Two-day festival to include gala honoring industry founders, 20 Arizona wineries pouring wines at the campus farm
(TUCSON, Ariz.) – On Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11, 2017, the Arizona Wine Growers Association will be partnering with the University of Arizona to host the Winegrower’s Festival at the Farm. The two-day event will feature the Arizona Wine Founders’ Gala, honoring industry pioneers for their dedication and service to the industry, on Friday evening, followed by a day of wine tasting with 20 award-winning Arizona wineries, local restaurants and other Arizona-based retailers – with all proceeds going toward creating the Arizona Wine Research Library at the University of Arizona.
“The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and its Norton School’s Retailing and Consumer Sciences program, especially, is proud to partner with another Arizona industry that is transforming our food and tourism landscape,” said Shane Burgess, UA vice president of agriculture, life and veterinary sciences, and Cooperative Extension.
The Arizona Wine Founders’ Dinner will kick off the festival on Friday, November 10 at 6pm at the University of Arizona’s Student Union, where four industry founders will be recognized, including Dr. Gordon Dutt, founder and original winemaker at Sonoita Vineyards and retired soil scientist from the University of Arizona; Al Buhl, the late founder of Dos Cabezas Vineyards (now Arizona Stronghold Vineyards); Bob Webb, founder of the first commercial winery to vint table wine in Arizona since prohibition, RW Webb Winery; and Kent Callaghan of Callaghan Vineyards.
Saturday’s festival, held on November 11 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the University of Arizona’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ “Farm” (4101 N. Campbell, Tucson, AZ), will not only be a wine tasting with 20 of the state’s award-winning wineries, restaurants and other local purveyors, but it will also serve as a forum for emerging ideas in a setting that fuses passionate businesses and their customers. Discussions will focus on how wine growers engage customers in their brands and enhance the shopping experience through innovation, technology and techniques for meeting evolving consumer preferences.
Wineries participating at the event include:
- Alcantara Vineyards
- Arizona Stronghold Vineyards
- AZ Wine Cellars
- Callaghan Vineyards
- Carlson Creek Vineyard
- Coronado Vineyards
- Dos Cabezas Winery
- Four Tails Vineyard
- Golden Rule Vineyards
- Keeling Schaefer Vineyards
- Kief Joshua Vineyards
- Lightning Ridge Cellars
- Pierce Wines Arizona
- Pillsbury Wine Company
- Sierra Bonita Vineyard
- Sonoita Vineyards
- Southwest Wine Center
- Su Vino Winery
- Wilhelm Family Vineyards
- Zarpara Vineyard
“We hope to have robust conversations with attendees surrounding the new and dynamic directions of an industry that leads consumer preferences. The pace of change has never been as rapid as it is today. Leading wine retailers and brand marketers are looking differently at how they attract and retain customers, and how they develop the talent and technology needed for the future,” said Brain Predmore, President of the Arizona Wine Growers Association. “This year’s event will help to raise awareness of the vibrant Arizona wine industry by showcasing our wines while also raising money for the Arizona Wine Library and Research Center.”
To purchase tickets to the Arizona Founders’ Dinner ($125/person) or Festival at the Farm ($15-$20), visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/festival-the-farm-founders-dinner-nov-2017-tickets-37572597651 or Facebook.com/ArizonaWine.
For more details on the event or the Arizona Wine Growers Association, visit www.arizonawine.org or connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT THE ARIZONA WINE GROWERS ASSOCIATION:
The Arizona Wine Growers Association (AWGA) serves grape growers and winemakers in Arizona, allying its members for representation, promotion and education. The association strives to advance with integrity, the sustainable growth and production of authentic Arizona-grown wines and increase awareness of the Arizona industry, which includes 104 licensed and bonded wineries throughout the state.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA’S NORTON SCHOOL OF FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES:
The John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Arizona prepares the next generation to solve the global challenges of individuals, communities and the changing marketplace. They provide educational enrichment, professional development, world-class events and hands-on learning opportunities, ensuring that graduates have the skill set, training and preparation to lead their companies.
