The journey was a short 40 minute drive from Sedona, it was Friday the 13th, and large dark clouds loomed over the horizon. The crosswinds on the freeway were trying to sway the SUV as large clumps of tumbleweed were flung across the road. I’d never actually seen tumbleweed before so it made me chuckle as we drove towards the old (allegedly haunted) town.
Then came the downpour, wipers on full blast! As we drove through Cottonwood the storm intensified and the road became a raging torrent, maybe 10 inches deep in places. The trusted SUV stuck to the road like shit to a blanket - no aqua-planing on my watch ;)
Jerome: the old mining town carved out of an Arizona hillside. The intention of this visit was to taste the wine made by Tool* frontman - Maynard J Keenan. I saw a documentary made by Rolling Stone which showed how dedicated he is with wine making, as well as his creative music projects. I just had to see Jerome and the winery. *(favourite.band.ever!)
By the time we climbed the winding hill to Jerome, the storm was petering out, leaving the eerie buildings and fresh cool air to greet us. The beautiful wooden houses looked reminiscent of an old western film. But rather than being saloons with voluptuous bar wenches, cowboys and spittoons; they were art galleries, bric-a-brac shops, wine tasting rooms, bars and cafes. Oddly, the place reminded me of a Cornish town; perhaps it was the steep hillside, mining history, and the cool wet air from the storm.
Caduceus Cellars: friendly, non-pretentious, lovely people, and a cool place to visit. I don’t know that much about wine, so it was refreshing that the staff were so helpful without making you feel stupid. We felt a little more educated about wine, and Arizona wine making afterwards. I’m glad we went; even more so was my American friend, Brian - as he didn’t know what to expect. After tasting a few reds, I settled with a bottle of Anubis "Velvety dark fruit, sultry and brooding"
The Anubis was enjoyed that evening with organic steaks, steamed Kale, Asparagus, and great conversation. Bobbie (our hostess at her AirBnB) is a biker who has done a LOT of travelling over the years. It was so inspiring to hear about her illustrious road trips around Eastern Europe and Russia 30 - over 30 years ago!! There’s some gutsy travelling for y’all.
Next: New Orleans..