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DE CEMBER NEWS Aridus Bets on Growth of Arizona Winemaking State's first winery focused on custom crush opens in time for excellent vintage in demand and help improve winemaking in the region. "We're going to do some good things out here," Callahan said. The winery is equipped with a Diemme destemmer and press as well as 15 tanks by Santa Rosa Stainless. The winery has a GAI bottling line on order. All basic wine analysis can be done at an in-house lab that should have enzy- matic analysis equipment by next harvest, Callahan said. The winery is housed in a 25,000-square-foot former apple ware- house with a 5,000-square-foot covered © 2012 StaVin Inc. crush area outside the main building. Carlson Creek Vineyards and Pillsbury Wine Co. crushed 15 tons of fruit each at Aridus this past harvest. After his first vin- tage in the desert, Callahan was impressed. "The fruit that came in this year has been superb," Callahan said. According to WinesVinesDATA, Arizona has just less than 1,000 acres of vines and 49 bonded wineries. Other growers report- ed a strong vintage as well. winesandvines.com Learn more: Search keywords "Aridus bets." —Andrew Adams The crush pad at the new Aridus Wine Co. custom-crush winery in Willcox, Ariz. illcox, Ariz.— Aridus Wine Co., Arizona's first winery to be fo- cused on custom-crush services, opened in time for the 2012 vintage. Winemaker James Callahan joined Aridus in May from Kosta Browne Winery in Sebas- topol, Calif., where he was cellarmaster. "I like the idea it's a pioneering type of spirit here," he said. "It's not that you're following in someone else's footprints." Aridus takes its name from the "arid" landscape surrounding Willcox. W Phoe- nix couple Scott and Joan Dahmer own the winery. Callahan said the Dahmers worked with Napa Valley consultant Cary Gott, who told them an estate winery would require a significant investment that wouldn't be paid off for quite some time. Gott counseled that a custom-crush win- ery could see a profit far quicker, would be ® Twenty years ago, we opened our doors for business. And while some years have been better than others, we can't complain. Our innovations have far exceeded our original hopes and changed for good the way winemakers approach their craft. But that's not what we're most proud of. It's the people who work with us. They've bought their own homes, sent their kids to college and genuinely love coming to work. Which, in our book is what you'd call a dream come true. StaVın Inc, P.O.Box 1693, Sausalito,CA 94966 (415) 331-7849 f (415) 331-0516 stavin.com WINES & VINES DECEMBER 2012 15 THOMAS ALE JOHNSON