Create Memories Wine Tasting! Stroll the Wine Trail

There is more to wine tasting than just the wine. I pulled out a bottle of Brick House Les Dijonnais Pinot Noir and was transported to when we spent an incredible afternoon in Oregon with Doug Tunnell, Brick House’s winemaker. It was a rare occasion because he doesn’t pour for just anyone. It took a call from the late Patricia Green, an award-winning winemaker in her own right, to get us a wine tasting with Doug. We spent four hours drinking wine and discussing everything from politics, ladybugs, manure, organic farming, the Middle East, and wine. Of course, we left with a case of fabulous Brick House wines and great stories to tell every time we open one.

That is what wine tasting should be about – making connections and creating memories. Closer to home in Old Town Scottsdale, LDV Winery is one of seven Arizona wineries (LDV Winery, Aridus Wine Company, Carlson Creek, Salvatore Vineyards, Los Milics Vineyards, Arizona Stronghold, and Wine Collective Scottsdale) participating in the Scottsdale Wine Trail. Six wineries participate in the passport program to encourage you to visit wonderful Arizona wineries within walking distance. You can purchase the passport for $5.00, and it will provide you $2.00 off wine tastings at each of the participating wineries. You do not have to do them all in one trip. Learn what makes Arizona wines unique and taste the different winemaking styles. To learn more about the trail visit the Scottsdale Wine Trail website and download the trail map.

Next time you are wine tasting, instead of asking only about the wine, learn about the winemaker’s philosophy, vineyard management, or vision the winemaker had for that wine. Winemakers come to winemaking from all different backgrounds. They have amazing stories to tell.

But most of all, walk away from the experience with a memory and smile!