional relationship with Todd and Kelly Bostock when he decided to open a winery after an impressive early career as front-of-the-house restaurant presence at some famous establishments around the country, plus some time in California wine country. His 20 acres sit at 5,000 feet, and the overall climate is akin to the warmer regions of Spain.
Great Grapes: Tannat
Tannat is a deeply colored and tannic red grape most associated with the Pyrenees region of southern France, but is also widely grown in Uruguay and other parts of South America. Suited to hot climates like Arizona’s, Tannat is often used in blends but increasingly as a varietal on its own.