Varietals are pairing nicely around the world.
It has been said that all 50 states grow wine grapes, but what sets one region apart from another is a delicate balance of climate, soil and elevation. With fertile soil and dedicated vignerons, the Verde Valley has not only been steadily straddling that balance, it’s boldly crushing it with at least 47 varieties and a growing fan base.
With winegrowers in Sedona, Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Cornville, Rim Rock, the Village of Oak Creek and Verde Villages, the area now has 31 licensed wineries and several wine hobbyists.
According to a 2023 Arizona Wine Tourism Industry – Growth and Opportunities report prepared by Northern Arizona University (NAU) for the Arizona Office of Tourism, the Arizona wine industry has been maturing during the past two decades, with the number of wine producers increasing more than 10 times since 1999, with an economic impact of $351 million, supporting about 2,430 jobs and generating $115 million in labor income.
“Verde Valley is actually the warmer of the three American Viticulture Areas (AVA) in Arizona,” said Viticulture and Enology Director Michael Pierce at Yavapai College’s Southwest Wine Center. “We have all the pieces here to make nice wine – spectacular climate and nice diurnal temperature swings, which grapes like. The trend has been growing considerably over the last 10-15 years and wineries are really taking off. Our average age here at the school is 49 years old, so after they’ve earned their degree, they go out and start their own business.”
AVA status is awarded by the federal government to designate regions with geographic or climatic features that distinguish them from surrounding areas and affect how grapes are grown. There are three regions in Arizona: Sonoita in Santa Cruz County, Wilcox in Cochise County and Verde Valley.
“What we’re seeing is that consumers are leaning more toward lower alcohol wines with less manipulation and wines from newer regions that pair perfectly with food. Many of the Verde Valley wine producers fit seamlessly within that profile and are therefore thriving,” said Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards owner and winemaker Maynard Keenan.
Pierce says Keenan is an important supporter of the Verde Valley wine industry who employs YC’s wine center graduates. “Because of his notoriety, he’s been able to get Arizona wines to other places outside of Arizona.”
“We are currently distributing to Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Czech Republic and several other countries,” said Keenan.
Flagstaff lawyer Bruce Griffen and his wife, Lesli, a graduate of the Southwest Wine Center, bought their vineyard in 2021 from Jon Marcus, who had started Amigos de Vino dba Echo Canyon Vineyard and Winery, one of the first vineyards since Prohibition in the Verde Valley.
“When we purchased the vineyard, it was all dead. We had to replant the seven to eight acres, which yields about 8,000 vines,” said Griffen. The couple hopes to be licensed by October 2025 under the name Echo Canyon Vineyard, LLC.
“The Verde Valley is unique. People wouldn’t think that an arid area like this could grow grapes that are typically grown in a temperate moist climate. The secret about the Verde Valley is that the water, canyon and valley area have a very good growing potential for grapes,” said Griffen. “We have several different varieties: Southern Italian varietals such as Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Barbera and so much more. The wine industry is growing here and there are some very good wineries. There’s also a huge pool of people who come from Phoenix here.”
“We have a lot to offer,” said Verde Valley Wine Consortium President Paula Woolsey.
In fact, a 2023 Arizona Wine Tourism Industry survey shows that locals and tourists alike have responded to the wineries and wine festivals such as the Sedona Winefest, Verde Valley Wine Festival, Camp Verde Pecan and Wine Festival and Walkin’ on Main Wine Festival in droves, bumping up visitation and overnight stays.
“People come to Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Flagstaff and other tourist destinations, and now we’ve added another leg to the stool,” said Woolsey. “People are really surprised at how great our wines are and they are loving them.” FBN
For more about Verde Valley’s fertile wine industry, visit www.verdevalleywines.com.
By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN
Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards owner Maynard Keenan says consumers are leaning more toward lower alcohol wines with less manipulation and wines from newer regions that pair perfectly with food. “Many of the Verde Valley wine producers fit seamlessly within that profile and are therefore thriving.”