Official name State of Arizona Years of wine industry 16th century-present Year established 1912 | Type U.S. state Country United States | |
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Sub-regions Sonoita AVA, Willcox AVA Total area 113,998 square miles (295,253 km) | ||
Interview with arizona wine maker maynard james keenan
Arizona wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Arizona. There are three major regions of vineyards and wineries in Arizona:
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Most vineyards in Arizona are located in the southeastern portion of the state south and east of Tucson, which is also the location of Arizona's two designated AVA's (American Viticultural Area), the Sonoita AVA (established 1985) and the Willcox AVA (established 2016). Arizona has enjoyed recent success with wine made from the grape varietals native to Italy and the Rhône valley of southern France.
Viticulture in Arizona began in the 16th century when missionary Spanish Jesuit priests began to plant grapevines and make wine for use in Christian religious ceremonies.
There now are over 110 wineries, vineyards and cellars through out Arizona including in the cities of Phoenix and Tucson.
The wineries, vineyards and cellars are supported by the Arizona Wine Growers Association, a Non-profit NGO representing, educating and promoting the AZ wine industry. AWGA supports the wine industry through promotional events, state awards to the best wines in AZ and industry lobbying efforts at the local, state and national level.
The Southwest Wine Center established in 2009 is part of Yavapai College's Verde Valley Campus. SWC provides education and training for the AZ wine industry through Yavapai College's Viticulture and Enology Program. Students at YC can earn an AA in Viticulture and Enology or Certificates in Viticulture or Enology.