We are continuing our exploration of Arizona wine for one more post, though I cannot promise it will be the last. We are happy to share three current-release wines made by Aridus Wine Company in Willcox, Arizona. We received these wines as tasting samples. Scott & Joan Dahmer began their journey from wine enthusiasts to winery owners in 2009 with […]
Sonoita is Arizona’s oldest AVA and was established in 1984. It was the first, but its neighboring and second Arizona AVA, Willcox, produces most of the grapes in Arizona. We first visited Sonoita/Elgin in 2011 and were surprised and charmed by the open grasslands. The high-elevation grasslands sit at about 4800 feet above sea level. The Santa Rita Mountains to […]
It has been five years since we last visited Arizona’s Willcox wine region in the southeastern part of the state. We have missed the wide open spaces with cloud-filled skies that go on for miles. We’ve missed hiking in the mountains that surround the Sulphur Springs Valley. We missed relaxing among the mesquite trees and birdwatching at our favorite B&B. […]
A two-day trip to the charming railroad town of Willcox in 2013 left us longing to return. We fell in love with the high desert grassland, the mountains that ring the Sulphur Springs Valley and, of course, the wine. In Part 1 of this post we shared our hiking experiences and introduced you to a historic B&B where we stayed […]
We first visited Willcox, Arizona in August 2013 to taste the wine and see for ourselves the vineyards planted in Arizona’s high desert. Two days spent in this beautiful, southeast corner of Arizona left us wanting to return for a longer stay. It has taken us five years to return, but return we did this May, and we had to […]
It’s no secret we are fans of the wines being made in Southern Arizona, both from the Sonoita AVA and Cochise County. We spent some time there last summer and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We are of course, longing to return. Here is a selection of some of our favorites.
Karyl Wilhelm, winemaker at Wilhelm Family Vineyards, is a woman on a mission. She makes an astonishing number and variety of wines. Her husband, Kevin, is the vineyard manager. They planted their vineyard in 2005. The quality and quantity of their vineyard has improved every year as Kevin learns what works best in the vineyard.
This was our second visit to Dos Cabezas WineWorks. In 2011 it was the first Arizona winery we visited on our first tour of the Sonoita wine area. Six wines were on their tasting sheet that August, all red, one a fortified dessert wine. This year we enjoyed tasting through the since-expanded tasting sheet, eleven wines in all.
Kent Callaghan listens more than he talks. He’s reserved and unassuming. He’s had his hands in the dirt of his Elgin vineyard since at least 1990. I’m guessing he has learned something about that vineyard every day since. It’s reflected in the wine he makes. If you have visited his winery and tasted his wines, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Pete discovered a hybrid Bed & Breakfast called Xanadu Ranch GetAway located just south of Sonoita. We decided to spend two nights in Sonoita to be close to area wineries. We were able to book two nights in the Bunk House at Xanadu. I’m so glad we did.
We enjoy wine, food and travel. Pull That Cork is a chronicle of our wine adventures, the food and wine pairings we create and our travels which are increasingly organized around wine.
Follow PullThatCork on Bluesky