Arizona's awesome wilderness and wine

I recently returned from an amazing Arizona trip, and I already can’t wait to go back. I’ve been travelling to Arizona for 12 years now, and I feel like I’m just scratching the surface.

My favorite thing to do in Arizona is explore the Sonoran Desert mountains – specifically Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Mountains. This trip included some new-to-me summits, plenty of route-finding, some exposed downclimbs on rock of questionable quality, getting caught in a brief hail storm, and finding a rattlesnake and tarantula. (All three of us agreed we’d like to stay far away from each other.)

I also had a blast birdwatching – Arizona in the wintertime is an amazing place to scope birds. I managed to spot about 25 species, and three new ones (life-birds).

In addition to the natural beauty and wildlife, while visiting Arizona I always pick up some local vino to share with family after an outdoor adventure. I’ve written a lot about Arizona wine country, which is expansive, diverse, and full of impressive producers. From Jerome to Page Springs to Cochise County in the south, there is a ton to explore. I didn’t make it out to visit any winemakers on this trip, but I did snag up a few wines from producers I respect.

Here's a few notes of some fun AZ wines, that offer a good introduction to the wines of this state.

2020 Arizona Stronghold Vineyard Chardonnay “Dala” Stronghold Vineyard - USA, Arizona, Cochise County
Impressively bright and fresh. Shows nice chunks of pineapple and white peach, with some nougat and floral tones. Straightforward, simple, but more "real" tasting than most any Cali chard at this price point. (87 points)

2020 Page Springs Cellars “Mule's Mistake” - USA, Arizona, Cochise County
So fun. Loving the tart fruit, dusty light feel, bright acidity. Spicy, floral, peppery, with cola and earth tones. Enjoyable mineral vibes, too. Always a fun and reliable Arizona kitchen sink blend. This was a fun one to crush with burgers after a day climbing in the Sonoran desert mountains. (89 points)

2020 Carlson Creek Sangiovese - USA, Arizona, Cochise County
Spicy and red-fruited on the nose, cherries, black pepper, some paprika and tar. The palate is crunchy and tangy, a zesty and spicy appeal pervades this wine. Raspberry and cherry fruit, tossed with clay, black tea, tar, dried roses. This is a lot of fun, and a solid barbecue or grilled pizza wine. (88 points)

2019 Arizona Stronghold Vineyard “Nachise” (USA, Arizona, Cochise County)
A deep and juicy Arizona blend. The nose is packed with black cherries and blueberries, along with tar, pepper and roasted red peppers. The palate is ripe and juicy with fleshy tannins and moderate acidity. Jammy raspberries and black cherry fruit, mixed with cool red pepper flakes, creosote and black pepper. Fun but complex. A blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre. (89 points)

2012 Caduceus Cellars “Anubis” - USA, New Mexico
I was thinking this might be tired and baked, but it showed a lot better than I thought. The nose has plenty of fruit still going (cranberry relish, tart cherries) with a lot of pepperoni, graphite, leather, smoky charcoal. The palate has this crunchy appeal with smooth tannins and tangy red plum and cherry fruit. Flavors of spiced tea, black pepper, menthol, paprika. The wine has this deep, earthy, graphite feel, with lots of mesquite and savory spice tones on the finish. Really good! 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 20% Petit Sirah, aged 18 months in French oak. An Arizona producer using New Mexico fruit. (90 points)