The sweltering heat has finally arrived and stifles all movement, even with the air conditioning blasting. Sweat and exhaustion seep into efforts to be productive, and relief is mostly found in cool showers and aerated swimming pools. Naps are long under ceiling fans cranked on high volume. This is summer in Arizona.
The tiring heat feels like a metaphor for the past months, where a series of events have left a rigid, heavy feeling of loss. Loss of family, friendships, jobs, money, and homes.
Loss permeates so many parts of life and leaves its mark, sometimes with traumatic, deep wounds. And after the loss occurs, the next day seems oblivious to what has happened and trudges ahead. A lifelong connection with a family member may end in an instant and we must move forward, in disbelief that they are gone. When we depart from a job, our coworkers, whom we interacted with every day for years, are suddenly no longer a part of our lives. And when we leave one home for another, the spaces where we spent so much time eating, relaxing, and recreating are left void of our energy and presence.
Taking a weekend trip is our customary diversion, especially when moving through difficult times. On the road, the deep feelings of loss and absence begin to shift and become an opportunity for fulfillment and discovery. We fill our summer days exploring unique and uplifting wines.
First, we venture to Merkin Vineyard’s tasting room located in Old Town Scottsdale, Arizona. Their Chupacabra flight includes a noticeably light white wine (Blanca 2022), with a clean refreshing taste and clear color. Next is the Chupacabra Rosa 2022, a blend from Buhl Memorial Vineyard in Willcox, Arizona. It has a light golden color and was not sweet to us at all. Our palates could not discern the raspberry hints, but we did pick up a bit of blood orange zest. Last, we enjoyed the Chupacabra Red 2022, with its light red and brown color and wonderful cherry taste, so a bottle came home with us. On the next visit, we indulged in a glass of the NV Chupacabra Bubbles, a carbonated blend of Malvasia and Sauvignon Blanc from Willcox, Arizona. A delightful must-have for any wine enthusiast.
Southeast Arizona is home to several wineries in the Sonoita American Viticultural Area (AVA), south of the city of Tucson. The mountain ranges offer unique soils and wide open spaces, so we took a scenic day trip to Rune Wines and sat in the outside tasting room with its striking desert views. The vineyard, with its solar-powered and off-grid tasting room, is the only one in Arizona, withstanding the many challenges of the rural desert setting. We tasted a white wine (Westward 2021) bottled under Brigand, a new brand from winemaker James Callahan. On a warm day, we found this younger wine to be crisp and smooth, dry and refreshing, with a light golden color. The wine contains 70 percent Roussanne, 17 percent Viognier and 13 percent Picpoul Blanc. Another notable aspect is the striking western-themed label art. The artist, Daniel Helzer, does both the Brigand and Rune labels. More of his work may be found on his Instagram site at www.instagram.com/artbyhelzer.
As the day at Rune Wines comes to an end, I notice how loss has created an uncomfortable but liberating space in my life. According to Eckhart Tolle, “when you are full of problems, there is no room for anything new to enter, no room for a solution. So, whenever you can, make some room, create some space, so that you find the life underneath your life situation.” I am thankful for my new wine discoveries and opportunities to reveal the life underneath the loss.
For more facts about Arizona wine, the Wine Economist Mike Veseth posted Arizona Wine Revisited. Also check out Arizona Wine Growers Association for a visitor guide and details about the Arizona wine regions.
Zen of Wine Tasting 