Arizona's Verde Valley is new wine mecca
Steph Houser of Bloomsburg, Pa., sips white wine while touring Alcantara Vineyards in Arizona's Verde Valley. She came for Sedona's red rocks but heard about the area's wineries from a friend. (Sept. 16, 2011) Credit: MCT
The red rocks of Sedona drew Steph Houser from Bloomsburg, Pa., to Arizona's Verde Valley. Then a tip from a friend led her to a winery.
Glass of white wine in hand, she and her party strolled the Alcantara Vineyards grounds. "We were actually surprised to find vines here," she said.
The Verde Valley has long lured visitors to Sedona with parks featuring ancient American Indian dwellings, the ghost town of Jerome and more. But only recently has wine become a draw in its own right.
WINE ON THE MOVE
The wine industry in the region that includes Cottonwood, Sedona, Camp Verde, Jerome and surrounding towns has burgeoned in the past six years. Alcantara is among several dozen vineyards and wineries in Arizona, most of them in the north.
Winemakers there know the area might never rival Napa Valley, but they intend to establish it as a destination for wine lovers.
The Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce started a Verde Valley Wine Trail campaign in 2009 to promote wineries and vineyards. At least 258,000 people visited the wineries last year, according to a Northern Arizona University survey.
ABOUT THE AREA
The Verde Valley's success as a wine-growing region is attributed to its terroir, a French term describing characteristics such as altitude and soil, which is both volcanic and rich in limestone.
"This is a perfect little microclimate," says Alcantara's owner, Barbara Predmor. "While it's hot, the grapes are producing sugar, and then they're allowed to rest during the night."
Tom Pitts, president of the Verde Valley Wine Consortium, said since Arizona liberalized its alcohol laws in 2006, it has attracted experienced wine growers and restaurateurs.
"It's become a mecca for food and wine tasting," Pitts said. "Without the wine, it wouldn't have happened."
