36 JUNE 2024 F ormerly a local masonic temple built in 1958, this beautiful building on top of a hill in Cottonwood, Arizona has become a gourmet paradise. The owners wanted to create a food and wine destination that is truly unique – starting at its base all the way up to its plateau. At the bottom is an Italian gelateria with flavors plucked straight from the garden. The core flavors include chocolate chip, pomegranate, and lemon sorbet, but there are seasonal flavors that come from the orchards – what you see depends on what’s in season. Next is the hill itself, partly covered with grape vines. The reason the owners chose to grow a vineyard here is because they discovered grapes grow well in Verde Valley – as long as they’re on a hill. Grapes like the Tempanello – a very expressive and special grape – do extremely well at high elevation sites. Along with those, the vineyard has Graciano and Garnacha grape varieties. At the top, guests will find a wine tasting room and a restaurant with a spectacular 270-degree view that is a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Here, they serve fresh pasta, and there’s even a greenhouse adjacent to the kitchen allowing for the freshest of ingredients possible. Are you wondering where we are yet? This literal mountain of epicurean treasures is called Merkin Vineyards Hilltop Winery and Trattoria. It is the brainchild of Maynard James Keenan, vocalist for the rock band Tool. Keenan made his way to the Verde Valley after spending his childhood in the orchards and fields of west Michigan. He grew up with a love of farm-fresh food and his passion expanded to wine while he was touring the world as a musician. Keenan loved the idea of wines that pair with local fare and produce bringing together the farm and the winemaker. Keenan could have grown grapes in many places, but he chose Arizona for the opportunity to be a maverick in an emerging wine region. At the Merkin Vineyards Winery and Tasting Room, employees take great pleasure in educating visitors on the mechanics of wine, why it makes sense to grow grapes here, and what makes the vino so special. Here, winemakers are looking to create a distinct taste, both with the types of grapes grown and the way they ferment them. The wine produced at Merkin Vineyards is not as heavy an oak in comparison to a California wine. Most of what Merkin uses is a neutral French Oak. In addition to making a quality bottle of vino, they are also about creating a legacy for the area. “Nothing really expresses a place more than its wine. You’re capturing the soil, you’re capturing the environment, you’re capturing the air, and this place is imparted on that wine. It becomes a fingerprint,” tasting room director Calvin Arnold said. Chef Chris Smith helms the 6,600-square-foot restaurant. The menu includes salads, handmade pasta, wood-oven pizzas, and a large central bar and outdoor patio. The neighboring winery, which can be viewed as guests enter the restaurant, houses an 8,000- case production facility and display barrel room, with six custom concrete fermentation and aging cubes. If you’re in the mood for a glass of vino and some beautiful scenery, you can find it in Cottonwood – just off an Arizona highway. This Arizona town is for the vino lovers Robin is the host and executive producer of the Arizona Highways Television , Saturdays and Sundays on CBS. BY ROBIN SEWELL Merkin Vineyards in Cottonwood, Arizona.

37 JUNE 2024 By Kylie de Best Earlier this spring, Echo Canyon third- grade teacher Kelley Tully received an email that would significantly change the course of her curriculum. The email stated that she received a $10,000 Innovation Grant from Scottsdale Unified School District. Tully said she loves to expose her class to STEM-based activities throughout the school year, but has limited resources to work with. After receiving a district-wide email detailing the Innovation Grant, she “thought it would be a great opportunity to try and get funding to expand these unique learning initiatives here at Echo Canyon.” The Innovation Grant is aimed at helping teachers implement initiatives that align with the district’s goals of engaging all students in world-class and future learning. Those awarded received an email from Dr. David Priniski, the State and Federal Director at SUSD. For Tully, this has opened a new door of possibilities in bringing the world of STEM to her classroom. “It will allow more students to engage in hands-on learning, including coding, robotics, and engineering,” she said. “Students will learn to work collaboratively to examine real- world problems and then apply knowledge of cross-curricular concepts to design solutions.” Tully plans to use the money to bring her vision of the Tech Tinkerers Junior Engineers Workshop to reality. This STEM-based initiative focuses on projects relating to energy conservation and sustainability within the gardens at Echo Canyon. The funds will provide more robotics equipment and engineering tools to create diverse and elaborate projects. “My goal is to offer equitable access to these resources, allowing more students the chance to learn coding, robotics, problem- solving, and teamwork,” Tully said. “I really want to spark the imagination of our students and foster their sense of curiosity and creativity. The skills gained through this type of learning will be transferable to future careers.” The third-grade teacher has exciting plans for next year, including creating energy-saving prototypes, coding in the gardens to promote sustainability, and designing robotic joints. She said she enjoys making the curriculum hands-on and engaging for the students, and she loves robotics and coding because they can enhance learning across so many different subjects. Tully has taught for 12 years, but this was her first at Echo Canyon. She loves interacting with children and making a positive impact on their lives. “I strive to make learning engaging and meaningful, fostering a sense of curiosity and excitement about the ever-changing world we live in,” she said. With a community equally as ecstatic as Tully was to hear news of the Innovation Grant, her win was celebrated at the district board meeting in April. Innovation Grant “STEMs” new learning opportunities The third grade STEM Club offers innovative projects for passionate students to apply their skills in STEM. (right) During the Notable Figures unit, students researched famous inventors and brought them to life as robotic characters through their knowledge of coding. PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLEY TULLY NATHAN ANDERSON + PAUL NICOLETTI 480.888.5800 | NATEANDPAUL.COM If you are currently working with an agent, please disregard. INTERESTED IN ONE OR ALL? NATHAN ANDERSON + PAUL NICOLETTI SCAN HERE Hate scanning QR Codes? Call Paul at 480.888.5800 ROC #314154 OUR NEWEST CUSTOM HOME IN ARCADIA PROPER Want yours to be the next custom home on the Block? 3832 E MONTEROSA STREET ARCADIA | NEW BUILD 7328 N 22ND STREET BILTMORE HIGHLANDS | ACTIVE 2225 N 38TH WAY PHOENIX | ACTIVE 4501 E TURNEY AVENUE ARCADIA | NEW BUILD Call Nate and Paul! 480.888.5800