J M Chapman Agency Inc Jay Chapman, Agent Bus: (480) 945-7122 7055 E Thomas Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85251 jchapman@amfam.com American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. & its Operating Companies, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 ©2015 006441 – Rev. 2/20 – 12923221 CALL (480) 945-7122 FOR A NO-OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE. INSURANCE DESIGNED WITH YOU AND YOUR DREAMS IN MIND. J M Chapman Agency Inc Jay Chapman, Agent Bus: (480) 945-7122 7055 E Thomas Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85251 jchapman@amfam.com erican Family Mutual Insurance Company, I. & its Operating Companies, 00 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 2015 006441 – Rev. 2/20 – 12923221 ALL (480) 945-7122 FOR A O-OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE. SURANCE DESIGNED WITH OU AND YOUR DREAMS IN IND. J M Chapman Agency Inc Jay Chapman, Agent Bus: (480) 945-7122 7055 E Thomas Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85251 jchapman@amfam.com American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. & its Operating Companies, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 ©2015 006441 – Rev. 2/20 – 12923221 CALL (480) 945-7122 FOR A NO-OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE. INSURANCE DESIGNED WITH YOU AND YOUR DREAMS IN MIND. INSURANCE DESIGNED WITH YOU AND YOUR DREAMS IN MIND. CALL (480) 990-8855 FOR A NO-OBLIGATION FREE QUOTE. 42 SEPTEMBER 2024 I n the heart of Gila County, 120 miles northeast of Phoenix between Roosevelt Lake and Payson, take a bumpy detour on State Route 288 and you will arrive in Young, Arizona. This almost mile-high, picturesque community is where deer and elk roam, hikers seek an escape from the heat, history buffs come to explore and fine wine flows. Young is the heart of Pleasant Valley, and – depending on who you talk to – is either Arizona’s best-kept secret or its worst. There was a range war in the 1880s, and it turned out to be one of the largest and bloodiest in Western history. Often referred to as Arizona’s version of the Hatfield and McCoy feud, the Pleasant Valley War was a violent and bloody battle that stained Arizona’s history and cost us our statehood for nearly a decade. In fact, the feud between the Tewksbury and Graham clans is such a notorious piece of history that almost every cowboy movie ever made includes a scene from the Pleasant Valley War. Young is situated in the Sierra Ancha wilderness area, a 20,850-acre plot of land where high desert meets towering pines and mountains reach toward the clouds of our big blue Arizona sky. This area is full of surprises, including a vineyard and tasting room. James Bruzzi first read about Young in Arizona Highways magazine. It was one of the suggested scenic drives in that issue, and Bruzzi said, “It was love at first sight.” It became the perfect place to build an organic estate vineyard. One may think Young is an odd place for this industry, since it’s not one of Arizona’s designated viticulture areas. But outliers like Bruzzi find ways to make it work. “It’s a little bit colder than most places in Arizona, and that causes us to have a little bit of a later growing season,” he said. “We usually start in late May or early June and harvest our grapes toward the end of October and beginning of November, which is about three months behind the rest of the state’s growing regions.” When harvesting most grapes, cold weather is a challenge, so Bruzzi grows a varietal that thrives in colder temperatures: The Vidal Blanc. From these grapes, the vintner makes a Vidal Blanc wine and an ice-style wine. He says Young and its soil are the perfect place for farming – and with farming comes animals. At Bruzzi Vineyards, guests will find three llamas, a sheep, and a pig named Edna. Visitors can even meet the llamas! Bruzzi is building a place where the community can gather and enjoy good wine and great company. He has created solstice dinner and murder mystery dinner events, pairing his wines with a delicious menu to celebrate local agriculture. Every Friday and Saturday, he also offers reservation-based, fixed-menu dinners. Bruzzi wants to create a world- class experience and help make Young, Arizona, a destination-worthy place. bruzzivineyard.com This small town offers wine, views and a bit of big history Robin is the host and executive producer of the Arizona Highways Television , Saturdays and Sundays on CBS. BY ROBIN SEWELL