AZ WINE Lifestyle - A Tour Guide To Arizona Wine Country!

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A Tour Guide To Arizona Wine Country!

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO AZ WINE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Arizona Vineyards, Wineries & Tasting Rooms Statewide Wine Maps VERDE VALLEY WINE TRAIL SONOITA/ELGIN WINE COUNTRY WILLCOX WINE COUNTRY


ARIZONA WINE COUNTRY Overview

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VERDE VALLEY WINE TRAIL & Beyond Granite Creek Vineyards

Fire Mountain Wines

From a love of the land sprang a relationship with grapes that culminated in superb, award-winning, living wines with no added sulfites. Granite Creek Vineyards was founded in 1974 when owners Kit and Robin Hoult planted grapevines and began the 40-year legacy of Arizona’s first and only Certified Organic Vineyard. Granite Creek Vineyards is a scenic location to savor the ambiance of the vineyard’s rural roots. Relax with great food provided by Block Six Catering and enjoy live music seasonally on Saturdays. This historic 100-year-old Arizona farmstead has been nurtured to become sips of the enduring pleasures of fine wine. To learn more visit their website at GraniteCreekVineyards.com

Fire Mountain symbolizes the transition between day and night, light and dark, as the circle of life ends and begins again. This Sacred universal process is also expressed by the vine as it digs into the earth and reaches to the sky, creating fruit from our ancestral lands that eventually fills the bottle for you. Our wine blends are inspired by emotion and connectivity through our spiritual ties to place. Fire Mountain offers two brands of wine. Fire Mountain Wines include Earth, Wind & Fire and Cellar Dwellers offers Cicada, Tarantula Hawk and Canvas. Learn more by visiting FireMountainWines.com.

Freitas Vineyard Freitas Vineyard is hidden away on the outskirts of Cottonwood. A small vineyard, it's the dream of Ray Freitas. She planted the three-and-a-half-acre vineyard, located near the Verde River, in 2000 and has been tending her vines since. Her mission is to produce fruit-forward wines, well-balanced in flavor, color and aroma in order to stimulate and enhance your wine tasting experience. Ray calls her Malvasia “sunlight in a bottle.” Freitas Vineyard produces only estate-grown wines, utilizing the European tradition. You can taste Ray’s wines at Old Town Cooperage in Cottonwood. For more information visit FreitasVineyard.com.

Page Springs Cellars This year, Page Springs Cellars celebrates their 10th anniversary of creating award-winning wines that express the unique character of landscape. Family owned and established as a Rhone House, they have expanded beyond that definition by experimenting with new techniques both in the cellar and in the field – including ageing wines on toasted Arizona Oak. “Our mission is to craft amazing wines that pay respect to the land we farm and the community that supports our vision.” Tucked into the volcanic landscape just fifteen minutes south of Sedona, Page Springs Cellars sits on a breathtaking property along the banks of Oak Creek. With a calendar full of educational and entertaining events they also offer onsite amenities including bocce, horseshoes, vineyard massage, winery tours and picnic baskets with gourmet treats. Plus a wine club that offers members access to special events and benefits. Come explore high elevation terroir! PageSpringsCellars.com

Echo Canyon Winery Arizona wine pioneer, Jon Marcus is back from a long hiatus. Jon had some personal and medical issues that forced him to let the vineyard go fallow. He is currently cloning the 700 vines that managed to survive including Cabernet, Cab Franc and Syrah on his Echo Canyon vineyard in Page Springs. Also planned for the site are lots of organic fruits and vegetables too. Taste his long cellared wines at his tasting room in Jerome, across from the House of Joy.

Cellar Dwellers Winemaker John Scarbrough is dedicated to making delicious and unique small batch wines. With enthusiasm and a love for the craft of winemaking, he has set out to create great Arizona wines that are interesting, taste great and are made with passion. His first label released in 2008 was the Tarantula Hawk Zin. Cellar Dwellers wines are now available in restaurants and wine tasting rooms in Arizona. You can sample these great boutique wines at Fire Mountain Wines Tasting Room located in Old Town Cottonwood. FireMountainWines.com/cellarDwellers.htm AZWINElifestyle.com


VERDE VALLEY WINE TRAIL & Beyond Alcantara Vineyards Alcantara Vineyards is a dream venture created by owner Barbara Predmore. Barbara and her husband Bob started the vineyard to provide their family and partners the opportunity to work and develop a vineyard community, and to develop a winery that produces wines that are comparable to the best of California and Europe. Barbara spent four years of research and diligence using the best consultants from the University of Arizona and UC Davis, as well as support from her family at the noted MartinWeyrich Vineyards in Central California. Alcantara Vineyards is perched on 87 acres of sloping terrain off the Verde River and Oak Creek. The Tuscan Farmhouse serves as the tasting room, where they host the many friends and guests that visit from around the globe. Check out their “green” winery building when you visit! Explore their website at AlcantaraVineyard.com.

Oak Creek Vineyards Deb Wahl, owner of Oak Creek Vineyards and Winery, has heard many times that “good wine grows on gentle slopes with a river nearby,” which is why her vineyard is located near beautiful Sedona, across from Oak Creek. In the higher elevations of the property, they grow Syrah and Merlot; in the lower portion they produce Zinfandel and Chardonnay. They produce full-bodied flavorful reds and lean whites in small batches, giving individual attention to each barrel. Come in and taste them at the new bar and browse through the unique gifts on display. The outside seating is perfect to sip a glass of wine and enjoy food from a well-stocked deli case. They are open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. OakCreekVineyards.net

The Grand Canyon Winery The Grand Canyon Winery, proudly owned and operated by the Kennelly Family, sits in the heart of historic downtown Williams. The family has been in the hospitality industry in Northern Arizona for over twenty years. The Grand Canyon Winery is their newest project inspired by their love for Arizona and excitement over its emerging wine culture. Like most native Arizonans the Kennellys have great pride in their state and believe in supporting local communities. The AZ wine community shares the belief that if one succeeds they all succeed and the Kennellys are proud to be a part of this community. Travel Far. Drink Local. TheGrandCanyonWinery.com SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT to AZWINE Lifestyle Magazine

Caduceus Cellars Perched on the side of the South East facing slopes of Jerome, AZ, Caduceus Cellars is making high elevation wines out of predominantly Italian and Spanish varietals from 40 acres in NAZ and 80 acres in SAZ. Owners and Winemakers, Maynard & Jennifer Keenan, are producing roughly 6000 cases a year in their tiny underground cement facility known as The Bunker. Open topped 1/2 ton bin maceration, modified temp controlled carbonic maceration, and/or submerged cap fermentation for the Reds, and whole cluster pressed stainless steel cold fermentation for the Whites and Rose’s. The epitome of a boutique owner owned and operated winery. Tasting room open 365 days a year in Downtown Jerome. Twitter: @caduceuscellars, FB: www.facebook.com/ caduceuscellars, Instagram: puscifer, Website: Caduceus.org.

Four Eight Wineworks Four Eight WINEWORKS: Wine Makers Co-Operative. Incubator. Passion Vortex. Metaphorical Leg Up. Ground Zero for the infinite possibilities and paths each of our individual tenants will manifest. Current tenants include: Joseph Bechard- Chateau Tumbleweed, Tim White- The Kindred Project, Iniquus & Revelation Cellars, Michael Pierce- Saeculum Cellars, MJ Keenan- The Kindred Project & Merkin Vineyards. “When shared vision, knowledge, and perspective be our bones, no winter can take us.” Ronald P. Vincent. The Tasting Room is located in Historic downtown Clarkdale, AZ. Twitter: @four8wineworks, FB: www.facebook.com/four8wineworks, Instagram: four8wineworks, Website: Four8Wineworks.com.

Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery Javelina Leap is a family operated, premium boutique winery with international award-winning wines. Our winery is in northern Arizona’s Verde Valley only minutes away from Sedona in the small historic valley of Page Springs. When you visit us, you will be sampling wines at a fully functional vineyard and winery. Our wines are all made from 100% Arizona grapes. Although we make some blends, most of our wines are pure varietals, a pure result of Arizona terroir. Tour the winery while sipping your wine or relax in the Arizona room and private garden where we serve artisan cheese platters, deli meats, artisan pizza and wines by the glass or bottle. Visit us on your vacation, day trip, or book a private event. Whether you’re with friends and family or on a romantic getaway for two, you’ll always be welcome at Javelina Leap Vineyard & Winery. Wine is fun, come have some! JavelinaLeapWinery.com.


VERDE VALLEY WINE TRAIL & Beyond Burning Tree Cellars Burning Tree Cellars specializes in small batch, meticulously maintained, boutique wines utilizing the finest available fruit sources, quality oak and patience. "Our wines will never be pushed through chain supermarkets or over-marketed, but rather built through the power of suggestion and knowledge that we are all part of something special. These wines are, and always will be, for ourselves, our families and our friends." These handcrafted wines are available at their tasting room in Old Town Cottonwood. Sit on the patio. Listen to live music every weekend. Check them out online at BurningTreeCellars.com.

Pillsbury Wine Company Sam Pillsbury, noted filmmaker, first planted vines on the Willcox Bench in 2000 when he was a partner in Dos Cabezas with Al Buhl. Since then he started his personal dream project in 2006 with 100 acres of prime desert vineyard land near his original vineyard in Kansas Settlement. Sam’s dream was to celebrate the local terroir... an Arizona Chateauneuf, a sustainable Rhone vineyard producing premium quality hand-made 100 percent Arizona boutique wines. In the future, the plans are to create an architecturally stunning wine village with 27 dwellings, including a winery, spa and restaurant serving food organically grown on the land.

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards Arizona Stronghold was formed based on the belief that the soils and climate of southeastern Arizona stand up to the finest in the world. Our goal is to bring Arizona wines to the national stage, promoting them as value and quality based. Great wine doesn’t have to be expensive; it doesn’t have to be pretentious; and it shouldn’t be hard to find. It just has to be great and made by people that care. Arizona Stronghold’s vineyard is located about 20 miles north of Willcox, at the foot of the Graham Mountains. The winery is located in Camp Verde and the tasting room is in Old-Town Cottonwood. The team at Arizona Stronghold tends vines planted as long ago as 1985 and as recently as 2011, in a broad mix of varietals. AZStronghold.com.

What was once bare land is now a showpiece 100 percent Sonoita-soil vineyard. Now, you can visit them at the vineyard at Pillsbury Wine Company SOUTH. Their wines have won stellar reviews and are in some of the best restaurants and resorts in the state. Pillsbury Wine Company NORTH is open in Old Town Cottonwood, a place where you can taste Sam’s wines, view stunning art and visit with other Arizona wine lovers. Learn more at PillsburyWine.com.

Passion Cellars PHOTO OF PILLSBURY WINE CO. BY MICHELLJONASPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.” - Buddha Wine is our passion! We fell in love with the culture of wine during our extensive travels to various wine regions around the world. Upon returning to Arizona we fortunately stumbled across an issue of Arizona Vines & Wines Magazine. We were surprised to learn of the thriving wine industry growing in our own state. Motivated by our love of wine and excited to be a part of it, our family purchased land on the Willcox Bench with the dream of having our own vineyard. We are excited to be the newest addition to the Jerome wine tasting experience. We are a small family business that seeks to pursue our love of wines and share it with you. PassionCellars.com AZWINElifestyle.com


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SONOITA / ELGIN WINE COUNTRY & Beyond Lightning Ridge Cellars

Rancho Rossa Vineyards

After their first trip to Tuscany, Ron and Ann Roncone decided the wine they’d make would be based on their Italian heritage. Lightning Ridge Cellars, a small family winery, was established in 2005. It represents years of personal endeavor from the ground up. The Old World style of wines they make are simply the wines they enjoy most. Their estate wines are proudly made from classic Italian varietals: Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano, Primitivo, Malvasia and Muscat Canelli. Located at 5,100-foot elevation, their vineyard enjoys long warm summers and cool nights to provide the perfect combination for rich, full-bodied wines. They welcome you to their Tuscan-themed winery and tasting room. LightningRidgeCellars.com

Rancho Rossa Vineyards is one of the largest family-owned wineries in the Sonoita area. They specialize in Ultra-Premium varietal bottlings from their 22 acres of estate plantings, using only 100 percent estate-grown fruit in their wines, the only winery in the area to do so. Their first vines were planted in 2002 and their second vineyard was planted in 2003. Rancho Rossa donates $0.10 to the American Cancer Society for every bottle of wine sold. Please visit the website at RanchoRossa.com to learn more.

Wilhelm Family Vineyards In 2003, Kevin and Karyl Wilhelm bought 20 beautiful acres of rolling Sonoita-Elgin wine-growing land to begin their winemaking dream. Today Wilhelm Family Vineyards is planted with seven different varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, Tempranillo and Albariño. Other Spanish and Rhone varietals are currently being explored. Along with their wines, the Wilhelm’s 6,000 sq. ft. winery is available for custom crush processing operations, barrel storage and small individual-lot winemaking. Karyl, their resident winemaker, has completed studies at U.C. Davis in the Winemaking Certification program. She prefers timehonored winemaking styles with patient guidance to nature’s best. Make sure you add Wilhelm Family Vineyards to your wine tour list. Come meet the family, sample their wines and perhaps even try your harvesting and winemaking skills at their facility. For the most current information about tasting hours, wine selection, and winery facility availability, visit WilhelmFamilyVineyards.com

Dos Cabezas WineWorks Started by Arizona wine pioneer Al Buhl in 1995, Dos Cabezas WineWorks has been producing Arizona wines for almost 20 years. Now owned and operated by the Bostock family, Dos Cabezas farms the 15-acre Pronghorn Vineyard in Sonoita and the 37-acre Cimarron Vineyard in Willcox. The 2009 Dos Cabezas WineWorks “El Campo” was recognized as one of the top 100 wines tasted by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2012. Visit the winery and tasting room in Sonoita or learn more about the winery at DosCabezas.com. SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT to AZWINE Lifestyle Magazine

Callaghan Vineyards Located in the rolling oak-dotted hills of southeastern Arizona, at an elevation of 4,800 feet, Callaghan Vineyards produces rich, complex red and white wines from its 25-acre vineyard. Mediterranean and Spanish varietals—Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Tempranillo, Mourvedre and Grenache—are the basic building blocks for their red blends, while Viognier and Riesling are blended for the estate wine. They soon will also include Marsanne, Roussane and Malvasia Bianca. From their first vintage in 1991, their wines have received many accolades from the most respected wine writers/publications in the world. Please visit them at CallaghanVineyards.com.

Kief-Joshua Vineyards Kief-Joshua Vineyards is a small family business with 20 acres in beautiful Elgin and 40 acres in Willcox Wine Country. Our Elgin tasting room is open daily and is situated in the middle of “winery row.” Winemaker, Kief Manning pursued viticulture studies in Australia, where he earned both a graduate and undergraduate degree in Viticulture and Enology. He practices traditional winemaking methods of minimal interference, open fermentation and barrel aging. Inspired by the dream to sustain our vineyard for hundreds of years, Kief is determined to grow vines that are virtually free of pesticides and herbicides. Our vineyard efforts focus a holistic farming approach developed in the 1920s by the Austrian scientist-philosopher Rudolf Steiner. While this philosophy encompasses many principles of organic farming, it goes further, requiring close attention to the varied forces of nature influencing the vine. It also emphasizes a closed, self-sustaining ecosystem. Kief-Joshua is a winery defined by family, passion and enthusiasm. Wwinemaking that will exceed your expectations. KJ-Vineyards.com.


SONOITA / ELGIN WINE COUNTRY & Beyond Flying Leap Vineyards

Sonoita Vineyards

Flying Leap Vineyards is Arizona’s newest domestic winery. With developed acreage in both the Sonoita AVA and Cochise County, Flying Leap offers a diverse portfolio of ultra premium, carefully crafted wines from tasting rooms at its estate vineyard on Elgin Road along the Sonoita Wine Trail and in historic downtown Willcox. Flying Leap’s 2011 vintage was handcrafted by Kent Callaghan of Callaghan Vineyards, one of Arizona’s most experienced and respected winemakers. Come experience the scenic beauty of southern Arizona wine country—fun and informative vineyard tours shown by appointment —call (520) 954-2935 or visit the website FlyingLeapVineyards.com.

Dr. Gordon Dutt, owner and founder of Sonoita Vineyards, is a retired soil scientist from the University of Arizona. As part of a research project back in 1973, he established an experimental vineyard on the red, acidic clay of the Babacomari Ranch in southern Arizona. The success of that vineyard and the quality of the wines from those grapes led to the planting of a commercial vineyard in 1979, the first in the Sonoita/Elgin area. Sonoita Vineyards’ winery opened in 1983 with a first-vintage production of 300 gallons. Today, Dr. Dutt's granddaughter Lori is following in his footsteps and serves as the winemaker. They produce nearly 4,000 cases (9,500 gallons) per year from 10 different grape varieties including Colombard, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Over 90 percent of this production is sold through their beautiful and spacious tasting room. Enjoy their gift shop and special events facility with picturesque views of hillside vineyards, rolling grasslands and scenic mountain ranges. This facility is open daily (except major holidays) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit SonoitaVineyards.com for more info.

Charron Vineyards Charron Vineyards is a small, family-owned winery producing handcrafted Arizona wines, located less than 30 minutes from downtown Tucson. Established in 1995 Charron Vineyards produces many distinctive wines including their award winning White Merlot. At 4,200 feet and surrounded by mountains, the grapes enjoy a cooler climate and fresh mountain air which helps make their award-winning wines. Visit one of the oldest wineries in the state where you can sample an array of award-winning wines in the glass-enclosed tasting room or on the wine deck surrounded by mature vineyards and breathtaking mountain views. The tasting room is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dogs welcome. Please visit the website for more information. CharronVineyards.com

Village of Elgin Winery The Village of Elgin Winery emphasizes terroir. They stomp the grapes, use natural yeasts, hand craft and use only new wood casks. The winery accents small-lot red, white and rosé wines ranging from single varietals such as Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese to traditional blended delights. Each wine is handcrafted by the winemakers/ owners Gary and Kathy Reeves. The Village of Elgin Winery is home to the WORLD renowned Tombstone Red which has spawned three other wines including a seven-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon named Tombstone Gunslinger and two whites, Tombstone Rain and Tombstone Showdown. Their Dry Rosé was the Rosé category Best of Class at the Governor’s Choice. Please visit them at ElginWines.com.

Arizona Hops and Vines Arizona Hops and Vines, Sonoita's most laid-back winery, is conveniently located right on Highway 82, just a mile east of the intersection of Highways 82 and 83. It's a small family winery that is awesome. The vineyard is the perfect setting to enjoy a glass of wine while relaxing on the beautiful patio overlooking the vines. Sisters Shannon and Megan and their business partner Summer have worked hard to create a fun atmosphere for the whole family. Taste their passion in their craft wines, and ask about the hops. This is a must-see, find out what all the buzz is about! Find out more on Facebook or on their website at AZHopsAndVines.com.

Four Monkey Wines Four Monkey Wines produces quality wines at reasonable prices; the four wines retail for under $11/bottle. The winery produced the Playful Monkey, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2007 Governor's Choice Wine Competition Silver Medal Winner. The other three wines are the Sinful Monkey, the Naughty Monkey and the Cheeky Monkey—encompassing two reds and two whites, all representing individual personalities. For tastings visit the Village of Elgin Winery. Learn more at FourMonkeyWines.com. AZWINElifestyle.com


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SONOITA / ELGIN WINE COUNTRY & Beyond Silver Strike Winery

Tombstone Wine Works

“Our dream of having a vineyard and making wine started back in the 90s in Northern California. We thought what a joy it would be to have a vineyard and a winery! On a cheese tour in Northern California, we met a winemaker from the Russian River who encouraged us. After talking to him, our dream was confirmed. We were inspired to say the least!”

Tombstone Wine Works, traditional wine making in the Old West’s Most Famous Town! Wines are aged a minimum of five years before being released to bring balance and harmony to the palate. With 10 wines to choose from, five dry and five on the sweeter side, there will be something for everyone. Their wines are aged in both wood and stainless, helping to develop the unique character of each wine. Come experience pure Arizona in the Town Too Tough to Die! 15 North Fourth Street, right next to Schieffelin Hall off Freemont. Biker and kid friendly. TombstoneWineWorks.com

After helping in California, Florida and Texas vineyards, Jann and Hank Bengel, found that their dream was becoming a reality. In 2006, they found the Cochise County area and knew that was the area for them. It took a while, five years. Now they are having the time of their lives making their own wines and having the pleasure of serving all those who visit their tasting room in historic Tombstone on Allen Street. SilverStrikeWinery.com

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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO AZ WINE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE Arizona Vineyards, Wineries & Tasting Rooms Statewide Wine Maps VERDE VALLEY WINE TRAIL SONOITA/ELGIN WINE COUNTRY WILLCOX WINE COUNTRY Entire contents ©2014 AZ WINE Lifestyle. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Publisher assumes no responsibility for loss or damage of unsolicited material.

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WILLCOX WINE COUNTRY & Beyond Aridus Wine Company

Aridus [air•i•dus] latin for dry or arid. Aridus Wine Company is the largest custom crush facility in Arizona. With state of the art equipment, Aridus Wine Company produces local awardwinning wines for their clients, and for their own label - ARIDUS. Tasting Room is located at 145 N Railview Ave., Willcox, which is open 7 days a week, however their facility Portfolio Tasting Room is by appointment only. Aridus Tasting Room, (520) 766-9463. Aridus Portfolio Tasting Room (520) 766-2926. AridusWineCo.com

Carlson Creek Carlson Creek Vineyard is dedicated to the production of fine wine from Arizona. Carlson Creek is a family owned and operated vineyard. Although a young company, they are filled with a passion for the grapevine. The vineyard’s elevation provides a perfect climate for growing wine grapes. Visit Carlson Creek Vineyard and discover this great new vineyard and stop by their Willcox tasting room located near Historic Railroad Park. Learn more by checking out the website at CarlsonCreek.com.

Lawrence Dunham Vineyards They are committed to creating handcrafted wines that reflect the unique characteristics of the Chiricahua Mountain foothills in southeastern Arizona. Their philosophy of winemaking is to select the perfect varietals and let nature do its magic with as little intervention as possible, letting the fruit speak for itself. Rhone varietals flourish in the volcanic soils of the 5,000-foot elevation estate. “Add clean air, pure water, mountain breezes and four seasons, and we have the key ingredients that create our outstanding terroir.” Visit this magical place and experience the exceptional wines of the Lawrence Dunham Vineyards. Go to LawrenceDunhamVineyards.com or call (602) 320-1485 to join the Chiricahua Circle or Sky Islander wine clubs, purchase their wines, arrange for a visit or attend an upcoming event. Wine tasting by appointment only. LawrenceDunhamVineyards.com SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT to AZWINE Lifestyle Magazine

Coronado Vineyards In the early morning shadows of the Dos Cabezas Mountains Mark and Jacque Cook planted the first vines at their El Pinito Vineyard in Spring 2005. The vineyard is named for its lone, majestic pine tree, all that remains of what once was a golf course. The vines flourished and Coronado Vineyards is now proud to introduce you to their award-winning wines. Each wine is drafted to be a unique experience. We have sweet table wines, exciting blends, including gold-medal sparkling wine Dolce Veritas, plus fine varietals including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling. El Pinito vineyard and their Tapas Lounge, which offers the perfect setting to enjoy wine and appetizers with a few friends, or hold a large private event or wedding. Coronado Vineyards and their warm inviting staff can ensure that your special event will be one to remember. Come experience all that Coronado Vineyards has to offer. An adventure in wine tasting awaits you. CoronadoVineyards.com

Sand-Reckoner Located on the Willcox Bench at 4,300 feet in elevation, Rob and Sarah Hammelman tend to Sand-Reckoner Vineyards. The vines, grown on rocky, sandy loam soil, contend with the elements to fully express Arizona's rugged high desert. Rob's winemaking endeavors have taken him to Australia and France, and his wines represent a synergy between New and Old World winemaking. Wines produced by this new venture include Malvasia Bianca, a rosé based on Nebbiolo, and reds from Sangiovese, Syrah and Zinfandel.Tastings are offered at their Willcox winery location by appointment. Sand-Reckoner.com.

Cimarron In the shadow of the Chiricahua Mountains at 4,300 feet, lies the fertile Kansas Settlement farmland. Oregon Pinot Noir pioneer Dick Erath chose this unique site to plant his Cimarron Vineyard. Planting traditional grapes alongside unique varietals, Erath plans to create wines to please the most discerning palate while retaining Arizona’s unique terroir. His wines are available through the tasting room at Dos Cabezas WineWorks in Sonoita and select Arizona wine stores and restaurants.


WILLCOX WINE COUNTRY & Beyond Keeling Schaefer Vineyards

Passion Cellars at Salvatore Vineyards

At 5,000 feet above sea level, the summer climate of warm, sunny days and cool, high desert nights combine with the unique rhyolite volcanic soils to create wine with special characteristics. They produce estate grown and bottled wine on 21 acres of vineyards located on Rock Creek on the western slope of the Chiricahua Mountains in far southeastern Arizona. They live on the estate, a little wine ranch on the side of the mountain, a quiet place far from the city, where one’s life plays out along with the wine season. Visit their tasting room in Historic Downtown Willcox. They are open Wednesday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (520) 766-0600 or KeelingSchaeferVineyards.com.

“Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.” - Buddha

Pillsbury Wine Company Sam Pillsbury, noted filmmaker, first planted vines on the Willcox Bench in 2000 when he was a partner in Dos Cabezas with Al Buhl. Since then he started his personal dream project in 2006 with 100 acres of prime desert vineyard land near his original vineyard in Kansas Settlement. Sam’s dream was to celebrate the local terroir... an Arizona Chateauneuf, a sustainable Rhone vineyard producing premium quality hand-made 100 percent Arizona boutique wines. In the future, the plans are to create an architecturally stunning wine village with 27 dwellings, including a winery, spa and restaurant serving food organically grown on the land. What was once bare land is now a showpiece 100 percent Sonoitasoil vineyard. This summer marks the opening of Pillsbury Wine Company SOUTH—their tasting room on their vineyard estate. Their wines have won stellar reviews and are in some of the best restaurants and resorts in the state. Pillsbury Wine Company NORTH is open in Old Town Cottonwood, a place where you can taste Sam’s wines, view stunning art and visit with other Arizona wine lovers. Learn more at PillsburyWine.com.

Wine is our passion! We fell in love with the culture of wine during our extensive travels to various wine regions around the world. Upon returning to Arizona we fortunately stumbled across an issue of Arizona Vines & Wines Magazine. We were surprised to learn of the thriving wine industry growing in our own state. Motivated by our love of wine and excited to be a part of it, our family purchased land on the Willcox Bench with the dream of having our own vineyard. Visit our new tasting room in Willcox or our Jerome location. We are a small family business that seeks to pursue our love of wines and share it with you. PassionCellars.com

Flying Leap Vineyards Flying Leap Vineyards is Arizona’s newest domestic winery. With developed acreage in both the Sonoita AVA and Cochise County, Flying Leap offers a diverse portfolio of ultra premium, carefully crafted wines from tasting rooms at its estate vineyard on Elgin Road along the Sonoita Wine Trail, its tasting room in historic downtown Willcox and opening this fall is Bisbee. Flying Leap’s 2011 vintage was handcrafted by Kent Callaghan of Callaghan Vineyards, one of Arizona’s most experienced and respected winemakers. Come experience the scenic beauty of southern Arizona wine country – fun and informative vineyard tours shown by appointment—call (520) 954-2935 or visit the website FlyingLeapVineyards.com.

Zarpara Vineyard Enjoy outstanding wine among the vines at Zarpara Vineyard. The vineyard, winery and tasting room are nestled beneath the Dos Cabezas Mountains on the Willcox Bench—a premier wine growing region, just a few minutes south of historic downtown Willcox. Bring along a tasty picnic to enjoy on the outdoor terrace and experience breathtaking views of the mountains while you sample exceptional, handcrafted wines. Slow down, stroll through the vineyard, and savor the scenery of this broad valley and its sky islands. See the website at Zarpara.com for opening hours and directions. AZWINElifestyle.com


WILLCOX WINE COUNTRY & Beyond Golden Rule Vineyards Nestled near the northern tip of the Dragoon Mountains, Golden Rule Vineyards enjoys an exciting blend of quartz and limestone soils and excellent water resources in combination with a high desert climate that provides intense sunlight, warm days, cool evenings and nearly constant air flows. Owners Jim and Ruth Graham and vineyard manager Don Sobey are proud of their young wines and enjoy sharing them with friends. "We believe our abundantly flavored wines represent our distinct terroir and our passion for excellence both in the growing of our fruit and the making of our wines." Varietals currently in production include Zinfandel, Sangiovese and Shiraz. They eagerly anticipate future wines produced from their developing vineyard blocks that include Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Visit their website at GoldenRuleVineyards.com to learn more about the wines and vineyard operation.

Bodega Pierce and Saeculum Cellars

Saeculum Cellars showcases our smaller winemaking projects. Allowing us to satisfy our own curiosity and explore the neverending possibilities that exist in the world of wine making. Take a moment to savor the time, the place and the people around you when drinking our wines. Cheers and Salud! Bodega Pierce Tasting Room Open Thursday thru Sunday, 11AM to 5PM. or by appointment, 602-320-1722. BodegaPierce.com SaeculumCellars.com

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PHOTO OF PILLSBURY WINE CO. BY MICHELLJONASPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Bodega Pierce highlights wines made exclusively from the 17 varieties of grapes grown at our family’s estate vineyard in Willcox, AZ. The wines are designed to express the high desert terroir of the Willcox Bench that we have found to be unsurpassed in producing spectacular world class wines. We aim to provide other Arizona wine drinkers with a consistent product that over-delivers on quality.



WILLCOX WILLCOXWINE WINECOUNTRY COUNTRY&&Beyond Beyond

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT to AZWINE Lifestyle Magazine


WILLCOX WILLCOXWINE WINECOUNTRY COUNTRY& &Beyond Beyond

AZWINElifestyle.com


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