Visit Arizona Wine Country: Vineyards in Sonoita & Elgin
I love wine, and I’m always pleasantly surprised by my visits to Arizona’s “Wine Country” and the vineyards and wineries around Sonoita.
When people think about Arizona, our desert scenery immediately comes to mind. But the climate and conditions are just right in this part of the state to grow grapes, which wineries are turning into really good wine. The keys are:
- High Elevation: An elevation of 4,500–5,000 feet, which creates a climate cooler than the desert.
- Unique Terroir: The combination of volcanic soil and limestone deposits.
Key Info on a Visit to Sonoita
- It’s an hour from Tucson, and 2.5 hours from Phoenix.
- Several tours and drivers are available.
- You can visit around 20 vineyards and wineries in the region.
- The grape harvest is in August.
- More hotel and rental options are emerging.
Arizona Winery & Vineyard Tours
While Sonoita is a good day trip from Phoenix, it’s worth spending the night in the area, hiring a driver (unless you have a volunteer designated) or taking a tour of the vineyards and wineries.
I’ll recommend these options:
➡️ Book: Phoenix to Sonoita Wineries
➡️ Book: Tucson to Sonoita Wineries
➡️ Book: Bisbee or Sierra Vista to Sonoita Wineries
Where to Stay Around Sonoita
It’s just an hour from Tucson, so you could always stay in the city. You’ll find a growing number of options in the Sonoita area itself. You can plug your dates into this interactive map to see the rentals and rates for your trip:
Map of Vineyard & Winery Locations
Los Milics Vineyards
Los Milics in Elgin, AZ, has a beautiful, large tasting area and restaurant. You can also walk through the vineyards and stay right on site!
Location: 423 Upper Elgin Rd, Elgin, AZ
Elgin Tasting Room:
- Hours: Open Thursday to Monday, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
- Offerings: Wine Tastings are $25 for five flights. Tapas plates, too!
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.
Casitas: Stay at Los Milics
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.
The decision to build casitas stemmed from an idea to offer guests an immersive experience in the vineyard’s environment.
Rune Wines
Rune Wines is right on Highway 82 in Sonoita. It’s an off-grid, solar-powered winery and tasting room with good wine, food, and a commitment to sustainability. The seating areas are spread out over the property, with great desert, mountain, and grassland views.
Location: 3969 AZ-82, Sonoita, AZ
Tasting Room Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday to Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Offerings:
- Wine Tastings: Guests can enjoy a selection of wines, including varietals like Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre.
- Food Pairings: The tasting room offers tapas-style dishes, such as bruschetta and charcuterie boards, to complement the wines.
What I Like Best: The indoor-outdoor, relaxing tasting experience.
Dos Cabezas Wineworks
Dos Cabezas WineWorks in Sonoita has been a cornerstone of the Arizona wine industry since its start in 1995.
Location: 3248 AZ-82, Sonoita, AZ 85637
Tasting Room Hours:
- Wednesday to Monday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Closed on Tuesdays
Offerings:
- Wine Tastings: Guests can enjoy a selection of red, white, and rosé wines, including Garnacha, Syrah, and Tempranillo varietals. The tastings are $15 for 6 samples, and bottles sell for around $35.
- Pronghorn Pizza: On-site dining is available through Pronghorn Pizza, offering artisanal pizzas that pair well with the winery’s offerings.
The tasting room provides a welcoming atmosphere with both indoor and outdoor seating, allowing visitors to enjoy views of the surrounding vineyards and high desert landscape.
What I like best: The Aguileon from Cimarron Vineyard in Wilcox, AZ. It’s 46% Tempranillo, 25% Graciano, 14% Petite Verdot, and 14% Garnacha.
Hops & Vines
Arizona Hops and Vines in Sonoita is a sister-owned winery with a large patio full of festive, eclectic decor.
Location: 3450 AZ-82, Sonoita, AZ
Tasting Room Hours:
- Friday to Saturday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Offerings:
- Wine Tastings: Guests can enjoy a diverse selection of handcrafted wines, each paired with snack combinations.
Sonoita’s Grape Growing Conditions
The soil in Sonoita and Elgin is rich in the minerals that add complexity to wines. The sandy, gravelly soils in Arizona’s wine region provide excellent drainage, which encourages deep root growth.
The elevation of 4,500–5,000 feet creates 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.
Elgin & Sonoita Wines: Red, White & Rose
Red Varietals:
- Cabernet Franc
- Carignan
- Counoise
- Graciano
- Grenache
- Monastrell
- Montepulciano
- Petit Verdot
- Syrah
- Tannat
- Tempranillo
- Teroldego
- Vranac
White Varietals:
- Malvasia Bianca
- Marsanne
- Petit Manseng
- Vermentino
Vineyards & Wineries in Sonoita & Elgin
The Sonoita and Elgin region in Arizona is home to a growing number of vineyards and wineries. The incomplete list includes:
- 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
- Kief-Joshua Vineyards
- Canelo Hills Vineyard and Winery
Arizona Wine Regions
While Sonoita was first, Arizona has three officially recognized American Viticultural Areas (AVAs).
Sonoita AVA
- Established: 1984 (Arizona’s first AVA)
- Location: Southern Arizona, near the towns of Sonoita and Elgin.
- Geography: A high-elevation basin (4,000–5,000 feet) surrounded by the Santa Rita, Whetstone, and Huachuca Mountains.
- Climate: Cooler, compared to much of Arizona, with warm days and cool nights.
- Soil: Well-draining, limestone-rich, with sandy loam and gravel.
Willcox AVA
- Established: 2016
- Location: Southeast Arizona, around the town of Willcox, not far from Sonoita.
- Geography: High-desert plateau with elevations of 4,200–4,500 feet.
- Climate: Warm, sunny days and cool nights.
- Soil: Sandy loam with volcanic deposits and good drainage.
- Wine Styles: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Malvasia Bianca are prominent.
- Notable Wineries: Pillsbury Wine Company, Sand-Reckoner Vineyards, and Keeling Schaefer Vineyards.
Verde Valley AVA
- Established: 2021 (Arizona’s newest AVA)
- Location: North-central Arizona, near Sedona, Cottonwood, and Camp Verde.
- Geography: A lower-elevation AVA (3,000–4,000 feet).
- Climate: Moderately warm, with a shorter growing season compared to other Arizona AVAs.
- Soil: A mix of volcanic and limestone-rich soils with good drainage.
- Wine Styles: Sangiovese, Barbera, and Vermentino.
- Notable Wineries: Alcantara Vineyards, Page Springs Cellars, and Arizona Stronghold.
Wrap: Is Arizona Wine Country Worth It?
Full disclosure: I’m far from an expert! At winery tastings from Sonoma to Burgundy, I’m rarely able to decipher if a wine has been “oaked” or has hints of strawberry off the nose.
Still, I know good wine from not-so-good, and I’ve usually been pleased with my selections in Sonoita.
As the climate changes, grapevines will grow easier in more parts of the world. So Arizona is probably one of many budding wine regions you’ll be hearing about soon.
If you’re driving around Southern Arizona, consider making a stop at some of these iconic destinations:
- Saguaro National Park
- San Xavier Mission
- Picacho Peak State Park
- Kartchner Caverns State Park
- Chiricahua National Monument
- Bisbee
- The retro town of Lowell, AZ (near Bisbee)
- Tombstone
