Arizona Stronghold

Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan and winemaker Eric Glomski formed AZ Stronghold after finding Arizona to be an ideal place to create natural wines with a singular character, that of the dry, rocky, and sun-drenched soils of Cochise County.

From AZ Stronghold:

Arizona Stronghold primarily produces wine from its own vineyards but also sources small amounts of fruit from Colibri Vineyards in the Chiricahua Mountains and even smaller amounts from Page Springs Vineyards near Sedona, Arizona.  (Some blending grapes also come from Paso Robles and Lockwood, California).

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
ASV lies at the eastern edge of Sulfur Springs Valley (alongside the Willcox Playa) in a small, unincorporated area known as the Kansas Settlement. The vineyard site is 80 acres with 60 acres currently under vine. The soils here are relatively deep loams and clay-loams interspersed with cobbles.  The vineyard sits at 4300 feet and experiences up to 50 degree fluctuations in diurnal temperatures during the growing season.  Harvest usually starts in late August and runs into early October.

The oldest 20 acres of the vineyard were planted in 1983 by a gentleman named Robert Webb for his R.W. Webb Winery.  This section of the vineyard was originally planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and small, experimental quantities of Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay.  In 2007, ASV grafted the experimental block over to 100% Petite Sirah and about 3 acres of the Sauvignon Blanc to Syrah.  The other historic blocks remain.  The oldest vines here are 25 year in age.

The middle aged 20 acres were planted in 1995 by Al Buhl, founder of Dos Cabezas Winery.  This block was planted to Malvasia Bianca, Sangiovese, Pinot Gris, Syrah, Chardonnay and Viognier.  All these blocks remain excepting 2 acres of Chardonnay that have been grafted over to Viognier by ASV.  This block is 13 years old.

In 2001, Al Buhl and Film Director Sam Pillsbury partnered on an additional 20 acres which they donned “Norte”.  Norte was planted to Petite Sirah, Malvasia Bianca, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Tempranillo and Graciano.  This block is 7 years old.

ASV has also planted an additional 2 acres of Mourvedre on Norte and will begin planting the remaining 20 acres of open land to more Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malvasia, Sangiovese Grosso, additional Tempranillo and other Mediterranean varietals.  This new block will be planted out by 2011 with the first fruit coming in on 2010.