BACKGROUND
One of my favorite qualities I love about my mom is how she always loves getting out and exploring.
She's had the exploring bug ever since I can remember.
Getting to go on those trips with her is one of the things I miss most about traveling so much.
One trip I missed that she frequently spoke fondly about is wine tasting in Willcox, Arizona.
WILCOX WINES: THE HISTORY
The history of Arizona's wine industry actually began in pre-Prohibition days.
Back then, Arizona had more grapes than California.
From Prohibition to 1980's it was illegal to make wine in Arizona.
In 1982, Arizona passed a series of laws that enabled and regulated the activities of a new class of liquor license, the Domestic Farm Winery.
In 2005, a Supreme Court ruling made parts of Arizona's wine laws unconstitutional.
In 2006, the passage of SB1276 brought Arizona's wine laws into compliance with the Supreme Court's ruling which caused a resurgence in the Arizona wine industry.
There are currently approximately 80 wineries in Arizona, in three main regions: Sonoita, Elgin and Willcox/Verde Valley.
Willcox is about one hour southeast of Tucson.
There are wine festivals held twice each year: the third weekend in May and the third weekend in October.
THE STORY
I finally had the opportunity to go with my mom to the last Willcox Wine Tasting Festival.
The main tent setup is downtown, in the historic railroad section. That area is also where many of the Arizona wineries have local store fronts, like Flying Leap, Aridus, and Carlson Creek.
When you arrive, you can purchase tickets which allow you to sample any of the many selections from the participating wineries.
My favorite find was the Viognier from Aridus.
There is also live music and most of the local restaurants are open.
My favorite was Rodney's, a tiny shop where you order at the shop window from Rodney, and he serves your food out back on their outdoor patio.
CONCLUSION
The Willcox Wine Tasting Festival is very charming and super fun!
5/5 RECOMMEND
OF NOTE
*The next Willcox Wine Tasting Festival is May 19-20, 2016.
*For more information: http://www.willcoxwines.com read more