The Festival Event Schedule
General Admission Event Schedule, 1pm-5pm
1pm-5pm | Grand Wine Tasting 
Presented by AWGA & The Farm at South Mountain, stemware provided by Schott Zwiesel
- 20 Arizona wineries offer hundreds of wines for tasting, meet winemakers from across the state, sip and discover the varietals grown in Arizona
- Sample food from local businesses including Chef Tracy Dempsey, Crave Ice Cream and more
1pm-4:30pm | Picnic Lunch In The Grove
Presented by The Farm Kitchen and Santa Barbara Catering Company
- Included with general admission ticket, choose from three local & seasonal sandwiches or a salad plus a side of sweet potato salad and a pecan shortbread cookie
1pm | People’s Choice- Arizona Grower’s Cup Whites
- Vote your favorite Arizona wine! Choose from the finest red and white wines in the state, learn how to taste wine critically & responsibly from AJ’s Fine Foods' cellar masters, find out who wins at the 3:30pm ceremony.
1:30pm-2pm | Everything Wine for Everyone Seminar by Schott Zwiesel (limited to first 200 guests)
- Learn the basics on wine tasting list a pro, find out what is important when choosing a wine glass, discover what stemware goes with which wine
2pm | People’s Choice- AWGA Winemaker Medal Reds
- Vote your favorite Arizona wine! Choose from the finest red and white wines in the state, learn how to taste wine critically & responsibly from AJ’s Fine Foods' cellar masters, find out who wins at the 3:30pm ceremony.
2:30pm-3:30pm | The Rise of Arizona Wines Seminar (limited to first 200 guests)
- Listen as the top winegrowers & producers in Arizona discuss what is happening across the 3 main growing regions in the state, sample wines from these unique regions as the winemakers share their thoughts, expert panel includes Kent Callaghan, Eric Glomski & Dick Erath, discussion moderated by Richard Ruelas of the Arizona Republic
3pm | People’s Choice- Arizona Grower’s Cup Reds
- Vote your favorite Arizona wine! Choose from the finest red and white wines in the state, learn how to taste wine critically & responsibly from AJ’s Fine Foods' cellar masters, find out who wins at the 3:30pm ceremony.
3:30pm-4pm | The 2009 AWGA Awards Announcements
- Find out who won the top honors at this year’s Professional Wine Competition, find out who won the People’s Choice Award, the AWGA “Rootstock” award recipient will be announced honoring an individual who has help lead the way for the state's wine industry
4pm-5pm | Live Auction
- Bid on some amazing wine, dine & travel packages put together to help support the Arizona Wine Growers Association
- Take a sneak peek at the fantastic auction items!
5pm | Conclusion of the General Admission Events
Note: 11:30am-1:00pm Wine/hospitality industry personnel are invited early to sample what’s new in Arizona wines before the general public arrives. This advance preview allows industry to discover new wines for their restaurants, hotels and stores.
"Grower's Cup Awards" Dinner at Quiessence Restaurant, 5pm-9pm:
$125 per person
EXTREMELY LIMITED SEATING AVAILABLE- Celebrate the first annual Grower’s Cup Awards with us at Quiessence Restaurant, a hidden treasure at the Farm at South Mountain. The Grower’s Cup Award is awarded by an independent professional panel of judges to the top wines submitted from Arizona’s own winemakers. This honor is specifically designed to reward the local winemaker who uses local product – 100% Arizona juice!
Enjoy passed hors d’ouevres at our reception and meet the honored award winners. Enjoy the top winning wines served (as they should be) in premium stemware provided by Fortessa. Dinner will include a four-course meal prepared by Chef Greg LaPrad, one of Arizona’s premier culinary stars. Chef LaPrad is committed to using the freshest local products in his homemade, gourmet experience. Each course will be paired with an Arizona Grower’s Cup winning wine. Truly a unique celebration of local flavor and talent. Seats are VERY limited.
Price includes tax and gratuity
