Page 53 - Cuisione fo Arizona - Volume 8

Kief-Joshua Vineyards
370 Elgin Road, Elgin, AZ 85611 520.455.5582 · kj-vineyards.com Kief-Joshua Vineyards is a small family business with 20 acres in beautiful
Elgin and 40 acres in Willcox Wine Country. Our Elgin tasting room is open
daily and is situated right in the middle of what is know as “winery row.”
Winemaker
Kief-Joshua Manning
Hours
Daily
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Wine Club
Tasting Room
Tours Available
Private Parties
Educational Wine Classes
Kief Joshua Wines
2015 Cephus
2015 Reisling
2015 Chardonnay 2015 Chenin Blanc 2013 Viognier 2012 Pino Gris 2014 Magdalena 2014 Sangiovese 2014 Tempranillo 2014 Mourvedre 2015 Malbec
2014 Lacrime Divino
Willcox Tasting Room Opening Spring of 2017
“Top 10 Wineries
2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017“ Ranking Arizona
2013 Silver & Bronze medal,
Festival of the Farm
2012 Gold Medal, Peoples Choice Award, Festival of the Farm
Winemaker Kief Manning focuses his attention toward a holistic farming approach developed in the 1920s by the Austrian scientist-philosopher Rudolf Steiner. While this philosophy encompasses many principles of organic farming, such as the elimination of all chemicals, it goes further, requiring close attention to the varied forces of nature in uencing the vine.
“We strive for excellence in winemaking and sustainability in our vineyard,” says Kief. “With time, I hope to produce outstanding Arizona wines that demonstrate the intensity, richness and complexity of the area.”
Kief purchased the property in the Elgin/Sonoita American Viticulture Area (AVA) that is now Kief-Joshua Vineyards in 2003, while traveling back and forth to Australia to learn the art of grape growing and winemaking. In 2005, he began planting the 20-acre vineyard in Elgin, with expansion plans to plant on his 40 acres in Kansas Settlement near Willcox to include a second tasting room with different grape varietals.
Spending time in Australia has proven very valuable and many of his wines have the European/ Australian air. He specializes in dry, full-bodied wines that are crafted by hand using traditional methods of barrel aging and gentle handling to produce top quality wines for any occasion. He practices traditional winemaking methods of minimal interference, open fermentation and barrel aging.
During his studies, Kief became familiar with Old English Baby Doll Sheep, a small, rare breed that are ideal for weeding and fertilizing the vineyards. “We employ up to ve sheep to graze on the grasses and weeds that grow between the trellising and grapevines,” states Kief. “On the downside, they have gotten very enamored with the alcohol-rich fermented grape skins that we
use for compost. The sheep love it and it isn’t long before they require a nap.”
The tasting room at Kief-Joshua Vineyards is open daily, from 11 am to 5 pm. The winery is inviting and offers an array of specialty foods and cheeses, special tours and private educational wine classes.
Cuisine of ARIZONA
The Premier Culinary Guide to the Grand Canyon State
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Every April, Kief hosts the Southeastern Arizona Wine Growers Festival, featuring 20 of the best winemakers and farmers from around the state. During the summer, guests can enjoy the summer concert series every Saturday. A fall harvest festival is scheduled the end of August. For details, please visit www.kj-vineyards.com.