Best Arizona wines: Top bottles and winemakers in the azcentral 2022 wine competition

Richard Ruelas, Arizona Republic
·12 min read

Emil and Cynthia Molin had an inkling they might one day start a winery near their home in Cornville, not far from Sedona. And they knew that if they did, they would need wine to sell. And that a red wine would take some time to age.

Which is why, in 2018, Emil Molin contracted with Arizona Stronghold Vineyards in Cottonwood to buy merlot grapes and have the wine made to his specifications.

The Molins’ winery, Cove Mesa, opened in 2021, fueled in part by restlessness brought on by pandemic isolation. By then, that merlot was aged and ready to sell. And apparently benefited from the time.

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Top winners of the 2022 azcentral Arizona Wine Competition

The 2018 Cove Mesa Merlot was named the best wine in the 2022 azcentral Arizona Wine Competition.

The Cove Mesa wine received the Governor’s Cup as the Best in Show winner. It also won the Growers’ Cup for Best Red Wine.

The Growers’ Cup for Best White Wine went to the 2020 Dos Ladrones, made by Caduceus Cellars. It is the second time that white blend has won the award. The 2013 Dos Ladrones was named Best White Wine in the newspaper’s 2014 competition.

The Growers’ Cup for Best Rosé went to the Grenache Rose produced by Mogollon Vineyards in Dewey-Humboldt.

Callaghan Vineyards won the Growers’ Cup for Best Dessert for its Red Dessert Wine, a port-style wine. Kent Callaghan, among the most decorated and established winemakers in Arizona, has been more known for his unique whites and bold reds. But he also has proven a master at the sweeter offerings. A late-harvest wine made from Malvasia bianca grapes won Best Dessert in the 2019 competition.

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How Cove Mesa winery got its start

Cove Mesa winery became a second career for the Molins. The pair bought land in Cornville in 2015 for what they thought would be an eventual retirement home. The couple had moved to Tucson in 1999 as Cynthia Molin took a job as an engineer at Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. Emil Molin was a court-appointed administrator overseeing insurance company liquidations.

The Molins had been wine aficionados, though a bit more serious than most. They invested in a winery in Oregon, giving them insight into the business.

While living in Tucson, the pair visited Arizona wineries, becoming appreciators of the wines made by Callaghan.

“I don’t think there’s a more important person in the Arizona wine industry than Kent Callaghan,” Emil Molin said.

But it was while sipping a Viognier made by Page Springs Cellars that Emil Molin had an epiphany: Arizona wines could stand up with any made in the world. And he thought to take a stab at crafting them.

The couple bought a house along Cove Mesa Road in Cornville, and Molin enrolled at Yavapai College in nearly Clarkdale. In June 2017, he earned his associate's degree in viticulture – the growing of wine grapes – and enology – the making of wine.

“I spent more time studying for that associate's degree than I did for my law degree,” Molin said.

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'A rebellion against doing nothing'

Molin contracted with Arizona Stronghold to buy merlot grapes from its Bonita Springs vineyard in Willcox. Molin said he liked how Bordeaux varietals like merlot grew in that vineyard.

The creation of the Cova Mesa winery and tasting room was prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Molin said he suggested to his wife that they get going on their winery “almost like a rebellion against doing nothing.”

Molin has plans to harvest from the vineyard planted in the limestone grounds around his hilltop home. He also started a vineyard nearby in Cornville. He also toured vineyards in the state, deciding which grapes to source from each.

The Molins intend to keep their winery small. Their plan is to sell most of their wines out of their tasting room, not on store shelves.

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From hay farmer to winemaker

Keith Moore of Mogollon Winery also studied at Yavapai College. Moore, an Arizona native, was a hay farmer in Snowflake when he thought about planting a more productive and less thirsty crop. He decided on wine grapes.

Moore had high praise for Michael Pierce, the director of the Yavapai College wine program.

“He’s putting out some people that really know what makes a good wine,” Moore said.

Molin said that Pierce was “one of the best educators I have ever, ever, had the pleasure of taking a course from.”

More: The winners of the 2020 azcentral.com Arizona wine competition revealed

How the azcentral Arizona Wine Competition works

The Arizona Republic organizes the competition for the Arizona Wine Growers Association, a nonprofit that works to benefit the state’s growing industry. The association sets and collects entry fees for the competition. A portion of the funds raised benefit the wine program at Yavapai College.

The Republic selects judges and sets the rules for the competition. Twenty judges gathered at The Newton event venue in Phoenix for the tasting. The judges represented a cross section of the city’s food and beverage industry: sommeliers, chefs, distributors and wine shop owners.

Judges gathered in panels and tasted a selection of wines, deciding as a group if each was deserving of a medal: gold, silver or bronze. If all judges on a panel agreed that a wine merited gold, that wine earned Double Gold.

The judges also, at their discretion, designated certain wines as best in a category: Best Malvasia Bianca, Best Tannat, etc. Those were awarded if judges thought a wine merited it and if there were enough wines entered to make a category competitive.

2022 azcentral Arizona Wine Competition winners

Governors Cup

Cove Mesa Vineyard 2018 Merlot.

Growers Cup Best Red Wine

Cove Mesa Vineyard 2018 Merlot.

Growers Cup Best White Wine

Caduceus Cellars 2020 Dos Ladrones.

Growers Cup Best Rosé

Mogollon Vineyards 2018 Grenache Rose.

Growers Cup Best Dessert

Glasses of red wine sit on a serving tray before they are taken out to the judges at the azcentral Arizona Wine Competition at the Newton in Phoenix, Ariz., on Feb. 28, 2022.
Glasses of red wine sit on a serving tray before they are taken out to the judges at the azcentral Arizona Wine Competition at the Newton in Phoenix, Ariz., on Feb. 28, 2022.

Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Red Dessert Wine.

The following wines were nominated by the judging panels to be considered for the top wine of the competition:

  • Caduceus Cellars 2020 Dos Ladrones.

  • Caduceus Cellars 2017 Le Cortigiane Oneste.

  • Cove Mesa Vineyard 2018 Merlot.

  • Deep Sky Vineyard 2018 Big Bang.

  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2021 Legacy Sparkling Rose Wine.

  • Merkin Vineyards 2020 Chupacabra.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2020 Malvasia Bonnie Lee.

  • Rune 2019 Syrah.

  • Southwest Wine Center 2020 Refosco.

  • Vino Stache Winery 2019 The Painted Lady.

Best White Blend

Caduceus Cellars 2020 Dos Ladrones.

Best Dessert Port Style

Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Red Dessert Wine.

Best Barbera

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2020 Dos Padres Vineyard Barbera.

Best Bordeaux-style Blend

Chateau Tumbleweed 2020 Cousin Idd.

Best Cabernet Sauvignon

Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon.

Best Graciano

Vino Stache Winery 2019 The Boss.

Best Grenache

Vino Stache Winery 2019 The Painted Lady.

Best Innovative Red Blend (tie)

Caduceus Cellars 2017 Le Cortigiane Oneste.

Dos Cabezas WineWorks 2017 Quintosol.

Best Malvasia Bianca

Pillsbury Wine Company 2020 Malvasia Bonnie Lee.

Best Mourvedre

Rune 2019 Mourvedre.

Best Petite Sirah

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2020 House Mountain Vineyard Petite Sirah.

Best Rhone-style Blend

Merkin Vineyards 2020 Chupacabra.

Best Rosé Blend

Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Ita's.

Best in show and winner in the red wine category, Cove Mesa Vineyards Merlot is seen at the azcentral Arizona Wine Competition in Phoenix on Feb. 28, 2022.
Best in show and winner in the red wine category, Cove Mesa Vineyards Merlot is seen at the azcentral Arizona Wine Competition in Phoenix on Feb. 28, 2022.

Best Rosé Varietal

Mogollon Vineyards 2018 Grenache Rose.

Best Roussane

Rune 2020 Roussanne.

Best Sangiovese

Twisted Union Wine Company 2020 Charm School.

Best Sparkling Wine

Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2021 Legacy Sparkling Rosé Wine.

Best Syrah

Rune 2019 Syrah.

Best Tannat

Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Tannat.

Best Tempranillo

Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2019 2019 Tempranillo.

Best Viognier

Bodega Pierce 2021 Saeculum Cellars Viognier.

Double Gold

  • Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2020 Dos Padres Vineyard Barbera.

  • Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2020 House Mountain Vineyard Petite Sirah.

  • Cove Mesa Vineyard 2018 Merlot.

  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2021 Legacy Sparkling Rosé Wine.

  • Puscifer Queen B Sparkling Rosé.

  • Rune 2019 Mourvedre.

  • Vino Stache Winery 2019 The Painted Lady.

Gold

  • Caduceus Cellars 2020 Dos Ladrones.

  • Caduceus Cellars 2019 Kitsuné.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2017 Graciano.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Tannat.

  • Chateau Tumbleweed 2020 Cousin Idd.

  • Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Stephanie's.

  • Merkin Vineyards 2020 Chupacabra.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2019 Diva.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2019 Grenache Reserve.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2020 Malvasia Bonnie Lee.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2019 Petite Sirah Reserve.

  • Rune 2019 Graciano.

  • Rune 2019 Grenache.

  • Rune 2020 Roussanne.

  • Rune 2019 Syrah.

  • Rune 2020 Viognier.

  • Southwest Wine Center 2020 Refosco.

  • Twisted Union Wine Company 2020 Charm School.

  • Vino Stache Winery 2019 The Boss.

Judges taste wines at the azcentral Arizona Wine Competition at the Newton in Phoenix, Ariz., on Feb. 28, 2022.
Judges taste wines at the azcentral Arizona Wine Competition at the Newton in Phoenix, Ariz., on Feb. 28, 2022.

Silver

  • Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2020 Dos Padres Roussanne.

  • Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2020 Rosado.

  • Bodega Pierce 2018 Emotiva.

  • Bodega Pierce 2019 Mourvedre.

  • Bodega Pierce 2019 Petite Sirah.

  • Bodega Pierce 2019 Tempranillo.

  • Bodega Pierce 2019 Encanto.

  • Caduceus Cellars 2017 Le Cortigiane Oneste.

  • Caduceus Cellars 2018 Nagual de la Naga.

  • Caduceus Cellars 2017 Sancha.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Back Lot.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Back Lot Whole Cluster.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Red Dessert Wine.

  • Chateau Tumbleweed 2019 Cimarron Vineyard Graciano.

  • Chateau Tumbleweed 2020 Rosé.

  • Cove Mesa Vineyard 2020 Malvasia Bianca.

  • Cove Mesa Vineyard 2020 Vermentino.

  • Deep Sky Vineyard 2018 Big Bang.

  • Deep Sky Vineyard 2018 Black Hole.

  • Dos Cabezas WineWorks 2019 Montepulciano.

  • Dos Cabezas WineWorks 2020 Pink.

  • Dos Cabezas WineWorks 2017 Quintosol.

  • Dos Cabezas WineWorks 2020 Syrah.

  • Dos Cabezas WineWorks 2020 White.

  • Four Tails Vineyard 2019 Big Paw.

  • Four Tails Vineyard 2019 Short Temper.

  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2019 Tempranillo.

  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2020 Barbera.

  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2020 Tempranillo.

  • LDV Winery 2015 "The Signature" Petite Sirah.

  • Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Betty's.

  • Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Ita's.

  • Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Lorenzo's.

  • Mogollon Vineyards 2019 Chardonnay.

  • Mogollon Vineyards 2018 Grenache Rose.

  • Mogollon Vineyards 2019 Patricia Lee.

  • Puscifer Queen B Sparkling Malvasia Bianca.

  • Rune 2019 Barbera.

  • Rune 2019 Brigand Posse.

  • Rune 2019 Grenache.

  • Rune 2019 James + Anna's Wedding Wine.

  • Rune Mourvedre.

  • Rune 2019 Wild Syrah.

  • Saeculum Cellars 2021 Muscat of Alexander.

  • Saeculum Cellars 2018 Pinot Noir.

  • Saeculum Cellars 2021 Sparkling Pinot Noir.

  • Saeculum Cellars 2021 Viognier.

  • Southwest Wine Center 2020 Big Red.

  • Twisted Union Wine Company 2020 Bake Sale.

  • Twisted Union Wine Company 2020 Joy Rider.

  • Vino Stache Winery 2019 The Gun Fighter.

  • Vino Stache Winery 2019 The Red Bird.

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Bronze

  • Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2020 Bayshan.

  • Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2020 Diya.

  • Arizona Stronghold Vineyards 2020 Nachise.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Claire's.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Grenache.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2020 Rhumb Line Tempranillo.

  • Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Waverly's.

  • Carlson Creek Vineyards 2020 Chardonnay.

  • Carlson Creek Vineyards 2019 Rule of Three.

  • Chateau Tumbleweed 2020 Miss Sandy Jones.

  • Chateau Tumbleweed 2020 Pillsbury Vineyard Mourvedre.

  • Cove Mesa Vineyard 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon.

  • Cove Mesa Vineyard 2020 PicPoul Blanc.

  • Cove Mesa Vineyard 2019 Sangiovese.

  • Cove Mesa Vineyard 2020 Sangiovese.

  • Deep Sky Vineyard Fusion.

  • Deep Sky Vineyard 2016 Gravity.

  • Deep Sky Vineyard 2018 Supernova.

  • Dos Cabezas WineWorks 2018 Águileón.

  • Dos Cabezas WineWorks Principrana 1.

  • Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery 2019 Cabernet Franc.

  • Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery 2020 Escape.

  • Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery Cabernet Sauvignon.

  • Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery 2018 Scavenger's Blend.

  • Four Tails Vineyard 2019 Double Trouble.

  • Four Tails Vineyard 2019 Pretty Girls.

  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2020 Legacy Zinfandel.

  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2020 Petite Sirah.

  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2020 Petite Sirah Reserve.

  • Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2021 Smoking Gun Zinfandel.

  • Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Hannah's.

  • Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Mo's.

  • Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Oliver's.

  • Merkin Vineyards 2020 Jane Pink.

  • Mogollon Vineyards 2019 Humboldt.

  • Mogollon Vineyards Theodora.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2020 Inappropriate.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2019 Mourvedre Reserve.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2020 Rosé One Night Stand.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2019 Shiraz Guns and Kisses.

  • Pillsbury Wine Company 2020 WildChild White.

  • Provisioner Wines 2020 Provisioner White.

  • Puscifer Queen B Sparkling Mead.

  • Rune 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon.

  • Saeculum Cellars 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon.

  • Saeculum Cellars 2019 Gallia.

  • Southwest Wine Center 2019 Poetry.

  • Twisted Union Wine Company 2020 Arm Candy.

  • Twisted Union Wine Company 2020 Roussanne.

  • Twisted Union Wine Company 2020 Viognier.

azcentral Arizona Wine Competition judges' favorites

Here are the judges of the 2022 azcentral Arizona Wine Competition along with their favorite wines.

  • Amelia Goe, azcentral wine columnist: Pillsbury Wine Company 2020 Malvasia Bonnie Lee.

  • Blaise Faber, Valentine's restaurant: Bodega Pierce 2021 Saeculum Cellars Muscat of Alexander.

  • Chris French, Far Away Wines & Provisions: Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Betty's.

  • Christopher Gross, Christopher's at the Wrigley Mansion: Callaghan Vineyards 2019 Tannat.

  • Daniel Reza, Café Monarch: Deep Sky Vineyard 2016 Gravity; Vino Stache Winery 2019 The Painted Lady.

  • Darla Hoffmann, wine journalist, About Wine: Cove Mesa Vineyard 2018 Merlot.

  • Jared Sowinski, Upward Projects: Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2021 Legacy Sparkling Rosé Wine.

  • Kevin Walters, Frederick Wildman and Sons distribution: Merkin Vineyards 2020 Chupacabra.

  • Kyrri Rauber, Maple And Ash restaurant: Southwest Wine Center 2020 Refosco.

  • Lori Hassler, Farish House restaurant: Dos Cabezas WineWorks 2017 Quintosol; Southwest Wine Center 2020 Big Red.

  • Michel Ayer, Workman/Ayer wines: Cove Mesa Vineyard 2018 Merlot.

  • Michelle Jacob, Gertrude's at Desert Botanical Garden: Rune 2020 Viognier.

  • Nikki Buchanan, food writer/critic, azcentral and Phoenix Magazine: Southwest Wine Center 2020 Refosco.

  • Patrick Norton, The Phoenician: Dos Cabezas WineWorks 2018 Águileón.

  • Samantha Capaldi, wine journalist, samanthasommelier: Bodega Pierce 2019 Encanto; Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Lorenzo's.

  • Sarah DeRosa, Paradise Valley Country Club: Deep Sky Vineyard 2018 Big Bang.

  • Sean Tevik, Taub Family Selections: Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery 2021 Legacy Sparkling Rosé Wine.

  • Tai Ward, Southern Rail: Cove Mesa Vineyard 2018 Merlot.

  • Wednesday Nowak, Talking Stick/Orange Sky: Pillsbury Wine Company 2020 Inappropriate.

  • Zac Adcox, Montecito/Restaurant Progress: Los Milics Vineyards 2019 Hannah's.

Arizona Wine Growers Association Festival

What: Sample the winning wines in the 202azcentral Arizona Wine Competition. The festival culminates the celebration of March as Arizona Wine Month, as proclaimed by the office of Gov. Doug Ducey.

When: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, March 27.

Where: In the parking lot of Tarbell’s restaurant, 3205 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix.

Admission: $95; includes food and 15 1-ounce wine tastes.

Tickets and information: https://www.tarbells.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best Arizona wineries 2022: azcentral wine competition winners