Willcox Wine Country

The Willcox AVA in southeastern Arizona's Sulphur Springs Valley is where most of Arizona's wine grapes are grown. The old cattle town of Willcox, once the domain of ranchers and cowboys, has reinvented itself as a wine destination with over a dozen tasting rooms on its main street and in the surrounding countryside. At 4,167 feet elevation, the valley receives intense sunshine but cools dramatically at night, creating diurnal temperature swings of 40-50 degrees that preserve grape acidity while allowing full ripeness. The sandy desert soils drain perfectly, and the dry climate virtually eliminates disease pressure. Pillsbury Wine Company, Keeling-Schaefer Vineyards, and Carlson Creek Vineyard are among the most recognized producers. The wines tend to be intensely concentrated, deeply colored, and aromatically expressive.