Estate Vineyard
The vineyard is home to 12 varieties and a total of 12,157 vines
Year Planted | Varietal | Acres | Vines | Average Tons | Average #/vine | 2016 Harvest (tons) | 2017 Harvest (tons) | 2018 Harvest (tons) | 2019 Harvest (tons) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12.95 | 12,157 | 1.83 | 6.91 | 24.79 | 25.83 | ||||
2012 | Tempranillo | 0.9 | 739 | 2.36 | 4.64 | 0.78 | 2.02 | 3.65 | 3.05 |
Sangiovese | 1 | 838 | 1.82 | 2.98 | 0.37 | 1.97 | 2.42 | 2.51 | |
Viognier | 1.1 | 1076 | 1.89 | 2.32 | 0.34 | 1.48 | 3.05 | 2.67 | |
2013 | Cabernet Sauvignon | 1.1 | 1077 | 1.26 | 0.87 | 0.00 | 0.06 | 1.34 | 1.23 |
Malvasia Bianca | 1.75 | 1495 | 1.71 | 1.73 | 0.15 | 0.79 | 2.94 | 2.95 | |
2014 | Barbera | 1 | 893 | 1.32 | 3.30 | – | – | 1.47 | 1.17 |
Refosco | 1.1 | 1054 | 1.91 | 2.63 | – | 0.16 | 2.61 | 2.95 | |
Aglianico | 1 | 956 | 0.95 | 1.77 | – | 0.18 | 1.52 | 1.16 | |
2015 | Grenache | 1 | 963 | 2.30 | 3.83 | – | 0.25 | 3.43 | 3.22 |
Carginan | 1 | 910 | 1.32 | 2.56 | 0.20 | – | 2.13 | 2.95 | |
2016 | Tannat | 1 | 904 | 0.81 | 0.53 | – | – | 0.24 | 1.38 |
2017 | Piquepoul Blanc | 1 | 947 | .060 | – | – | – | – | 0.60 |
Vineyard History & Timeline

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.

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.

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.


Acre #12 (May 2016)
Tannat a hardy red found in France and Uraguay, was added to the vineyard in the spring of 2016.

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.