About three tons of Viognier grapes whose vines were planted in 2012 harvested
The Friends of the Southwest Wine Center were among those who helped harvest over three tons of Viognier grapes growing in the Community College vineyard on the Verde Campus. The vines producing these grapes were planted in 2012.
The vineyard is currently planted with different varieties of grape vines on about 12.95 acres of land.
The vineyard began in 2009 when Merkin Vineyards planted an entire acre in Negroamaro, a variety native to southern Italy whose name means ‘black bitter. With the success of this planting, Yavapai Community College began effort to develop a vineyard of its own. Finally, in 2012 it began its own vineyard with volunteers planting three acres of vines which included Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Viognier varietals.
The vineyard continued to expand each year until May 2017 when a final acre was planted. Although there are more than 60 acres of land available to the College to expand the vineyard, it has apparently decided that 12.95 acres is all it can handle.
Pictured below at the table from left to right are Joan Meyers (FoSWC and YCF board member), Lisa Rhodes (YC Human Resources employee), and Suzanne Reed (FoSWC volunteer). Photo from Yavapai Community College August newsletter.
