A Weekend of Wine

Explore Five Unique Wineries

by Jessica Parsons

A good wine like a great mountain view can stay with you for a season. Wouldn't it be incredible to enjoy both at the same time? Guests at Dos Cabezas WineWorks in Sonoita, Arizona are getting the opportunity to experience this special blend. Under a cloudy Arizona sky and majestic mountain backdrop, this family-owned winery is sure to leave an impression.

If you can't make it all the way to this southeastern town for a taste, you can tantilize those tastebuds right here in the Valley. The Hotel Valley Ho will feature five wineries, including this fine Arizona grower, for a "Weekend of Wine" in November. One hundred rare and exceptional wines from around the globe will be available for tasting. This introduction to all five wineries shares what makes each one so unique.

Arizona is typically known for its golf, desert and heat. So it might come as a surprise that wineries are actually thriving in our desert. High elevation, sunshine and cool nights can make for a picture perfect recipe for harvest. At last count, there were upwards of 16 wineries in our state and more on the horizon.

For example, Dos Cabezas WineWorks is just a short one-hour drive south of Tucson. This award winning winery was originally located on the 80-acre Dos Cabezas Vineyard near Willcox. Just after the harvest of 2006, winemakers Todd and Kelly Bostock purchased the winery with the help of their parents.

CADE Winery, brought to you by the San Francisco-based PlumpJack Group, sits high on Napa Valley's exquisite Howell Mountain. The winery opened this spring and features a unique state-of-the-art high performance green facility. CADE Winery specializes in producing three wines, Estate Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc and a rich Cabernet Sauvignon from local artisanal grapes.

Experience life on a working vineyard at Justin Vineyards & Winery in the Paso Robles appellation along California's Central Coast. Midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, amid 160 acres of oak-studded rolling hills and vineyards, you will find the small family-owned winery producing world class wines. Legend has it, the regions first grapes were planted in 1779 by Franciscan missionaries. The land is now home to the third highest concentration of wineries in the U.S.

Kosta Browne Winery has a "rags to riches" storyline. The purchase that marks the beginning of the winery included a used barrel and an old hand-crank stemmer-crusher. Today, still a boutique winery that is not open to the public, Kosta Browne's focus is on the "sweet spot of balance" and creating flavorful intense wines.

Napa Valley's Darioush Winery was founded by an immigrant of Shiraz, one of Iran's prominent wine-growing regions. Darioush Khaledi grew up sneaking sips of wine from the barrel and always dreamed of his own winery. That dream became a reality in 1997 after a worldwide search for the ultimate vineyard estate. The Darioush Estate's 95 acres are located in the appellations of Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder and Oak Knoll and are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay and Viognier.

First Press Weekend of Wine 2008

Proceeds from First Press benefit Phoenix public radio stations KBAQ 89.5 FM, KJZZ 91.5 FM and Sun Sounds of Arizona.

• Wine Tasting
• Live & Silent Auction
• Visiting Winemakers
• Acclaimed Chefs

Friday, November 7 - Grand Wine Tasting, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale

Saturday, November 8 - Fine Wine Auction, 6 p.m. to midnight
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa

Wine Tasting - $95. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door.
Fine Wine Auction - $500. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

For tickets call 480.774.8466 or www.firstpressarizona.com