Teaching Vineyard

From Soil Preparation and Vine Selection to Irrigation Strategy, Pest and Weed Management, and Harvest

The Southwest Wine Center encompasses 12.95 acres of estate vineyard nestled in the foothills of Mingus Mountain on Yavapai College’s Verde Valley Campus. Home to 11,852 vines across 12 grape varieties, the vineyard serves as a living laboratory where students gain hands-on, science-based experience in vineyard establishment and management — from soil preparation and vine selection to irrigation strategy, pest and weed management, and harvest.

Yavapai College Etate Vineyard

Soil Characteristics

Vineyard History & Timeline

2009

Acre #1 (May 2009)

In the spirit of the educational aspect of the vineyard, Merkin Vineyards planted the entire acre in Negroamaro, a variety native to southern Italy that’s name means ‘black bitter.’ This is the first planting of Negro Amaro in Arizona.

2012

Acres #2-4 (May 2012)

Individuals, business, community, and government leaders from the Verde Valley community took part in the first annual Plant-a-Vine(yard) event to help with the planting of 3 acres of vines which included Sangiovese, Tempranillo, and Viognier varietals.

2013

Acres #5-6 (May 2013)

One acre of Cabernet Sauvignon and two acres of Malvasia Bianca vines were added to the student-run vineyard when over 150 community volunteers participated in the 2nd annual Plant-A-Vine day. The Malvasia becomes the second white varietal to be planted. It has a mid-season budbreak with good production. It is a very fragrant Mediterranean grape and probably the best Arizona white.

2014

Acres #8-10 (May 2014)

In 2014 the vineyard added three new varietals; Aglianico, Refosco, and Barbera – a family of dark-skinned grapes found in several Italian wine regions. Like so many Italian wine grape varieties, these each have ancient origins and have flourished in warm dry climates.

2015

Acres #10-11 (May 2015)

The Southwest Wine Center’s 4th annual Plant-a-Vine Day brought out over 100 community members to help plant two varietals of Spanish red grape vines, Grenache and Carignan

2017

Acre #13 (May 2017)

Final Acre Planted – New grape varietal – Piquepoul.

Piquepoul, Picpoul, or Picapoll is a variety of wine grape grown primarily in the Rhone Valley and Languedoc regions of France as well as Catalonia, Spain. It exists both in dark-skinned (Piquepoul noir) and light-skinned (Piquepoul blanc) versions, as well as a very little grown Piquepoul gris. Piquepoul blanc is the most common of the Piquepouls, with 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) cultivated in France in 2000, and an increasing trend.