I am a member of the Arizona Wine Growers Association – which now comprises more than 100 wineries – as one of the Southern Arizona representatives. Regularly, I sit in on conference phone calls between the board members to discuss how to continue to evolve as a wine industry and how to help our fellow wine growers. A couple of weeks back, some of us got a chance to sit side by side at Kent Callaghan’s winery to catch up. During this meeting we got a brief primer on numbers in regard to the Arizona wine industry. It makes for a good read:
- Arizona has 108 farm winery licenses.
- The first license was issued in 1983.
- Arizona wine tourism has created $56.2 million in total economic output .
- The Arizona wine industry has created 640 full-time jobs.
- $3.6 million generated in state and local taxes.
- 600,000 visitors to vineyards and tasting rooms annually.
- Three primary growing regions: Willcox, Sonoita-Elgin and Verde Valley.
- Average yield: 2 1⁄2 tons per acre.
- In production and development: nearly 1,500 acres of wine grapes.
- One ton of wine grapes can produce around 150 gallons of juice, or about 65 cases, or roughly 782 bottles.
Does that whet your whistle for locally grown vino? This is serious, people – go drink a glass of Arizona wine and let’s keep moving forward!
If you’re interested in learning more about the Arizona wine industry, please visit: azwinegrowersassociation.com
