In the past decade alone, the Arizona wine industry has grown from 20 to over 100 licensed wineries. On Saturday, April 24 from 9:30 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. PDT, the passion and talent of those helping to shape this flourishing industry will be celebrated at the Emerging Winemakers Competition & Symposium. Organized by the Grand Crew, a Yavapai College Viticulture and Enology student/alumni organization, at the Yavapai College’s Verde Valley campus in Clarkdale, Arizona, the FREE virtual event will … [Read more...] about Emerging Winemakers Competition & Symposium Returns Virtually to Yavapai College April 24, 2021
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Wine Tasting Like a Rock Star
Want to experience the definition of homegrown? Cottonwood’s Merkin Vineyards Tasting Room & Osteria could be your answer. The restaurant, which opened in 2016, offers its customers an alluring experience, where everything from the pasta to the wine is made in the Verde Valley. The restaurant is located at 1001 N. Main Street, Cottonwood. Merkin Vineyards is a division of Caduceus Cellars, touted as a small, family-owned operation. Both the business and restaurant have sprouted nicely … [Read more...] about Wine Tasting Like a Rock Star
Identifying Wines for the Health-Conscious Drinker
Welcome to 2019, folks! The new year is a time that many of us re-center and make varying degrees of effort to create a healthier reality for ourselves. Wine is perceived to be the healthier choice among many of those who enjoy adult beverages. There are a few ways that wines relate to health. Whether you are looking to combat the aging process, are trying to lose weight, or have found that the sulfites in wine have a negative effect on you, we have tips to help you get the most out of your … [Read more...] about Identifying Wines for the Health-Conscious Drinker
Wines for Every Holiday Mood
The holidays are one of the most trying, and rewarding, times of the entire year. Most of us go through the full range of human emotions in a single month. What starts as excitement and anticipation for time spent with loved ones can sometimes morph into us being anxious that we aren’t prepared for the holiday. Many will feel the melancholy and nostalgia of remembering those who are no longer with us, and simultaneously feel a great appreciation for the people that we have around us still. There … [Read more...] about Wines for Every Holiday Mood
Rating Wines by the Point System
When shopping for a wine, the choices can be overwhelming. We all want good wine at a good price and this is not easy to determine just by the label alone. That’s where the point system comes in. If we see a 90+ point sticker on a wine, we start to feel better. “Well, this is a highly rated wine so I know my dollars are being well spent.” And, even if I don’t particularly like it, I will try to like it because “someone important says that this is a good wine.” But, who are the people giving out … [Read more...] about Rating Wines by the Point System
From Bud Break to Bottle: Understanding the Lifecycle of Wine
Sometimes, when enjoying a glass of great wine, I like to think about all of the stops it made on its journey to me. From the original vine that was planted, and how long ago that may have been, to all of the people who had a hand in its making. All so I could sit here and enjoy it! The art of winemaking lies in these details and should not go unappreciated, so let’s dive into what it actually takes to make a wine. The Vineyard Great wine is made in the vineyard. Many great … [Read more...] about From Bud Break to Bottle: Understanding the Lifecycle of Wine
Does Rosé Live Up to the Hype?
Rosé season is upon us! The sun is shining, flowers are getting ready to bloom, and rosé bottles are flying off the shelves to be enjoyed in Prescott’s beautiful (if not perfect) weather. If this is the first time you’re hearing of this very special time of year, fear not! This trend is still catching on, and has been steadily on the rise in the U.S. for the last five years. While the popularity of the pink drink started mainly in New York and California, it’s been migrating inland, and Arizona … [Read more...] about Does Rosé Live Up to the Hype?
Wine Tour Benefits NAU Student
Some lucky Northern Arizona University transfer student will soon be toasting benefactors, thanks to a combined social and philanthropic wine tasting tour organized by the NAU Alumni Prescott chapter. Two dozen NAU alums and supporters visited the Southwest Wine Center (SWC) located on the Yavapai College Clarkdale campus last month. They took an educational tour of the modern viticulture and enology facility, getting to see the vineyards and the wine fermenting and bottling … [Read more...] about Wine Tour Benefits NAU Student
Understanding the Cost of Wine
In today’s economy, the idea of spending $30 for a bottle of wine seems like a lot, let alone spending upwards of hundreds of dollars for a single bottle. So, why pay more? And what determines the cost of a wine? A close friend asked me this question this week, and I feel that this is something that we all struggle with, so this month I am going to break down what makes a “cheap” wine, what makes one expensive and how to find the best wine for your … [Read more...] about Understanding the Cost of Wine
Understanding Wine by Sorting through the New World and Old World
The wine world is a big one, with more than 50 countries producing around 30 million liters of wine per year, according to California’s Wine Institute. That’s a lot of wine! Of course, as average wine consumers, we will only come into contact with wine from about 12 of these countries, the 12 that make up around 85 percent of the world’s wine production. While this narrows it down quite a bit, it can still be difficult to navigate, especially when just beginning to learn about wine. For easier … [Read more...] about Understanding Wine by Sorting through the New World and Old World
