Nestled among canopies of mesquite along the desert foothills of Mingus Mountain in Clarkdale, Ariz., the Yavapai College Verde Valley Campus is cultivating a bright and sustainable future for Northern Arizona’s emerging grape and wine industry.

Surrounded by 80 acres of undeveloped, available land the campus’ high desert setting is judged by viticulture experts as an ideal location for wine and table grape vineyards.

The vision for a future Viticulture and Enology program took root following several brainstorming Charrettes hosted by the college. After reviewing the costs, benefits, and job creation potential of the region’s wine and grape industry with community members, business professionals, educational partners, and special interest groups such as the Verde Valley Wine Consortium a vision was launched and Yavapai College’s Verde Valley Vineyards project was born.

Yavapai College has educated Yavapai County residents in the areas of general education, arts, business, agriculture, lifelong learning and community education for more than 40 years. The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (NCACHE) accredit Yavapai College. The college’s agriculture and science programs are ranked in the top 10 for community colleges nationally.