Tootling around the vineyard one day, we found a kestrel on the ground holding a wing in an awkward position. Oh my, it must be broken. We lost track of the bird, but then later in the afternoon the kestrel was at the tasting room, as if it was looking for help. We managed to nab the feathery fussbudget and handed it off to Cheryl, a falconer and a former neighbor, who works with Arizona Raptor Center. She found that the wing was fortunately not broken, just sprained, but the little thing had lost 25% of its body weight. After several days of rehabilitation, the kestrel was carted back to the vineyard and released (to terrify once again those nasty grape-eating house finches - yay!).

VacationIdea.com Dream Vacation Magazine says "A visit to Willcox, Arizona is like a tour of the history of the people and places that epitomize the American Southwest... The area’s climate also makes it a prosperous grape growing region, home to nationally and internationally-known wineries, tasting rooms and local festivals."

And Zarpara Vineyard gets a special mention in their Top 15 Things to do in Willcox

Thank you!

Could cold weather in Southern Arizona mean trouble for vineyard crops? Rhona is interviewed on Phoenix Fox 10 News, and reassures listeners that the vines are happily asleep beneath their winter blanket.

Tom Oetinger talks about Italian wine in this Saddlebags article, and also points out how wineries closer to home are producing excellent ~local~ Italian varietal wines.