Vineyards

2009 was an important year in the history of our winery: it marks the point at which more of our wines were produced from our Estate vineyards than from those in California. With the purchase of Dos Cabezas Vineyards in Kansas Settlement, Arizona and the development of our second brand, Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, we are now able to cull the best batches for Page Springs. Only the best examples of Arizona grapes will earn PSC bottling. Additionally, we also picked nearly seven tons of Syrah and Petite Sirah from the vineyard next to the winery. We will continue to work with some of our favorite vineyards in California, but will be cutting back on the total number of vineyards we source from as well as the total volume of Grapes. Check the links below to see who we’ll be working with.

Golden Rule

Cochise County, Arizona
Jim and Ruth Graham, Cochise, Ariz., launched Golden Rule Vineyards in 2007. Located in Cochise County’s Sulphur Springs Valley, the grape vineyards sit adjacent to a busy Union Pacific railroad track. Located at 4,300 feet in elevation, the vineyards include plentiful sunshine, good soils and sufficient groundwater.The Graham’s four-acre planting in 2007 was harvested this August. The varietals include Zinfandel, Shiraz, and Sangiovese. “I think there is exciting potential in the Sulphur Springs Valley for raising extraordinary grapes,” Graham said. “The high elevation plus high ultraviolet light levels may have advantages for French varietal production.”The same varietals were planted on seven additional acres in 2008. Plantings next spring will include a 3.75-acre block of Cabernet Sauvignon. Plans for 2011 include a combined 3.75-acre block of Petite Sirah and Petite Verdot, plus another 3.75-acre block of Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot grapes may be planted in 2012.The long-term goal is 30-50 acres of vines. “We want very much to be an estate winery that creates handcrafted wine utilizing the latest technology,” said Graham while standing next to Zinfandel vines which had just bared first fruit.Recession-based cash flow problems and other issues delayed the family’s goal to build the winery this year.

“While we had a good 2009 crop, we didn’t have enough volume,” Graham noted. Graham’s immediate focus is expanding wine grape acreage and custom crushing elsewhere. Graham and vineyard manager Don Sobey harvested about 10.5 tons from the four acres in August. The selling price was $1,000 to $1,500/ton.

“That’s a significant yield off vines in the first year of production,” Sobey said. The grapes will create Arizona wines. Graham sold his grapes to: Page Springs Cellars, Cornville; Arizona Stronghold, Camp Verde; Pillsbury Wine Co., Phoenix (Sam Pillsbury is a U.S. filmmaker); Javelina Leap Winery, Sedona; and several others, all in Arizona.