Arizona Wine Growers Association
Audio By Carbonatix
Fans of wine and supporting local can get their fill of both at the Arizona WineGrowers Festival this weekend. On Saturday, 30 wineries from across the state will descend on Biltmore Fashion Park for an afternoon of sipping and swirling.
The event will benefit the Arizona Wine Growers Association, an advocate for the state’s wine industry. The nonprofit represents more than 100 vineyard owners, growers, winemakers and supporting businesses in what has become a thriving industry over the last decade.
All three of the state’s American Viticulture Areas spanning northern and southern Arizona will have a presence at the festival.
Well-known wineries, including Caduceus Cellars, Merkin Vineyards, Page Springs Cellars, Dos Cabezas WineWorks and Callaghan Vineyards, will be joined by gems like Bodega Pierce, Omphalos Winery, Skyhaven Wines and Queen of Cups. There’ll be women-helmed houses like 1764 Vineyards, as well as the Southwest Wine Center, which is run by students of Yavapai Community College’s Viticulture and Enology Program.
Expect to find wines that are otherwise only available at the wineries, so this is a good opportunity to try before you buy and craft your own wine-tasting trail.
Whether you do a bit of advanced online research or choose to go with the flow and roam the booths to see what wines speak to you, the festival has something for everyone, explains Kelly Bostock of the Arizona Wine Growers Association.
“You’ll find wineries that have been around for a long time or others that are newer and doing fun experiments,” says Bostock, who, along with her husband Todd Bostock, owns Dos Cabezas WineWorks. “It’s fun to feel like you’ve discovered a new winery you have never heard of before.”
When approaching a booth, it’s likely the actual winemaker will be pouring. The opportunity to meet the people behind the craft creates a connection that Bostock says makes a real impact on an industry fueled by true mom-and-pop family businesses.
“Anytime we go to an event, we try to convince people to come down and visit us, where we do what we do. And it seems to be effective,” says Bostock. “You see them at the festivals and then we see them at the tasting room, and that’s when they stick with us for the long run.”
Supporting Arizona wine means supporting the vineyard, the farmers and the families that go out and handpick the grapes and hand-prune the vines, Bostock says.
“Most wineries either farm in Arizona or purchase grapes from other farmers in Arizona, so it’s grown here, produced here, and for the most part, sold here,” Bostock says. “You can feel good about that.”
Queen of Cups
This weekend marks the return of the annual event that was last held in 2023. Over the years, the festival’s growth reflected that of the state’s wine industry, which generated $241 million in visitor spending in 2023 – up almost sevenfold since 2011, according to the Arizona Office of Tourism.
Today, the industry is a $4.24 billion economic powerhouse thanks to the work of 156 winemakers, according to an impact study by the National Association of American Wineries.
The event is at the culmination of Arizona Wine Month, celebrated every March. Nonprofits, the Arizona Wine Growers Association and Artlink, along with R Entertainment of Scottsdale, partnered to put on the festival.
The need for a planner who could manage a fast-growing festival was the reason for the break, Bostock says.
“The event was growing, so we needed a company who could handle it appropriately,” Bostock says. “With Artlink, it felt like a good synergy to put the event together with us.”
Partnering with the Arizona Wine Growers Association to make the festival happen aligns with Artlink’s mission to connect artists, business and the community, explains Catrina Kahler, president and CEO of the arts coalition and advocacy nonprofit.
“We knew we had to be partners in wine,” Kahler says. “Art and wine is like peanut butter and jelly, like steak and sizzle. We talk about Arizona art, and we want to pair that with Arizona wine.”
Arizona Wine Month coincides with Artlink’s Art Detour, a month-long celebration of the state’s creative community that is in its 38th year. Kahler says the wine festival is a perfect addition.
“Much like a painter, there’s composition, structure and blending of color and material. A winemaker pulls inspiration from the earth, the location of the vineyard, the combination of grapes. It’s not only about creativity, but they understand the chemistry involved,” Kahler says. “Who but an artist would delve into this creative process for us to enjoy? Only an artist could take that kind journey.”
Kahler says partnering with Biltmore Fashion Park as the host venue will help the Arizona wine industry connect with a new audience, one that will hopefully direct a portion of their wine budgets to local vino.
“There is no compromise in quality, so if you are passionate about drinking good wine, you can spend your dollars in Arizona, support a small business and support our economy,” Kahler says. “This event at this destination provides a perfect opportunity to not just try the wine and enjoy it, but to meet the winemaker and the people creating this beautiful product.”
The event runs from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. General admission tickets are $40 in advance and $55 the day of, and include five tasting tickets. For those looking to splurge, VIP tickets are $60 in advance and $80 the day of, and allow one-hour early entry at 11 a.m., access to an exclusive lounge and seminar, and eight tasting tickets.
Every ticket includes a commemorative glass, and additional tasting tickets will be available for purchase, ranging from $6 for one taste to $60 for 15 tastes. A non-drinker ticket is available for $15 and includes a non-alcoholic beverage. All attendees must be 21 or older.
Arizona WineGrowers Festival
Saturday, March 28
Biltmore Fashion Park
2502 E. Camelback Road
