Kokopelli Winery
Encyclopedia
Kokopelli Winery & Bistro is a winery
located in Chandler
and Surprise
, Arizona
, United States
. It is the largest winery in the state of Arizona.
, first harvested in 1994, and opened in 1995. The winery was founded by Don and Carol Michella, and Herve and Florent Lescombes. Herve Lescombes was a sixth generation winemaker, with a family history of making wine in France and North Africa. It became Arizona's largest winery in 1995, producing over 5,400 cases that year.
Its first winery location was in Chandler (part of the Phoenix metropolitan area
), and it opened its second location and restaurant in Surprise in the summer of 2008.
The Michellas have been recognized for developing methods for growing grapes in Arizona despite its heat.
Kokopelli wines have won multiple awards in regional wine competitions.
Kokopelli's largest portion of their production is made from grapes brought in from California and therefore cannot use Arizona on its label. Many other Arizona wineries have brought issue to them marketing themselves as an Arizona winery, but neglecting to advertise that they mainly use grapes from California.
Winery
A winery is a building or property that produces wine, or a business involved in the production of wine, such as a wine company. Some wine companies own many wineries. Besides wine making equipment, larger wineries may also feature warehouses, bottling lines, laboratories, and large expanses of...
located in Chandler
Chandler, Arizona
-Demographics:As of the Census of 2010, there were 236,123 people, 86,924 households, and 60,212 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 73.3% White, 4.8% Black or African American, 1.5% Native American, 8.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 21.9% Hispanic or Latino, and 8.3%...
and Surprise
Surprise, Arizona
Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. The population was 30,848 at the 2000 census; however, rapid growth has boosted the city's population to 117,517 at the 2010 census, an increase of 281%...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the largest winery in the state of Arizona.
History
The winery planted its first grapes in 1991 on land about 20 miles north of Willcox, ArizonaWillcox, Arizona
Willcox is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,769. Professional wrestler Ted Dibiase lived his formative years in Willcox, as did singer Tanya Tucker.-History:...
, first harvested in 1994, and opened in 1995. The winery was founded by Don and Carol Michella, and Herve and Florent Lescombes. Herve Lescombes was a sixth generation winemaker, with a family history of making wine in France and North Africa. It became Arizona's largest winery in 1995, producing over 5,400 cases that year.
Its first winery location was in Chandler (part of the Phoenix metropolitan area
Phoenix Metropolitan Area
The Phoenix metropolitan area, often referred to as The Valley of the Sun, is a metropolitan area, centered on the city of Phoenix, that includes much of the central part of the US state of Arizona...
), and it opened its second location and restaurant in Surprise in the summer of 2008.
The Michellas have been recognized for developing methods for growing grapes in Arizona despite its heat.
Kokopelli wines have won multiple awards in regional wine competitions.
Kokopelli's largest portion of their production is made from grapes brought in from California and therefore cannot use Arizona on its label. Many other Arizona wineries have brought issue to them marketing themselves as an Arizona winery, but neglecting to advertise that they mainly use grapes from California.