Wine in the Verde Valley? Absolutely!
Verde Valley Wine Country has a long history of winemaking, even before California! When the Spanish conquistadors came through this area in the late 1500’s, they called it the “Valley of the Grapes”, because wild grapes were growing along our river beds. This local variety termed Vitus Arizonica, was used with not much success by Antonio de Espejo, one of the Conquistadors to make wine.
In the late 1600’s, the Mission grape, “Pais”, also know as Criolla Chica, first brought from Spain to South America, was planted in Southern Arizona. It was utilized in making sacramental wine by the Italian Jesuit priest, Padre Kino. Then, a German baker by the name of Henry Schuerman, planted Zinfandel around 1885 on over 70 acres he owned along Oak Creek, at the base of Cathedral Rock. His Red Rock Grape Wine was sold to local miners. Unfortunately, prohibition came to Arizona in 1915, five years earlier than the rest of the country. Schuerman was arrested soon after and he was never able to recoup his loss. Some of those lost vines have been replanted, but have not yet had much success.
Currently, we have two 100% estate vineyards in the Verde Valley, with many more on the horizon. Most of our local vineyards source a percentage of their grapes from Wilcox and Sonoita.
We are becoming renowned for our Cote’ de Rhone style wines, known in the New World as GSM’s: a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedra. Also, we have over 100 different varietals growing in the area including Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, Viognier and Zinfandel. Arizona is famous for its unique varietals such as Malvasia Bianca, Viognier, Picpoul Blanc, Tannat, Aglianico, Negroamaro, and Seyval Blanc. Two of our Arizona wines were recently awarded a "Best of Show" at the San Francisco Chronicles Wine Competition and our wines have even been served at the White House!
Verde Valley Wine Country is around the same latitude as Crete, Greece. One of our signature white grapes, Malvasia Bianca, originated in Greece and also grows in Italy. The elevation and extreme diurnal shift (Argentina comes in first) offering very warm days and cool nights, plus our volcanic soil, offers beautiful, distinctive notes and minerals on the palate.
The Verde Valley is home to a plethora of soils including limestone, sandstone, clay, gravel, and silt. In the Page Springs area, you’ll find both white chalky volcanic soil and within a mile, deep rich dark gravely soil. Our Southwest Wine Center in Clarkdale, Arizona has over three different soil types on 13 acres.
Our area was under water for millions of years and volcanic activity especially from House Mountain, along with some alkaline soil and minerals, makes the Verde Valley a superb location for wine grapes. So book a Verde Valley Wine Country Tour and experience all the delicious wines that we have to offer!
In the late 1600’s, the Mission grape, “Pais”, also know as Criolla Chica, first brought from Spain to South America, was planted in Southern Arizona. It was utilized in making sacramental wine by the Italian Jesuit priest, Padre Kino. Then, a German baker by the name of Henry Schuerman, planted Zinfandel around 1885 on over 70 acres he owned along Oak Creek, at the base of Cathedral Rock. His Red Rock Grape Wine was sold to local miners. Unfortunately, prohibition came to Arizona in 1915, five years earlier than the rest of the country. Schuerman was arrested soon after and he was never able to recoup his loss. Some of those lost vines have been replanted, but have not yet had much success.
Currently, we have two 100% estate vineyards in the Verde Valley, with many more on the horizon. Most of our local vineyards source a percentage of their grapes from Wilcox and Sonoita.
We are becoming renowned for our Cote’ de Rhone style wines, known in the New World as GSM’s: a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedra. Also, we have over 100 different varietals growing in the area including Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, Viognier and Zinfandel. Arizona is famous for its unique varietals such as Malvasia Bianca, Viognier, Picpoul Blanc, Tannat, Aglianico, Negroamaro, and Seyval Blanc. Two of our Arizona wines were recently awarded a "Best of Show" at the San Francisco Chronicles Wine Competition and our wines have even been served at the White House!
Verde Valley Wine Country is around the same latitude as Crete, Greece. One of our signature white grapes, Malvasia Bianca, originated in Greece and also grows in Italy. The elevation and extreme diurnal shift (Argentina comes in first) offering very warm days and cool nights, plus our volcanic soil, offers beautiful, distinctive notes and minerals on the palate.
The Verde Valley is home to a plethora of soils including limestone, sandstone, clay, gravel, and silt. In the Page Springs area, you’ll find both white chalky volcanic soil and within a mile, deep rich dark gravely soil. Our Southwest Wine Center in Clarkdale, Arizona has over three different soil types on 13 acres.
Our area was under water for millions of years and volcanic activity especially from House Mountain, along with some alkaline soil and minerals, makes the Verde Valley a superb location for wine grapes. So book a Verde Valley Wine Country Tour and experience all the delicious wines that we have to offer!
