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Amazing Grapes: Verde Valley wine industry flourishing
..... inherent in a desert mountain river valley, and an optimal ratio of altitude to latitude, and you have all the makings to grow world-class wine grapes.
There is a growing belief that the Verde Valley will one day become a world-class wine destination.
The Verde Valley is a 35-mile long, 15- to 20-million-year-old drainage, worn through layers of porous sandstone and limestone
The vineyards of Europe have sustained wine-based economies, mostly in rural areas with few other opportunities, for centuries.
Amazing Grapes: Verde Valley Wine Industry Flourishing
By Steve Ayers, Verde News
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
The Verde Valley is a 35-mile long, 15-20 million year old drainage, worn through layers of porous sandstone and limestone.
The sedimentary rock, most of which was laid down long before the river began its journey, is perforated and layered with volcanic intrusions that have rocked the landscape for as long or longer than the river has flowed.
Occasionally, these volcanic intrusions blocked the drainage's pathway creating inland lakes, which, over time created an additional layer of calcareous marine sediment known as the Verde formation.
These alkaline sediments and volcanic intrusions, combined with minerals washed down from the surrounding highlands have created ideal soil in which to grow grapes.
Add to the ideal soil a mix of climatic diversity and extreme temperature variations inherent in a desert mountain river valley, and an optimal ratio of altitude to latitude, and you have all the makings to grow world-class wine grapes.
As almost any one in the wine business can tell you, grapes like the hard life. More