After the Rev. Greg Adolph blesses the vineyards, saying a prayer that the buds bloom and Mother Nature behaves, folks attending the 40th annual Blessing of the Vineyard on Saturday, April 7, at Sonoita Vineyards will do what they’ve done each of the previous 39 years: sample the fruits of those vines.
Wine-tasting and celebrating is central to the otherwise ceremonial and sacred blessing. With live music and on-site food options including The Steak Out and Luke’s Pizza, the annual event is one of the most-anticipated wine parties in Elgin.
Here’s the 411 on the 40th annual event:
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; the blessing is at noon.
Where: Sonoita Vineyards, 290 Elgin Canelo Road in Elgin.
Cost: $25 at the door; price includes four food and wine pairings; six drink tickets; vineyard and winery tours; and souvenirs for the first 100 people.
About Sonoita Vineyards: Located 35 miles southeast of Tucson, it was Arizona’s first commercial vineyard. Founder Gordon Dutt planted the first vines in 1979 and opened the winery in 1983. It now has more than 30 acres of vines on a hillside at 4,500 feet above sea level that supports Chardonnay, Mission, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Malbec varietals
Another distinction: Sonoita Vineyards lies in the state’s first American Viticultural Area, the designation that tells the world that the area has distinct wine-growing/producing characteristics. In 2016, Willcox landed the state’s second AVA designation.
Details: Call 1-520-455-5893 or online at sonoitavineyards.com
