Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Megan About Town: Arizona Wine in Downtown Scottsdale

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Downtown Scottsdale is often known as the place to go to wind down after a long work weekend. But it isn’t entirely made up of clubs or bars, there are many options to grab a happy hour drink. I snagged a new colleague to celebrate her first post-college job, and we scooted over to Lawrence Dunham Vineyards Wine Gallery. The wine gallery opened last November, and has been active in the community since. In fact, on Thursday’s from 5:30-8 p.m. the wine gallery hosts “Flights & Bites” in conjunction with Food Truck Caravan.

We were immediately greeted by owners Curt Dunham and Peggy Fiandaca, who are both very lovely. I love it when you can find the owners or managers of any establishment hard at work or greeting folks at the door. Not only do you feel right at home, but you can tell that whatever you’re about to experience was created with love.

Kristen and I grabbed a seat and each ordered a flight. With help from Peggy, here’s an idea of what you’ll taste at Lawrence Dunham Vineyards Wine Gallery:

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2012 Viognier:

One hundred percent from the Lawrence Dunham Vineyards estate-grown fruit, this wine variation is barrel fermented and aged for 16 months giving each sip more of an oak taste. Caramel sweetness is what I noticed, although I’m never confident in my assessment of wine – no matter how much wine I try!

2012 Sky Island Viognier:

Quite a bit different than the first glass, this option is much brighter and crisper: the perfect option for a summer wine. Peggy suggested that it pairs perfectly with spicy food. So, cook up some spicy Thai noodles and grab a bottle of the 2013 Sky Island Viognier to compliment your meal.

2012 R.E.D. – Red Wine:

This medium blend also is 100 percent estate grown. This wine is made up of 62 percent Grenache, 8 percent Syrah and 30 percent Petite Syrah, so it’s full-bodied and pairs well with a variety of foods.

2012 Grenache:

After something a bit lighter, this wine is more bold and intense in terms of a Grenache. With lots of flavor, this wine has a spicy after taste making it the perfect pair for your summer grill-outs.

2011 “The Signature” Petite Syrah:

Lawrence Dunham Vineyards is best known for “The Signature.” It’s a smooth wine perfectly coupled with all things chocolate. Nicknamed “liquid midnight,” it’s great for dessert but also pairs well with grilled rib eye steaks, braised short ribs and roasted beef tenderloin.

If you’re new to the winery world, and would like to take a minute to learn all about it…Lawrence Dunham Vineyard’s website has a pretty phenomenal FAQ section that tells you what you need to know!

Chatting with Peggy and Curt, it’s clear they have a true passion for wine and people. Their vineyard is located in southeastern Arizona, but it’s no surprise they chose downtown Scottsdale to showcase their product. They have partnered up with Sip and Savor Tours for their Old Town Scottsdale Wine Walkabout, which also features another southern Arizona winery Aridus Wine Company, to highlight the growing local Arizona wine trend.

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I’d highly recommend that you swing by and give the wine flight a try, chat with Peggy and Curt, and make sure to pet Epernay (aka Eppy), the resident puppy mascot.



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