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Win Valentine’s Day with these local varietals BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ
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t is a well-known fact that wine has a long, storied history as an aphrodisiac. But, when it comes to the most romantic holiday of the year, which bottles are best to set the mood? With nearly 100 wineries across Arizona, why not surprise your love with something local this Valentine’s Day? Raise your glass and toast your partner with one of these unique finds. Pillsbury: Diva Red As the name suggests, this blend of syrah, mourvedre and petite sirah is intense. And just like your diva, she is worth all the fuss. Honored with a 2015 Arizona Republic Wine Competition gold medal and named the “Best NonTraditional Red Blend” in Arizona, this wine is among veteran winemaker Sam Pillsbury’s flagship wines. Grapes are handpicked from high-desert vines and aged for 11 months in French and American oak, resulting in an explosion of fragrance and flavor. Retail cost: $30-$40 Available at: Total Wine & More, Beckett’s Table, Binkley’s, Different Pointe of View, The Musical Instrument Museum and AJ’s Fine Foods, among others. Online at www.pillsburywine.com. Provisioner: Rosé If your love is always on the lookout for the latest and greatest Arizona winemaker, Eric Glomski has you covered. Glomski, known for his award-winning wines with Page Springs Cellars and Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, launched the Provisioner in recent months to the public, but the rosé just now became available for taste and purchase in the Valley. This blush-toned blend is an
intoxicating mixture of well-known grapes such as grenache and mourvedre, as well as some lesser-known grapes including French Colombard and Malvasia Bianca. The scent of rose water may be what entices you in the first place, but the taste of pink grapefruit with a hint of cherries is what will keep you coming back for more. Retail cost: $10-$20 Available at: Fine grocer’s, including select AJ’s Fine Foods and BevMo! locations. Online at www.provisionerwine.com. Dos Cabezas: Kindred Choosing any wine from Dos Cabezas WineWorks out of Southern Arizona is a smart move. Why, exactly? The winery itself is run by husband-and-wife team Todd and Kelly Bostock, and the grapes for their wines come from the couple’s nearby vineyards. But Kindred gets the nod here, given that it is more than just a red offering from the Bostocks, but also the product of a collaboration between Dos Cabezas, Arizona Stronghold, Caduceus Cellars and Callaghan Vineyards. The result is a smoky, rich wine that is unlike anything else available in SO SCOTTSDALE! |
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Arizona, just like your significant other. Retail cost: $50-$60 Available at: The Arizona Stronghold tasting room, Callaghan Vineyards tasting room, Dos Cabezas WineWorks tasting room or Four-Eight WineWorks. Online at www.doscabezas.com. Sultry Cellar: Seductive All of Jerome’s Cellar 433 Sultry Cellar varietals are sexy, but the Seductive white blend is a stand-out wine. This bottle, which scored a 86 in Wine Enthusiast, is a must-taste for white wine lovers that showcases clear notes of riesling, but then tickles your taste buds with hints of marsanne and roussane, which are both Rhône grape varietals that are gold in color and distinct on the palate. The flavor is refreshing and lush, with a trace of honey and apple. Retail cost: $25-$30 Available at: The Cellar 433 tasting room. Online at www.cellar433.com.
| FEBRUARY 2016
1/25/16 12:50 PM