ARIDUS WINE COMPANY MOVES TO ALL-ESTATE SOURCING
Arizona winery pioneering high elevation grape growing
Willcox, Arizona, September 2023 --- Founded in 2012 by Scott and Joan Dahmer, Aridus Wine Company has been developing its estate vineyards from the beginning. The name comes from the Latin word meaning dry or arid, pronounced air-i-duhs.
The winery farms 40 acres of vineyard in southeastern Arizona, outside the town of Pierce, in the Chiricahua Foothills, about a 45-minute drive from the winery in Willcox. The grapes grow at an elevation of approximately 5,200 feet. The estate vineyard is sustainably farmed, using organic alternatives whenever possible as well as drip irrigation. This is primarily an agricultural growing region, so the property was designed with irrigation in mind. The property---uniquely---is divided in half by Turkey Creek. Aridus may one day be able to use water from the creek but currently draws from two wells.
As of the 2023 vintage, all of its wines will be sourced exclusively from the estate vineyards.
“Our estate vineyard defines a unique mix of mountain and desert fine wine grape growing,” explains winery owner Scott Dahmer. The vineyard experiences an average of 13 inches of rain, 1 inch of snow and temperatures which average around 30 degrees in the cooler months to highs of around 94 degrees in the summer. And why grow grapes in Arizona? “Our state’s motto has five Cs----Climate, Cattle, Cotton, Citrus and Copper. Why not add a 6th? Cabernet? That said, southeastern Arizona has been compared to the same climate as Argentina with semi-arid desert-like climates, less than 13 inches of rain annually, an average temperature of 90-100 degree days with cool nights in the mid 40’s and 50’s. Malbec grows extremely well here, as do all Spanish varieties. I believe Arizona is the next up and coming grape growing region which will produce unique, world-class delicious wines,” he adds.
The estate vineyard’s 40 acres are divided by Turkey Creek, which is the largest water flow coming down from the Chiricahua Foothills. The “North Side” is planted to white varietals on a 20-22 degree angle and north-south configuration. The “South Side” is planted in an east-west configuration, which was an intentional design to allow the strong winds to blow through the vines but not damage them.
The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Malvasia, Merlot, Tempranillo, Graciano, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc. (break down # of acres each?)
The 2017 vintage was the first for the whites from the vineyard --- Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Malvasia Bianca. The __ vintage was the first for reds---Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Merlot, Tempranillo, Graciano, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc. 1,500 Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted on the North Side in May, 2017.
The soil on the North Side changes from dark grey to reddish brown; it is full of river. The soil on the South Side is dramatically different: rich, red loamy sand, and river rock. [need technical names]
The North Side vineyard (whites) is planted at 8’ x 4 Bi-lateral. The South Side vineyard (reds) is 10’ x 5’. The spacing differs to accommodate irrigation and accessibility.
The estate vineyard sees extremes of weather, from as hot as 100 degrees in the summer to wind, rain, hail (in July) and snow. During harvest season (July – September), the weather is initially hot (an average of 95 degrees) and dry; in July, August and September there are monsoon rains, which lower the temperature and raise the humidity. Temperatures range from the 70s to the 100s. Nights get down to an average of 45-55 degrees in the summers/during harvest.
This is primarily an agricultural growing region, so the property is designed with irrigation in mind. The property---uniquely---is divided in half by Turkey Creek. We may one day be able to use water from the creek but currently we have two wells.
Currently the appellation is Willcox, although Aridus and neighboring vineyards have proposed a new AVA, Chiricahua Foothills, which would take its name from the nearby 12,00-acre Chiricahua National Monument. Pronounced CHIRR-i-KAH-wə, the name comes from a band of Apache Native Americans who were based in this area. The most well-known names of Apaches in American history are Cochise and Geronimo. The Chiricahua tribal territory encompassed today's southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and in northern Mexico, the mountain sanctuaries of the Sierra Madre. The name Chiricahua is most likely the Spanish rendering of the Opata word Chihuicahui or Chiguicagui ('mountain of the wild turkey'), referring to the Chiricahua Mountains.
Aridus’ vineyards sit in an historic area. Johnny Ringo, an outlaw connected to the Cochise County cowboys in Tombstone, is buried nearby. The Cochise Stronghold B&B (Chief Cochise and his Apache Warriors history) along with beautiful hiking.
From fish in the creek, frogs on the banks, turtles, lizards and rattlesnakes, to white-tail deer, mountain lions, black bears, fox and javalina, this area has a wide variety of roaming reptiles, birds, insects and large and small predators and prey.
Aridus’ winery, at 28,000 square feet, is one of the largest winery facilities in the state, and houses state of the art wine making equipment. Surrounded by majestic mountains, the winery is an appealing combination of a historic setting and modern design. The building was once an apple warehouse; it was stylishly rehabbed with recycled local lumber and the interiors feature antique light bulbs and other unique design touches.
The winery’s current releases can be found here: https://www.ariduswineco.com/current-releases
Aridus Wine Company’s winery is located at 1126 North Haskell Avenue in Willcox and has two tasting rooms. One tasting room is near the winery, at 145 North Railview Avenue: more at https://www.ariduswineco.com/willcox-tasting-room or 520/766-9463.
The winery also has a tasting room in the Old Town neighborhood of Scottsdale, at 7173 East Main Street. More athttps://www.ariduswineco.com/scottsdale-tasting-room or 520/954-2676.
The winery, located at 1126 N. Haskell Avenue in Willcox, also offers tours by reservation: https://www.ariduswineco.com/aridus-winery or 520/766-2926.