Tag: Willcox

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Events & news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries, and wineries.

Ramen Days of Summer starts Monday at Ramen Hood

It’s hard to conceive slurping down a bowl of hot broth and noodles in the summer but for ramen lovers the heat doesn’t phase them. Starting Monday, July 28th and for the following 8 weeks, North Scottsdale’s Ramen Hood highlights a different bowl of ramen or appetizer with $2 off ramen or $1 off the appetizer. The weekly special is as follows…..

Monday, July 28-Sunday, Aug. 3

Bowl ($2 off) The Classic—Featuring Tonkotsu broth, sliced Chashu Pork, bean sprouts, green onion, cabbage, seasoned bamboo, Naruto (fish cake) and nori (seaweed)

Monday, Aug. 4-Sunday, Aug. 10

Bowl ($2 off) The Angry Chicken Bowl—Featuring spicy miso broth, teriyaki chicken, bean sprouts, carrots, corn, green onion and nori

Monday, Aug. 11-Sunday, Aug. 17

Bowl ($2 off) Hokkaido Tofu Bowl—Made with vegetarian broth, tofu, bean sprouts, cabbage, corn, fried onion chips and butter

Monday, Aug. 18-Sunday, Aug. 24

Bowl ($2 off) Shrimply Shoyu—Featuring Shoyu broth, tempura shrimp, bean sprouts, broccoli, green onion, seasoned bamboo and nori

Monday, Aug. 25-Sunday, Aug. 31

Appetizer ($1 off) Karaage Japanese Fried Chicken—Eight lip-smackin’ Japanese fried chicken pieces served with a side of zesty sriracha mayo sauce

Christmas in July at Aridus Wine Company

Friday, July 25th get 50% of all holiday blends at their Scottsdale and Willcox tasting rooms.

Free wings at ATL Wings on National Chicken Wing Day

Next Tuesday, July 29th enjoy 6 free wings with the purchase of a dozen wings at any of the 16 locations throughout the Phoenix, Flagstaff and Tucson area.

Signature Summer Menu available at Bourbon & Bones Chophouse

From now until October 2nd guests dining at the local favorite for meat and seafood can enjoy a 3-course menu for $79 per person. Choose from several starters, entrees and desserts with upgrades available for an additional cost. You can find the full menu here.

 

Sips & Bites: News from the Phoenix restaurant community

Events & news about what’s going on around the Phoenix restaurant community, breweries, and wineries.

Summer Sunshine season menu at Over Easy

Now available at all 17 locations the bold and bright are available for dine-in, take-out or delivery, except alcohol.

  • Pork Belly Hash – Sweet potato, crispy pork belly, caramelized onion, poblano, cherry tomato, bell pepper, cotija cheese, baja sauce, cilantro, and two eggs any style
  • Brown Butter Beignets – Fresh berries, powdered sugar, house jam, and orange blossom honey
  • Sunny Side Spritz – A summer-perfect blend of Aperol, peach, lemon, sparkling wine, and a splash of soda. Light, citrusy, and just sweet enough — it’s brunch sunshine in a glass.

New 4-course Chef’s Menu at Rusconi’s American Kitchen

Chef Michael Rusconi is offering a new menu for $60++ per person with wine pairings for an additional $29. The dinner starts with the chef’s amuse bouche before serving….

  • First Course—Tomato and Burrata Salad with marinated cucumbers, shallots, arugula pesto and basil sorbet Optional wine pairing—Squealing Pig Sauvignon Blanc–Marlborough, New Zealand
  • Second Course—Pan-Seared Georges Bank Scallops with English pea risotto, edamame beans and ginger carrot jus Optional wine pairing—Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay–Russian River
  • Third Course—Pecan Wood Grilled Beef Tenderloin with potato puree, candied baby carrots and cabernet reduction Optional wine pairing—Browne Family Vineyards Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon–Columbia Valley
  • Fourth Course—Dark Chocolate Bread Pudding with caramel, chocolate and vanilla sauces
  • Optional wine pairing—Chef’s selected dessert wine

Reservations are suggested by heading to their website.

Local beer flights at GenuWine Arizona

Summertime sipping calls for cold beer and now at the Downtown Phoenix wine bar you can get 6 tastes of local draft beers for $15. Wine Club members can save 15% as well.

Christmas in July at Koibito Poke

Loyalty app users can save 20% off their entire order through Monday, July 14th when placing an order under the Rewards tab on the app. Order ahead or in-store for pick-up or delivery.

BOGO Tuesdays at Aridus Wine Company are back

Stock up at their Scottsdale or Willcox tasting room to get a bottle free when you purchase one at regular price. Only available on their 7 new releases, not available on clearance wines.

Strive Vineyards celebrates victory, resilience and wine

Desiree and Ryan Gerth started Strive Vineyards in 2014 in Kansas Settlement area of the Willcox Bench AVA of southern Arizona before the region received AVA (American Vitiulrural Area) status. Eleven years later the Scottsdale couple is still going strong producing higher elevation wines surrounded by the Chiricahua, Dos Cabezas and Dragon Mountains. The wineries motto “Embrace life’s challenges, Savor life’s victories,” is more of a story.

The couple met at the University of Wisconsin- Madison where Desiree was getting her degree in Psychology and Ryan a doctorate in Pharmacology. They them moved to Arizona, like many, for the weather and opportunity where Desiree would get her master’s in special education at ASU and would become a Special Ed teacher for eight years and Ryan would become and still is a pharmacist in Scottsdale.

After several wine tasting trips to Napa and around Arizona, they caught the wine-making bug and within weeks the couple was fermenting their first batch of wine in a spare bedroom with a wine-making kit from a local brew shop. Their hobby became their life when an experimental batch blew the doors of a closet door and spewed wine all over the room, it was at that moment they knew they were “all in” to make wine.

Buying land building Strive Vineyards

After they purchased the land for their dream vineyard and winery, they constructed everything themselves including solar panels, irrigation and trellis systems, fencing and more so they could run their winery off the grid and be sustainable. “We named it Strive because that’s exactly what we did,” says Desiree. “Just us, a few friends and family, and a lot of hard work. You need to do what you love, life’s too short not to.”

The winery is a labor of love built with grit and intention. Today Strive Vineyards is known as an award-winning grape grower with several accolades (2021 Cabernet Franc was a Best of Class finalist in 2025 AZ Republic Wine Competition) under their label. The tasting room they share with 2 other wineries offers a unique tasting experience in the newly renovated Willcox Commercial Building. Desiree runs the winery full time while Ryan continues his pharmacist job while overseeing vineyard operations.

Strive Vineyards is at 6217 Maranatha Way, Wilcox, Arizona 85643. 920-850-1075. For more information about their wines visit their website.

Willcox Wine Festival coming for 2 days in May

As festival season continues its march towards the quiet time of an Arizona summer one of the last festivals is on the calendar in May. The Willcox Wine Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, May 17th & 18th with the bi-annual event hosting a Winemakers Dinner, Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Willcox Community Center with the festival at 130 N. Railroad Ave.

The popular growing region of southeastern Arizona with its arid and Mediterranean like terroir and weather is known for growing Rhone varietals including Syrah, Grenache & Mourvedre and other varietals such as Malbec and Tempranillo. The region is home to many wineries and vineyards with 17 of them pouring their wines at the festival. Wineries scheduled to be pouring wine include Pillsbury Wine Co. Copper Horse Vineyard, Golden Rule Vineyards and others. A beer garden and food trucks will be on hand along with local artists, craft vendors and live music.

Tickets for the Willcox Wine Festival and Winemakers Dinner are on sale online for $35 on Saturday, $30 on Sunday, $15 for beer tasting and $75 for the Winemaker Dinner. Tickets will be available at the door for an additional $5-$10. All tickets for the festival include 10 tastings and a commemorative glass.

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards opens Scottsdale tasting room

Phoenix area wine drinkers now have the opportunity to taste and buy award-winning wines from Arizona Stronghold Vineyards. This Friday January 7th the doors to their new Scottsdale tasting room will open welcoming Archive Club members and the public starting at 11:30 a.m. They already have a popular tasting room in Cottonwood and the Scottsdale location will be the 6th tasting room along the Scottsdale Wine Trail in downtown and Old Town Scottsdale.

Winemaker Jason McCluskey uses grapes from the winery’s Bonita Springs Vineyard near Willcox for their red, white and rose wines. Two newly released wines are being poured for the grand opening and select food items will be served along with specials on charcuterie boards. In addition to Arizona Stronghold wines, the winery makes Provisioner Wines in white and red.

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards’ Scottsdale tasting room is at 4225 N. Marshall Way 85251 and is open daily from 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. For more information visit their website.

Canned wines Tank available from Aridus Wine Company

Arizona wine producer Aridus Wine Company has released its new line of canned wines, Tank. The grapes for the canned wines is sourced from Aridus’s vineyards in Cochise County along with purchased fruit. The fruit for the Rose is 100% Zinfandel and comes from New Mexico. The White is a blend of 72% Malvasia and 28% Picpoul which are the wineries two signature white grapes.

The wines were vinified separately then blended in early 2019 and held in stainless steel tanks until May 2020. The Viognier sees one year in neutral oak before stainless steel. The canned wines are different wines than those sold by the bottle and have a high residual sugar content. Tank is perfect for drinking by pool, camping trips or at home after a long hot day.

The Viognier, Rose and White Blend come in 4-packs and are available at their tasting rooms in Scottsdale & Willcox for $28. Each can holds 375 ml or about two glasses of wine. Buy a 4 pack and get a free Tank Koozie Can Cooler. The Scottsdale tasting room is at 7173 E. Main St. 85251. The Willcox tasting room is at 145 Railview Ave. 85643. For more information visit https://www.ariduswineco.com/ 

“Hot Brand” awarded to Aridus Wine Co. by Wine Business Monthly

Willcox’s Aridus Wine Company received national recognition in February when Wine Business Monthly named it a “Hot Brand”. The annual list is compiled with wineries, growers, vintners and wines that are making a statement in the wine industry.

“We are enormously honored and thrilled,” said founder/proprietor Scott Dahmer, “to be recognized by this honor, which comes on a national scale and in a field of very distinguished other contenders.”

Wine Business Monthly singled out the 2015 Syrah as part of the profile which was made by winemaker Lisa Strid. The syrah comes from several local vineyards and is usually the first reds to be harvested each year. Strid likes to pioneer new varietals to the area and likes working with the challenging climate of the region.

Part of consideration for the “Hot Brand” award was the growth of the winery and its commitment to offer all “estate sourced” wines. The high elevation winery and vineyards is in Chiricahua Hills appellation of southeastern Arizona.

Hot Brand choice

Erin Kirschenmann, Wine Business Monthly editor, explains that “every year,
when Wine Business Monthly “Our goal is to always represent the American wine industry. Often, that means discovering a new winery in an established region while also paying homage to the stalwarts who continue to move the industry forward. It means we look at wineries in non-West Coast, “traditional” winemaking states, or those who might be bucking a trend or trying new techniques.”

The winery was founded in 2012 as a custom crush facility for the regions wineries in what was an old apple warehouse. Aridus is Latin for “dry or arid”  which is what the terroir offers, good for winemaking.

The Aridus Tasting room in Willcox is at 145 N. Railview Ave. the winery is nearby. The old town Scottsdale tasting room is at 7173 E. Main St. 85251. For more information visit their website.

Arizona Wine Growers Association’s 2012 Festival at The Farm

Having sold Arizona wine as a retailer or as a wholesaler of the last 18 years it’s been good to see the industry come all this way from a gimmicky tourist souvenir to a world-class, well-respected industry where there is a passion and camaraderie. With that Governor Jan Brewer proclaimed Nov. 11th – 18th Arizona Wine Week and the Arizona Winegrowers Assoc. www.arizonawine.org held it’s 4th annual Festival at The Farm on Sat. the 17th.

Preceded by the evening before with a “Celebration of Arizona Wine Growers” event which was an opportunity for 150 guests to mix and mingle with wine makers from across Arizona. Guests had the opportunity to sample appetizers prepared using local produce by Quiessence executive chef Greg LaPrad and his team, that included Nantucket Scallop Crudo paired with 2011 Arizona Stronghold’s Tazi white blend, Chicken Liver Pate topped with Crisp Sage with 2011 Page Springs Cellars La Flor Rose and gnocchi tossed with Rainbow Valley Farmers cheese, wild mushrooms and Rosemary Fennel Sausage with Arizona Stronghold’s “Nachise” Red wine. Assorted deserts that included Lavender Marshmallows and were paired with Carlson Creek’s “Sweet Adeline” Riesling. All the wines paired well with the food presented and tasted good when tasted by themselves. The wines served on this beautiful night were winners from the 2012 Arizona Grower’s Cup and Winemakers Medal Competitions of which all the award winners were announced later in the evening by host Richard Ruelas of the Arizona Republic and poured during the Saturday festival.

Crudo of Nantucket Scallops w/ Arizona Basil and Meyer Lemon
Chicken Liver Pate w/ Crisp Sage

On Saturday we returned for a gorgeous afternoon for tasting wines from more than 30 of the states 63 licensed and bonded wineries representing all the states growing regions including the Verde Valley up north, Sonoita and Elgin to the south and Willcox in southeastern Arizona. “Whether they are a novice or an aficionado, this is a can’t miss event for wine lovers to meet the folks behind the rising Arizona wine movement,” said Peggy Fiandaca, president of the Arizona Wine Growers Association. The festival also helped celebrate Arizona’s 100 years of statehood as it is a sanctioned Centennial event.

In addition to tasting some new wines from Sand-Reckoner Vineyards and 1st release from Saeculum Cellars amongst others I had the chance to speak with several people to see what has changed in the local wine industry since we last met a year ago. Speaking with the ladies from Coronado Vineyards they were very excited about the custom crush facility now opened in Willcox that will help many others looking to produce wine without the investment of equipment and a winery. We’re also seeing the diversity of wines being made including that of ports and bigger California style wines. The respect, critical acclaim and competitiveness with other world-class wines continues to grow with every vintage as does more local vineyards coming on-line to meet the growing demand not only in Arizona but across the country and beyond.

Highlights from my tastings included….
2011 Saeculum Cellars Sauvignon Blanc– Made by Arizona assistant winemaker Bob he sources his grapes currently for all 3 wines, also Syrah & Sangiovese, from central coast vineyards in California. Starting with 2012 vintage all wines will be made with grapes from the Rolling View Vineyard in Willcox. This soft and crisp S.B. has nice balance of fruit and acidity and makes for very pleasant drinking wine. This was his 1st release of his wines and having won a few awards on Friday night, he has a great future in front of him. www.saeculumcellars.com

2011 Saeculum Cellars Sauvignon Blanc

2011 Sierra Bonita Vineyards Rose is a blend of 60% Grenache, 38% Syrah and 2% Tannat which make for a lively and fuller bodied rose. All estate grown on their 11 acres of vineyards, 3 generations of the Smith family work at all aspects of from the vineyards to delivering the wine. All under the guidance of Gerald and Jane Smith. www.sierrabonitavineyards.com

2009 Sierra Bonita Syrah

2009 Coronado Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon– This higher elevation Cab is medium to full-bodied with good fruit and lingering tannins. With a smooth oak mouth feel, makes a very versatile food wine going well with beef to chocolate. www.coronadovineyards.com

2010 Sand-Reckoner vineyards 5– This is one of 3 new wines tasted from Sand-Reckoner and is a Sangiovese based blend using the Brunello clone of Sangiovese Grasso. Combined with 18% Syrah and aged for 15 months in a 500 liter French oak puncheon this wine has good character and complexity along with nice fruit structure. Only 55 cases were made of this wine. Their “11” Zinfandel is a delicious fortified port style wine great for sipping by the fire and would go well with dark chocolate and blue cheese. www.sand-reckoner.com

It was also good to see the ‘veteran’ winemakers of Kent Callaghan, Eric Glomski and others who have paved the way for years helping to get the Arizona wine industry on the map. Here is to raising a glass to the Arizona wine industry and looking forward to what the near and long-term future brings us. Cheers!