My wife and I visited Arizona a couple of years ago for her birthday.  We visited the Grand Canyon (it was her first time!), went hiking in Sedona, and of course did some wine tasting.  I came away from the wine tasting experience so impressed with the quality of wines in Arizona, that it was my choice for a Snooth editorial I contributed to entitled Wine In America, Beyond California .

In that article I provided some background on wine making in Arizona…

Winemaking in Arizona dates back to the 16th century when missionary Spanish Jesuit priests planted grapevines and made sacramental wine.  The modern wine industry in Arizona was set in motion in the 1980’s. There are three major regions of vineyards and wineries in Arizona – Verde Valley, Sonoita and Willcox (the latter two are also AVAs).  Most of the vineyards are in the southeastern portion of the state. There, despite being surrounded by dessert on all sides, you’ll find areas in the altitude band between 3,500 to 5,500 feet above sea level where high sunshine levels are tempered by cooler temperatures and pronounced diurnal temperature variations that are well suited to grape growing. In these areas, exemplified by the Sonoita AVA, producers are crafting quality wines from Italian, Spanish and Rhone grape varieties. There now are over 100 wineries, vineyards and cellars throughout Arizona, including urban wineries in Phoenix and Tucson.  While the Arizona wine industry as a whole is in its infancy, it has shown much promise.  As its wine industry matures, I expect great things from Arizona wine.

With the promise of great things to come from Arizona wine, I was excited to receive my first sample wines from an Arizona winery –  Aridus Wine Company.

About Aridus Wine Company

Aridus Wine Company is a family owned custom crush facility founded by Scott and Joan Dahmer.    It is one of the largest winery facilities in the state, where it houses state of the art wine equipment. There they produce local award-winning wines for their clients.  And they also make wine and for their own label – ARIDUS.

They chose the name Aridus (which is a Latin word meaning dry or arid) to honor their location in southeastern Arizona.

Our award-winning winemaking techniques create elegant, approachable and perfectly balanced wines of the highest quality through blending the best of Old World and New World wine styles. Explore the difference of exceptional wines made from unique grapes produced in a 2014 design award-winning sustainable winery. – Aridus Wine Company

Located in Willcox,  Aridus opened its cellar doors in 2012 after refurbishing an existing 28,000 sf. apple warehouse.

Surrounded by majestic mountains, the beauty of this modern rustic style winery is just as stunning as the wines it produces.  They source prized grapes from Arizona, New Mexico, and California.

Additionally, they have a 40-acre estate vineyard in Pearce about a half-hour away from Willcox.   Winemaker Lisa Strid blends grapes sourced from exceptional terroir ranging from the desert to the California coast to hand craft complex and balanced wines, using cutting edge winery equipment.

They have a tasting rooms in Willcox (about a mile away from the crush facility) and in Scottsdale.

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Wines Tasted

2016 ARIDUS Malvasia Bianca – USA, New Mexico, Mimbres Valley

The fruit was sourced from New Mexico Vineyards in Mimbrey Valley, NM.  It was aged eight months in stainless steel.  100% Malvasia Bianca.

Color – Pale lemon yellow
Aromas – Aromatic orange blossom, honey, white tea, apricot, lychee, white peach and warm spice
Body – Medium-bodied and off-dry with very good acidity
Taste – Spiced yellow apple, honey, mandarin orange marmalade, lychee, white peach, and apricot
Finish – Medium plus

A wonderful expression of Malvasia Bianca and a thoroughly enjoyable wine!

13.7% abv|SRP – $36.75|479 cases (89 pts.)

2016 ARIDUS Rosé – USA, Arizona, Cochise County

A blend of 68% Mourvedre, 32% Grenache; aged 4 months in barrel (43% new; 57% neutral). Bronze Medal winner in the 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Color – Light pink rose
Aromas – Strawberries, cherries, citrus, apricot and a hint of dried roses
Body – Medium to full-bodied, and off-dryish with an appealing supple texture and lively acidity
Taste – Strawberry, ripe peach, spiced vanilla, candied cherries, and blood orange
Finish – Medium plus

An appealing rosé that will pair well with more substantial fare.

13.3% abv| SRP – $29.40| 74 cases| (88 pts.)

2015 ARIDUS Malbec – USA, Arizona

A blend of 99% Malbec and 1% Petite Sirah:  aged 19 months in new French, new American and neutral oak.  Silver Medal Winner in the 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Color – Translucent medium purple
Aromas – Blackberries, plum, black cherry, crushed rock, and a bit of vanilla
Body – Medium-bodied with a supple texture and good acidity
Taste – Blackberry, black cherry, red plum, and vanilla spice
Finish – Medium

An inviting, and delicious wine! 

13.8% abv| SRP – S36.75| 134 cases (87 pts.)

2014 ARIDUS Petite Sirah – USA, Arizona

100% Petite Sirah; aged 16 months in 60% neutral/40% new French oak.  Silver Medal Winner for 2017 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, and a Bronze Medal winner in the 2017 San Francisco International Wine Competition.

Color – Inky purple
Aromas – Black fruit, violets, incense, and vanilla with hints of leather and earth.
Body – Medium-bodied, fresh, and a bit tangy with chewy well-integrated tannins and an appealing texture
Taste – Black currant, plum, blackberry, espresso and vanilla
Finish – Medium plus

An enticing Petite Sirah that was my favorite of the four wines tried!

14.2% abv| SRP – $39.90| 212 cases (90 pts.)

These wines are all very good to outstanding in my book!  We missed the Willcox region during our last visit to Arizona.  Based on these wines, it’s definitely a region worth exploring and Aridus is at the top of my list!

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