Tasting panel Magazine Re: Winemaker Jef Stebben

https://www.tastingpanelmag.com/september-october-2024

Jef Stebben Named as Aridus Winemaker

Succeeding founding winemaker Lisa Strid, Jef Stebben has beennamed winemaker at Aridus Wine Company, which is based in Willcox, Arizona. Stebben has over two decades of experience crafting wines of rare quality and has received critical acclaim from major wine publications as well as awards from competitions such as the Governor’s Cup in Virginia.

I’ve always been facinated with the American Southwest for it beauty as well as the uniqunessess of its viticultural identitly,” Stebben says. “I’m eager to bring my experience from other regions to bear on Aridus’ estate vineyards in the mountain desert.” This harvest will be the seventh from the winery’s 40-arre estate vineyard in Pearce, Arizona, which sits at an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet in the Chircahua Foothils abour a 45-minute drive from the winery in Willcox; beginning with the 2023 vintage, Aridus wines are now sourced exclusively from the estate.