Visit Los Milics Vineyards in Elgin, AZ: The Vineyards, Tastings, and Casitas

Los Milics Vineyards, nestled in the high desert of Elgin, Arizona, offers a sophisticated yet welcoming retreat for wine enthusiasts and travelers.

It’s unique among the boutique vineyards around Sonoita, because it combines vineyards, a tasting room, and a restaurant, with casitas to stay in on-site.

Vineyard & Winery Location

Located in Southern Arizona’s wine-growing region, the vineyards at Los Milics benefit from the area’s high elevation, unique soil composition, and cooler climate.

Los Milics on the Map

Drive times:

• Phoenix: 2.5 hours
• Tucson: 1 hour

Where to Stay Nearby

The Sonoita area is full of rentals, with a few hotel options. You can plug your dates into this interactive map to check rates:

Grape Growing Conditions

Elgin’s soil is rich in the minerals which add complexity to wines. The sandy, gravelly soils in the region provide excellent drainage, which encourages deep root growth and reduces the risk of overwatering the vines.

Elgin sits at an elevation of about 4,800–5,000 feet, creating a temperature variation, with warm days and cool nights. This helps grapes retain acidity while achieving optimal ripeness, which is crucial for balanced wines.

The arid climate, with low humidity, reduces the risk of fungus on the vines, while seasonal monsoon storms help irrigate them during the summer and fall.

Los Milics Wines: Red, White & Rose

Los Milics is known for small-production, boutique wines crafted from hand-picked grapes grown in their own vineyards.

The winery offers a selection of red, white, and rosé blends, made from grapes grown on-site, and from other vineyards in Arizona.

17 Kinds of Grapes Grown

Red Varietals:

• Cabernet Franc
• Carignan
• Counoise
• Graciano
• Grenache
• Monastrell
• Montepulciano
• Petit Verdot
• Syrah
• Tannat
• Tempranillo
• Teroldego
• Vranac

Tasting Room & Restaurant

Los Milics has a beautiful, large tasting area and restaurant.

Elgin Tasting Room:

• Hours: Open Thursday to Monday, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
• Offerings:
  • Wine Tasting Flights: $25 for a flight of five wines.
  • Shared Plates: Tapas-style dishes, often featuring locally sourced vegetables.

Dinner at Los Milics

The Biscuit Restaurant serves dinners most nights, and reservations are recommended.  It’s named after the highest domed peak nearby, known locally as “The Biscuit.”

• Hours: Thursday to Monday, with seatings starting at 5:30 PM; last seating at 7:30 PM.
• Menu: Features comforting, rustic, and uncomplicated flavors that harmonize with Los Milics wines. The menu is designed under the direction of Chef Ana Borrajo.
• Click here to check out the menu.

Casitas: Stay at Los Milics Vineyards

Los Milics Vineyards features nine boutique casitas nestled amidst the vines. These one-bedroom rentals offer modern open-concept interiors and private covered patios, allowing guests to wake up to vineyard views.

The casitas run $250 to $350 a night, depending on the date.

➡️ Click to Book

The decision to build casitas stemmed from an idea to offer guests an immersive experience in the vineyard’s environment.

Each private patio features views of the Mustang Mountains.  

Each casita comes with plush linens, premium bath products, a coffee maker, a comfy sitting area, and a complimentary mini bottle of one of the vineyard’s wines.

Each has a Murphy bed that sleeps two additional guests.

The Story Behind the Vineyards

Los Milics Vineyards was established in 2018 by Pavle Milic and Mo Garfinkle.

Milic, co-owner of the acclaimed FnB restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, ventured into winemaking with the assistance of Todd and Kelly Bostock of Dos Cabezas WineWorks. This collaboration led to the creation of the Los Milics label in 2014.

In 2018, Milic and Garfinkle acquired land in Elgin, transforming 20 acres of former cattle-grazing territory into a vineyard. 

Architects Thamarit “Tommy” Suchart and Patricia Szu-Ping Chen Suchart designed the tasting room and restaurant. The structure, featuring 20-foot-tall steel-clad monoliths, resembles a modern-day Stonehenge and serves as a distinctive landmark in the region.

It reminded me of some of the modern architecture we’ve seen in Iceland and other parts of Europe.

Los Milics Awards

Los Milics is a new vineyard, but it’s gained some attention in different types of award categories:

• Governor’s Cup at the AZ Central Arizona Wine Competition 2024: Their 2022 Sandra’s Rosé was awarded the Governor’s Cup, marking the first time a rosé received this honor.
• Grower’s Cup for Best Rosé Wine: The same 2022 Sandra’s Rosé also earned the Grower’s Cup as the best rosé in Arizona.
• Grower’s Cup for Best White Wine: Los Milics’ 2022 Hannah’s was recognized as the best white wine in the state.
• USA TODAY 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024: The winery’s tasting room was ranked second among the best in the country.

The Scottsdale Tasting Room

In addition to its Elgin estate, Los Milics operates a tasting room in Old Town Scottsdale, making it easy for visitors from the Phoenix area to experience their wines.

Location:

• 4151 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ

Hours:

• Monday – Thursday: 2:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Friday – Saturday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
• Sunday: 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Offerings:

• Wine Selections: Enjoy flights, glasses, or bottles of Los Milics Vineyards’ acclaimed wines, showcasing the unique terroir of southern Arizona.
• Light Snacks: Complement your wine tasting with a selection of light snacks available for purchase.
• To-Go Purchases: Bottles are available for take-home, allowing you to savor their wines beyond the tasting room.

Other Vineyards & Wineries in Sonoita

The Sonoita and Elgin region in Arizona is home to a vibrant wine community, featuring a variety of wineries and vineyards to visit.

Map of Arizona Wineries and Vineyards

Here are a few of the vineyards and wineries you might consider visiting:

• Sonoita Vineyards
• Callaghan Vineyards
• Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery
• Arizona Hops and Vines
• Lightning Ridge Cellars
• Dos Cabezas WineWorks
• Rune Wines
• The Village of Elgin Winery
• Deep Sky Vineyard
• Autumn Sage Vineyards
• Hannah’s Hill Vineyard
• Twisted Union Wine Company
• Verdad Vineyards