When most people think of the top wine regions of America, their minds might not jump to Arizona. But the winemakers of the Grand Canyon State want to change that.
In Clarkdale, the Verde Valley Wine Festival held its third annual event on Sunday, May 12. It was a sunny, windy day, with fast-paced, drum-heavy jazz bands providing ambience for over 45 vendors, winemakers, along with food from all over the Verde Valley and beyond — fudge, brick oven pizza out of a truck, brisket, and all sorts of artisanal fixings that came with free samples. For the winemakers showing off, it was a chance to remind Arizona residents of the growth and quality of their vineyards.
“There’s been a lot more attention coming to Arizona in the past two years,” said Kris Pothier, manning the booth for a Clarkdale vineyard that opened in 2015. “When people imagine Arizona wine, they’re imagining deserts, with sand and dunes, but there’s a lot more to Arizona.”
Pothier has been working in the Arizona wine industry for more than 10 years. When he first started, he guessed there were only a dozen wineries in the state, compared to more than a hundred now. The growth of the industry has been fast, but the consumer base in the area still has not completely caught up.
“There’s a good, strong base of Arizona wine lovers that live here,” said Pothier. “But it’s an education.”
One of those wine lovers at Sunday’s festival was Cody Burkett, a Jerome resident who blogs about Arizona wine as the Wine Monk.
“It’s going to blow up,” Burkett said. “The wine we’re doing is too good to stay hidden for much longer.”
Arizona wine, unlike wine coming from more lush and wet regions, has a bit more of a “struggle” in its taste, according to festival director David Baird. Less rain and high altitudes lead to tougher and smaller grapes. The wines have a strong, rough taste, and are less sweet than wines from greener pastures. As winemakers at the festival pointed out, Arizona wine tastes like it came from the desert.
“We’re not afraid of showcasing our landscape in our wines,” said Burkett.
“The festival gives locals an opportunity to have a sense of pride,” said Steven Elston, of the Yavapai College Southwest Wine Center in Clarkdale. “Pride for the soil, and what can happen here.”
The event this year was a smaller affair, due to a venue change from its normal home at Clarkdale Town Park to the Clarkdale Town Complex behind the Clarkdale Historical Society because of park construction. It was crowded, as attendees pushed past each other to secure the best samples.
Jeanne Craeble and Val Santiago, from Prescott, complained about the crowds but said it was worth it, especially with the striking view. They said they were lucky to have found out about the growing Arizona wine industry, something they were surprised to find the quality of, especially in the earthy taste of the reds.
“It’s a secret. Don’t tell anyone,” Santiago said.
In addition to the outdoor festival, there was a dinner for VIPs Friday night, with an auction to raise money for the Arizona Vingerands Alliance, a trade group that advertises the local industry. Even with many wineries sprouting up in the area, few can export their wines out of state, impeding the growth of Arizona wine’s reputation.
For many wineries, this festival was an opportunity to show off to the locals what all the buzz is about. Numerous vineyards work jointly with the Viticulture and Enology School at Yavapai College, bringing in students to learn how to grow grapes and turn them into wine.
“Education is such a huge part of establishing Arizona as a wine region,” winemaker Calvin Arnold said. “Not only to educate other people, but for us to educate ourselves to push the industry forward.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551 or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
