“You can only get Verde Valley wine in the Verde Valley.” 
With veraison (the turning of grape berries that signals ripening) setting in, winegrower hobbyist Daniel Tierney covered his vines with nets to protect the grapes from thirsty birds.
Flagstaff retired APS lineman Tom McNally and Camp Verde teacher Bob Kuebler came to the vineyard to help. “I was so relieved to have four other hands. It was so hot we needed to drink gallons of cold water throughout the day to stay hydrated.”
“It was good physical exercise and I had a blast,” said Kuebler. “It is the coolest thing in the world because you get to see something that God planted on the earth, like a grape, and how it can turn into so many different things, like wine.”
Alcantera Vineyards and Winery winemaker Rom Brumley says that growing grapes in the desert is a challenge. “We’re a little different from other cooler wine regions in the world. That’s what makes us special. You can only get Verde Valley wine in the Verde Valley.” FBN
By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN
Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography: Daniel Tierney recruits friends like Tom McNally of Flagstaff to help protect the tender grapes from birds.
