Travel

Who needs Paris? Well always have Sonoita Wine Country

By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica - Travel Writer Who can forget the bittersweet moment in the movie Casablanca, when Humphrey Bogart pulls Ingrid Bergman close yet at the same time releases her with, Well always have Paris. Well, Im here to tell you: Who needs Paris? We have our own romantic wine country in Sonoita and Elgin, Arizona, which is infatuating people from all over the U.S. Take Callaghan Vineyards three types of their superb wines have been served at the White House on three separate occasions by both Democratic and Republican administrations. I call that LOVE! After a weekend escape to Sonoita and Elgin, you, too might turn your back on French wine. Located much closer than Burgundy or Bordeaux, France, the rolling wine country is located just thirty minutes south of downtown Tucson. The success of Sonoita and Elgin wine country is attributed to southern Arizona soil. The soil is nearly identical to that of Burgundy, France, says Dr. Gordon Dutt, founder of Sonoita Vineyards, the first winery established in Sonoita. Think hes nuts? Did I mention he is a retired University of Arizona soil scientist? I suggest making Sonoita Vineyards your first stop since it opens at 10 a.m. earlier than others do. Next stop: Lightning Ridge Cellars. A local guide tipped me off, If anyone on my tour buys wine, theyll buy from Photo by Stacey Wittig Lightning Ridge. Their wine is very popular. A good Magdelena Wine is named after Kief-Joshua vintners grandrecommendation: I enjoyed the wine from classic Italian mother. varietals and especially the Primitivo. Winemakers Ron and Ann Roncone landed in Arizona after the weekend to complete this circuit, so dont try to do it all in one shopping for land near San Francisco where in a previous life day. they were engineers. An engineering background helps a lot Every Sunday, Kief-Joshua Vineyard hosts an $8-omelet bar, especially with the ancillary stuff that you have to do, from fixing the so you might want to save this winery for a Sunday visit. All food accelerator cable on the forklift to designing the cold room [in which products come from local businesses. One of my favorite Kiefthe wine is stored]. Joshua wines was the Magdelena its dusty tannins reminded me of Now beeline for Elgin Road, nicknamed Winery Row. You have hiking in hot Spain. Nearby Rancho Rossa Vineyards consistently gets high-80s ratings by Wine Spectator and is the only winery in the area that does not purchase any fruit or bulk wine. They specialize in ultra-premium dry varietal bottling. Dont let Wilhelm Family Vineyards name fool you: they dont make German-style wine as I had been led to believe. In fact, vintner Karyl Wilhelms favorite white is made of Albario grapes and shes one of the only vintners in Arizona to grow the Spanish varietal. It is my favorite white because the apricot and peach overtones are deceptively sweet yet the wine finishes dry, Karyl said. A favorite red, aptly named Karyls Kreation, is made from Bordeaux-region grapes. Bordeaux is less than 600 clicks from Paris, and these grapes are doing very well half a world away in Elgin and Sonoita, Arizona. That said, who needs Paris? Well always have Sonoita and Elgin.

Young winemaker Kief Joshua Manning explains his winemaking philosophy. Amigos805 April 2013

Photo by Stacey Wittig

Stacey Vagabonding Chica Wittig is a freelance writer based in Flagstaff, Ariz. Get more free travel tips at www.vagabondinglulu. com

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