ARIZONA WINE? Yes!
Hello!
I'm excited to introduce myself. I am Jenelle Bonifield, the creator of the fantastic, soon-to-be-released book: "AZ Uncorked, The Arizona Wine Guide." My fascination with the exploding wine industry in Arizona is what motivated me to create this compelling book. My passion for photography allows me to showcase this award-winning, dedicated group of local winemakers. If you like wine, this book’s for you!
As a food and lifestyles photographer in the Phoenix area, I am always surprised by people’s reactions when I mention Arizona wine. Many people are completely unaware that we have wonderful vineyards and winemakers throughout this state. I am very thrilled to share what I have discovered and photographed in the many unique and diverse areas of Arizona. Just one of the many glowing reviews is as follows:
“AZ Uncorked is at once evocative, sumptuous, and fully nuanced with the intimate terroir of Arizona’s wine industry; I wanted to “drink in” every page! The book’s narrative embraces various voices of the local industry, brilliantly keeping the reader engaged. The visual bonus is Bonifield’s superlative photography; there’s a reason she won London’s Errazuriz 2016 Wine Photographer of the Year - Pink Lady Food Photographer’s produce category.”
- Candy Lesher, Arizona, Culinary Professional, Current President of the Les Dames d’Escoffier International Phoenix Chapter, Inductee to Arizona’s Culinary Hall of Fame
I am delighted to invite you now, to join me ...
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The Mission:
To provide a resource for Arizonans and visitors to learn about the many vineyards throughout our rugged high country and the fabulous wines our winemakers create. As a photographer, I often cover events featuring local Arizona farm-to-table produce, only to find California, Italian, French, and Spanish wines paired with these foods. The wines may be delicious, but if we are celebrating Arizona food, why not celebrate delicious Arizona wine?
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From the Introduction of AZ Uncorked:
“It is a rarity to witness the birth of a new industry. We are fortunate to be cultivating the ground floor of something spectacular. Arizona wines are beautifully complex, extraordinarily balanced, full of depth, and often stylistically unique to the area.”
– T. Scott Stephens – co-owner Beckett’s Table & Southern Rail Restaurants
The Journey:
This project took more than photography; I needed a team, including writers, editors, proofreaders, and a printer.
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For over three years I have traveled the roads of most of the state of Arizona, capturing every stage of the vineyards and wine-making process through my camera lens. I photographed at all hours of the day and night, during all kinds of weather. It has truly been a labor of love…. However, I need your help and support in funding this and related future projects. These projects aid the ever-growing wine industry, including tourism and viticulture. I want to share what I’ve learned about Arizona’s wine industry, both with Arizonans and visitors, to explore our wine regions and support local.
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The year 2020, as you know, has been difficult for most small businesses, and the wine industry has been no exception. I have seen that winemakers and wine industry individuals are among the hardest working, most dedicated, and passionate people on the planet.
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Through my book, I have provided information via photographs, interviews, maps, and quick glance side bars on 45 individual wineries and tasting rooms in Arizona. This provides the reader with information to plan their trips without having to leave home, saving both time and money.
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Why I need your financial support:
My goal is to raise $50,000 in order to cover production and printing costs. Producing a high end, coffee table book is expensive, and I want to continue with more publications and media to support this exploding industry. The higher the volume of each printing, the lower the per unit cost. I could only do a small first edition since I am self-funded. There were no fees to (or from) featured wineries; no advertising or sponsors. I took no salary for myself.
When you support AZ Uncorked, you help support future winemakers!
A portion of any profits of AZ Uncorked will go to the Yavapai College Southwest Wine Center’s Neal Baltz Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Southwest Wine Center at Yavapai College is a premier wine industry and community resource, offering a comprehensive hands-on education from vineyard-to-bottle with programs in enology, viticulture and business/entrepreneurship through its estate vineyard, teaching winery, fully-operational tasting room, and region-wide wine industry research epicenter.
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Why I decided to self-publish:
I wanted an unbiased book, and no restrictions by a publisher. I wanted complete creative control over the design and content. I wanted to support my community by printing locally and keeping all revenue in state. I selected wineries I thought would show diversity in their styles.
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The Impact
To raise the awareness of the Arizona wine industry’s growth and excellence, providing more traffic and sales in local tasting rooms, wineries, and related businesses.
- Provide a resource for Arizonans to learn about the many vineyards throughout our rugged high country and the fabulous wines our winemakers create. Explore what is in our own backyards.
- Arizona is a tourist destination. My book contains information so travelers can plan their visits to wineries and tasting rooms. Arizona's northern wine region has been referred to as the next Napa Valley, yet it has a uniquely Arizonan style.
- The ability for me to create a second edition and more publications, including the many emerging wineries, and point wine enthusiasts everywhere in the direction of Arizona.
Another review:
“Following in the tradition of great wine guides, AZ Uncorked has everything you need to be inspired to explore the wilds of Arizona wine country. Instructive maps and stunning photography of reposeful and refined vineyard landscapes are supported by heartfelt stories, told by many of those who have helped to shape the Arizona wine world. Historical facts and explorations into regional terroir will also interest those who like a deeper look into viticultural history.”
- Sariya Jarasviroj Brown, Arizona, Founder, Circo Vino
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Risks & Challenges
If I do not reach my goal, I will still use funds raised to publish as many copies of the book as possible.
I have personally assumed the risks associated with this book. All costs were paid personally, and there was no fee (to or from) the featured wineries or tasting rooms. To keep the price of a 544-page coffee table book low enough to sell, it had to be priced accordingly but does not allow for a good deal of reimbursement. If the book is not financially sustainable, I cannot create updates or special editions dealing with other areas of the Arizona wine industry.
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Other Ways You Can Help
Could you spread the word about AZ Uncorked? Get the word out about what I'm doing to raise the awareness of the Arizona wine industry? Send an email with this link or post it on your social media?
I realize some people just can't contribute, but that doesn't mean they can't help. Share on social media about the book and its ease of use and the stories of these fabulous winemakers, carving out a place for Arizona in the wonderful world of viticulture! My website is www.arizonawineguide.com . You could also use the Indiegogo share tools!
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More quotes ....
The early reviews are in from worldwide wine industry professionals who were provided Advance Reader Copies (ARCs):
“The singular majesty of Arizona’s winelands is expertly captured by Jenelle Bonifield and her camera lens. This is not your ordinary coffee table book. Bonifield has invited several of wine’s leading minds to expound upon the regions and producers, leaving the reader as well informed as they are visually enchanted.”
- Kelli A. White, California, Sommelier, wine writer, author of Napa Valley, Then & Now
“If you are looking for your next wine adventure, Arizona’s wine country should be it! AZ Uncorked, written and photographed by wine industry professionals from the Grand Canyon state, will without a doubt convince you why a trek to the state’s diverse, rugged, and exciting wine regions should be on your bucket list. They are for sure on ours now!”
- Wine Destinations, Indiana
“There has never been a better time for such a comprehensive book on Arizona wine...”
- Elaine Chukan Brown, California, Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews
“The chance to experience the birth of a new wine region is through this beautifully crafted and photographed breakthrough book.”
- Richard Siddle, United Kingdom, Editor-in-chief, The Buyer
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A bit about Arizona wine:
Three main regions:
- Verde Valley: The rocky limestone soil and sunny climate in the Verde are very similar to the winemaking regions of France and Italy. Elevations ranging from 3,500 to 5,000 feet.
- Sonoita-Elgin: Grapes flourish at elevations of 4,500-5,000 feet here, making for some of the highest vineyards in the country. The terrain is high-desert grassland.
- Willcox: The warm desert climate, high elevation, and sandy soil provide terroir similar to that in Argentina and Southern France at 4,200 feet and higher.
Some of our outlier vineyards are as high as 5,300 feet.
Our wines have had continuing recognition and wins at the San Francisco Chronicles Wine Competition, Best Wines of North America.
Arizona wines have won competitions at the TEXSOMM International Wine Awards.
Arizona wine produced by several wineries has been served in the White House on separate occasions.
Book contributor Pavle Milic adds these figures from a recent publication:
- Arizona wine tourism has created $56.2 million in total economic output.
- The Arizona wine industry has created 640 full-time jobs.
- $3.6 million generated in state and local taxes.
- 600,000 visitors to vineyards and tasting rooms annually.
- Average yield: 2 1⁄2 tons per acre.
- One ton of wine grapes can produce around 150 gallons of juice, or about 65 cases, or roughly 782 bottles.
This is serious, people – go drink a glass of Arizona wine and let’s keep moving forward!
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More on the AZ Uncorked team:
I pulled together quite a team of contributors for AZ Uncorked. Elaine Chukan Brown of Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews wrote the Foreword. Acclaimed restaurateur and sommelier T. Scott Stephens wrote the intriguing Introduction. Erik Berg, Darla Hoffmann, and Elizabeth Krecker are the main writers for the stories, and they did a great job! Published Arizona historian Erik Berg also wrote a great section on Arizona's Wine History.
The guide is divided into sections based on Arizona’s wine regions. Each section has a map and begins with an introduction written by Arizona wine industry professionals and enthusiasts: Cody Chasen Burkett introduces Verde Valley, Pavle Milic introduces Sonoita-Elgin, and Nikki Check introduces Willcox. Michelle Jacob introduces our metro tasting rooms, and Annabel Sclippa introduces the outlier wineries. A bonus of Arizona wine festivals and events is covered by Richard Betts.
My editorial team was amazing! I had Laura Golder Kenney for editing and Libby Floyd Davis for proofreading. Countless hours were spent getting it just right. I appreciate their attention to detail.
My husband Thomas Bonifield was my support throughout the process. We had a design and graphics business together in the past, so his help was invaluable. He helped with the maps and photoshop edits, as well as reviewing content.
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About my background
A photographer and designer based in metropolitan Phoenix, I love to roam throughout Arizona’s wine regions capturing images of vineyards and winemaking. With a background in graphic design and motion graphics, I always enjoyed photography and became a professional photographer as a second career specializing in farm-to-table images. As a wine lover, my interest in Arizona wine began in 2010 when my friends launched a vineyard and winery in the foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains in southeastern Arizona, LDV Winery.
Working alongside my husband Thomas, our design company, Green Rabbit Design Studio, was the recipient of more than 20 local, national, and international industry awards, including Telly, Worldfest, Creativity International, and ITVA awards. My photographs have been published in AAA/Via Travel Magazine, Sunset Magazine, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, WhereTraveler, Arizona Food & Wine, Valley Guide, Images Arizona, Paradise Valley Lifestyles, Edible Phoenix, Uptown Magazine and Experience Scottsdale, as well as on the Visit Arizona website. My photographs are on display at several tasting rooms across the state.
In London, I was announced Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year in the 2016 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year’s produce category with an image of pressing Grenache grapes, “Press 2,” taken at LDV Winery. More than 7000 images from 60 countries were submitted.
My true passion is photographing and documenting the beauty of Arizona’s vineyards and hearing the stories of winery owners and winemakers.
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