Cochise County is where Arizona wine begins!
Arizona’s wine industry is flourishing in Cochise County with the opening of new vineyards and tasting rooms. The majority of Arizona’s wines are produced from Cochise County grapes.
In fact, the Willcox region of Cochise County grows 74% of all wine grapes produced in Arizona. The Willcox wine growing region was also recently granted AVA status (American Viticultural Area).
Whether you’re a first time wine explorer or a true aficionado, Cochise County has wine tasting options for everyone, novice to expert. The vast majority of tasting rooms and vineyards are located in and around Willcox, but there are also excellent options throughout other parts of the county.
ARIDUS
Surrounded by majestic mountains, the beauty of the modern rustic style Aridus Winery is just as stunning as the wines it produces. By procuring prized grapes from Arizona, New Mexico, and California, Winemaker Lisa Strid blends the essence of exceptional terroir ranging from the desert to the California coast.
Using cutting edge winery equipment, Aridus Wine Company handcrafts complex and balanced wines, which express the aromatic profile of what can only be made in Arizona.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
BIRDS & BARRELS
Birds and Barrels Vineyards was founded by Chad and Monica Preston in 2015 with the goal of crafting ultra-premium Arizona wines.
Family owned and operated, Birds and Barrels takes pride in every aspect of production from the quality of grapes grown on site to the hand harvesting, pressing, and crafting of the wine.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
BODEGA PIERCE
The Rolling View Vineyard, located within the Willcox AVA, sits at an average elevation of 4,200 feet. Purchased in 2011, and with 27 acres currently under production, the 80-acre estate is in an area termed the Willcox Bench.
The name Rolling View Vineyard pays tribute to the Pierce family’s Rolling View Farm in Nebraska. Now, four generations on, the Pierces have continued the agricultural tradition in Southern Arizona.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
CARLSON CREEK
Carlson Creek Vineyard is a family-owned vineyard and winery located in the heart of Cochise County in Southeastern Arizona, with tasting rooms located in Willcox, Cottonwood, and Scottsdale.
What began in 2008 as a deep-seated dream to create a multi-generational business and to produce quality wines, has since blossomed into one of the largest vineyards in Arizona.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
CORONADO
Managing owners Mark and Jacque Cook opened Coronado Vineyards in November 2006, with the belief that the true value in wine is in its experience. Inherently, wine is created to be enjoyed by those who consume it.
At Coronado Vineyards, whether your palate prefers sweeter and fruitier wines, or dry complex sophisticated wines, you only should consume wine which you enjoy. It is up to you to decide your favorite, and for that reason Coronado Vineyards creates wines distinctly for you and your individual taste.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
FLYING LEAP (WILLCOX)
Flying Leap operates a beautiful tasting room and fine art gallery right in the heart of historic downtown Willcox, offering an exquisite and relaxing experience in one of the old southwest’s most notorious front streets.
TRUST Art & Design has partnered with Flying Leap to bring local art and local wine together in this historic building. The fine art gallery features beautiful and interesting original artwork by local artists and is filled with one-of-a-kind artworks in oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed-media, and metal.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
GOLDEN RULE
Golden Rule Vineyards lies upon the western edge of the Sulphur Springs Valley, home to the Willcox AVA (American Viticultural Area), along the Gunnison hills and just north of the Dragoon mountain range. This location provides ideal growing conditions for world class wine grapes.
The vineyard consists of 26 acres of wine grapes of both French and Italian origin.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
HOPPIN’ GRAPES
Hoppin’ Grapes, a wine and beer bar and retail shop located in Sierra Vista, offers a wide range of wine and beer, along with small bites, all of which can be ordered to-go/curbside.
Hoppin’ Grapes is a great local spot to find wines from Cochise County, around the U.S., and wine-growing regions across the globe.
Located in Sierra Vista, AZ.
KEELING SCHAEFER
Keeling Schaefer Vineyards produces estate grown and bottled Rhone-styled wines on 21 acres of vineyards located along Rock Creek on the western slope of the Chiricahua Mountains in Southeastern Arizona.
Keeling Schaefer wines are made exclusively from grapes produced from their own vineyards, guaranteeing Keeling Schaefer complete control of the inputs and quality of the wine from grape to glass.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
LAWRENCE DUNHAM
LDV Winery emerged from an undeniable connection to the land and an opportunity to make wines that showcased from where the grapes were grown. None of this would have been possible without finding the perfect spot to grow world class wine grapes.
LDV Winery focuses on single-varietal wines that are carefully processed with limited winery manipulation. LDV Winery specializes in wines produced from Rhone-varietal grapes – Viognier, Grenache, Syrah, and Petite Sirah. You can taste the volcanic soils and mountain influence in each bottle.
Located in Pearce, AZ.
PASSION CELLARS
Salvatore Vineyards and Passion Cellars began out of an abundance of love for Arizona wine and a true passion to be part of this exciting industry. Passion Cellars specializes in fruit-forward, crisp white wines and artistically blended and complex red wines.
Since Passion Cellars‘ very first vintage made in the Willcox AVA, they have reserved their very best for aging. These reserve wines have been bottled under the name Salvatore, after the winemaker’s grandfather Salvatore Ligammari.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
PILLSBURY
Pillsbury Wine Company is a high elevation, estate grown vineyard, only making wine from grapes grown on site. Pillsbury ferments with the wild yeasts that come in on the fruit, nourishes the soil with organic Gypsum and compost, weeds by hand and machine instead of spraying, treats the vines with only organic sprays, and mows between rows instead of harrowing so the nutrients return to the soil.
Pillsbury is a multi-award-winning label, many times over, and welcomes visitors to the vineyard in Willcox.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
RANCHOMARIA
RanchoMaria Vineyards was founded in 2003 by Mark and Maria Mabry, both Natives of Southern Arizona. With a love of nature, beauty, and fine wine, a vineyard seemed a natural choice.
RanchoMaria is located in the Southern Foothills of the Rincon Mountains at an elevation of 4,200 feet. The vines are planted on a desert hillside in granite-rich soil. The hot summer days and cool nights push the vines to produce exceptional fruit.
Located in Benson, AZ.
ZARPARA
Plan a trip out to Zarpara Vineyard and Winery to sample some exceptional, hand-crafted wines. The tasting room and winery are a short 15-mile drive south of Willcox, tucked under the Dos Cabezas Mountains in an area called the Willcox Bench.
Zarpara Vineyard is an Arizona Farm Winery that self-distributes their wines within the state of Arizona. With 5,000 vines in the ground, owners Rhona MacMillan and Mark Jorve take care of each and every one – from pruning, training, and thinning to hand-harvesting. Every vine is touched multiple times during the growing season to ensure high-quality grapes and premium, hand-crafted wine.
Located in Willcox, AZ.
WILLCOX WINE FALL PASSPORT & POKER RUN
Festival in the Park
At Railroad Park, they will feature craft, artisan and specialty vendors. (No wineries). There will also be two food trucks. Entry to the park is free.
Tickets on Eventbrite.
Each person that purchases the passport and poker run will get: 10 – $1 gift certificates redeemable at participating wineries
Passport to Willcox Wine Country
Entry into the Poker Run
One Designated Driver per two paid entries will be allowed to participate in the poker run and eligible for prizes. They must register on Eventbrite.
This passport will give you special deals at participating Willcox Wine Country Wineries. In the future, we are working with the City of Willcox on monthly promotions! Passport holders will get special invitations, discounts and other surprises.
Poker Run Through Willcox Wine Country
The poker run will be an exciting addition to the weekend. Each purchase enters the purchaser into the poker run. You will register at the Willcox Wine Country Information Booth located at the corner of Maley and Railroad Ave. At that time, you will be registered and the rules will be explained.
There will be an overview of the poker run given every half hour at the Information Booth.
RESOURCES
Looking for more wine-related information? Check out the resources below.
| 1 | Willcox Wine Country is a consortium of Arizona Farm Wineries located in the Willcox area in the southeastern part of Arizona. Visit tasting rooms and enjoy locally grown and produced wines. Willcox Wine Country produces two wine festivals each year, one in the Spring (the third weekend in May) and one in the Fall (the third weekend in October). The festival was rated by Fodor’s Travel as one of the top-ten wine festivals in North America! Each festival is a weekend-long celebration featuring Arizona wines from the Willcox region, fantastic live music, and scrumptious food. | Visit |
| 2 | Wines of Willcox offers a downloadable wine-tasting map. | Visit |
| 3 | Arizona’s Wine Regions offers printable maps and information on Arizona’s wine regions. | Visit |
| 4 | Arizona Wine Growers Association supports wine growers throughout Arizona. You’ll find news about Arizona wines and information on local wine events in each of Arizona’s growing regions. | Visit |
| 5 | AZ Wine Lifestyle is a publication about Arizona wines, restaurants, wine makers, travel in Arizona’s wine regions, and more. | Visit |
| 6 | Santa Cruz County area vineyards and wine tours are a great option after you have enjoyed wine tastings in the Cochise County area. Simply head west to our neighboring county of Santa Cruz and check out the Patagonia and Sonoita offerings. | Visit |
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