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Verde
Valley’s
Venerable Tradition of Winemaking
Oak Creek Vineyards,
Cornville/AZ
Since the turn of the millennium, the Verde Valley has seen the
birth of five vineyards and wineries in the bucolic communities of
Page Springs and Cornville.
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These wineries are
producing handcrafted, limited production wines in both
white and red varietals as well as library wines and
multi-grape bottlings. Several have been applauded by wine
critics and have won national awards. The public can give
the wines a try in the vineyards’ tasting rooms during
visiting hours, during occasional winemaker dinners and by
picking up a bottle in area restaurants and in fine food
emporiums and liquor stores. |
A
sixth winery is in Jerome (although its vineyards are in Wilcox,
Arizona). The Jerome Winery has 20 patio tables for guests to sit
down and enjoy a glass or bottle of wine along with a small
menu of food items. Several times a year the winery hosts
winemaker dinners.
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In Sedona, plans are
under way to develop the vineyard community of Bella Terra
on Oak Creek on Upper Red Rock Loop Road.
To visitors, these
wineries may seem like a sudden inspiration.
But, in fact, Sedona and the Verde Valley have had
a long history of winemaking that goes back to the
earliest settlers of the region. |
The
first winemaker in Sedona and the Verde Valley is believed to have
been Heinrich (Henry) Schuerman, a German-born baker who, in 1884,
settled an old debt of $500 by taking ownership of 160 acres of
farmland on Oak Creek. There was a crude irrigation ditch on site
built by American Indians, and the couple expanded the ditch to
irrigate an orchard and vineyard.
The
orchard and vineyard flourished.
Henry sold peaches, apples and wine to Flagstaff logging
camps and Jerome miners until the Prohibition. (In 1920 a
constitutional amendment outlawed the manufacture, transport and
sale of alcoholic beverages.) At first, Henry refused to believe
that the venerable tradition of winemaking could be illegal, and
he ignored the new law. He
was arrested and sent to jail in Prescott, but friends and
neighbors demanded—and won—a pardon by the Governor of
Arizona.
Although
Schuerman’s Ranch has lain fallow for many years, it is going
back to its roots. The
new community of Bella Terra on Oak Creek is being built on the
site. Bella Terra
will incorporate orchards and vineyards amidst the land’s
rolling topography, which will be part of the community’s
Agriculturally Enriched Landscaping program.
Residents will be encouraged to harvest gapes, make wines
and produce jams, jellies and pies. “From planting to harvesting, the Bella Terra community
will be carrying on the agricultural traditions of yesteryear,”
says developer Mike Zito.
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Verde
Valley Wineries:
Alcantara
Vineyard and Winery,
www.AlcantaraVineyard.com
7500 E Alcantara Way
,
Verde Valley
,
AZ
86325
(between
Cottonwood
and
Camp
Verde
)
(928) 649-8463
wine tasting daily from
11 a.m.
to
5 p.m.
tours on Friday and Saturday at
11:30 a.m.
"Alcantara" Wine
Label
Echo
Canyon
Vineyard and Winery,
www.EchoCanyonWinery.com
(928) 634-6122
no tours or tastings on site
tastings at Art of Wine at the Shops at Hyatt Pinion
Pointe in
Sedona
,
Arizona
Javelina
Leap Vineyard and Winery,
www.JavelinaLeapWinery.com
1565 Page Springs Rd.
,
Cornville
,
AZ
86325
(928) 274-0394
wine tastings Saturday and Sunday,
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Jerome
Winery,
www.jeromewinery.com
403 Clark St
.,
Jerome
,
AZ
86331
(928) 639-9067
tastings on patio; small food menu also available
Open every day from
noon
.
Sunday through Thursday, winery closes at
6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday at
8 p.m.
, except first Saturday of the month when it stays open
until
9 p.m.
for Jerome’s Art Walk.
Oak
Creek
Vineyards and Winery,
www.OakCreekVineyards.net
1555 N. Page Springs Rd
Cornville
,
AZ
86325
(928) 649-0290
tours and tastings daily from
11 a.m.
to
5 p.m.
Page Springs Cellars,
www.PageSpringsCellars.com
1500 N.
Page Springs Rd.
Cornville
,
AZ
86325
(928) 639-3004
wine tastings daily from
11 a.m.
to
6 p.m.
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