Category Archives: Wine Country

Tucson Day Trip 3: Southern Arizona Wine Country

Deer grazing near Sonoita

The dozen or so wineries in the little communities of Sonoita & Elgin are about an hour southeast of Tucson via scenic Hwy. 83.  The terrain here is very different from Tucson. No saguaros, but miles of rolling hills, tall grass & cattle herds. Empire Ranch More than a century before this was wine country, it was cattle country. The biggest ranch was the 1 million acre Empire Ranch. You can visit what remains of it on your way. Volunteers are working to restore the principle residence & out buildings. Inside the main house are simple exhibits with old photographs of the ranch and its ranchers. Definitely worth an hour’s detour. The Empire Ranch is located in the heart of the 42,000-acre La Cienegas National Conservation Area. Flowing through this preserve is Cienega Creek, a natural riparian zone that shows us what much of this region was like before the … Continue reading

Southwest Wine Guide

Carol & Paul Wilcox

Southwest Wine Guide is a website by Carol Wilcox and her husband Paul. They are Arizonans who, for the sheer joy of it, have for 30 years sought out the best California and Arizona wineries. They publish a blog about their travels and review selected wines they find along their way. I found their recommendations helpful, so was very please when Carol said I could share them with you.

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Southern Arizona Wines – Sonoita / Elgin

Sonoita Signs

(October 16, 2011) Southern Arizona has two main areas for growing wine grapes: Willcox about an hour’s drive east of Tucson and Sonoita/Elgin less than an hour’s drive to the southeast. But when people talk about Southern Arizona’s Wine Country, they’re mainly referring to Sonoita and Elgin. Until just recently, it had been many years since Ms. Karen and I did any serious wine tasting at the wineries around Sonoita & Elgin. Back in 2002, there were only 2 wineries and frankly we were disappointed in the quality. Now (fall of 2011) there are 10 wineries and the quality has certainly improved. If you have the time, a day trip to our Wine Country is definitely worthwhile. Before we went, I did a little homework to better focus our limited time. I wanted to know which were the better wineries and so checked with Wine Spectator’s website that grades about … Continue reading

Tucson to Wine Country & Back Via Box Canyon

Turn Left At This Sign

This is a very pleasant day trip from Tucson to the Wine Country of Sonoita & Elgin. When touring, we try not to back track and the route I suggest here takes you back through Box Canyon to Madera Canyon for a picnic, before heading back to Tucson via I-19 north of Green Valley. Going from Tucson to the Wine  Country is straight-forward. Take I-10 to Exit 281 and head south on Hwy  83 to Sonoita.You will soon find yourself driving through our desert grasslands and rolling hills dotted with oak. No more saguaros. This was Cattle Country long before it became Wine Country. At the junction of 83 and 82 is The Mercantile General Store and Shell gas station. If you are going to visit several wineries, continue south on 83 for about 9 miles to Elgin. (Check when the wineries are open before you go.) On this route, … Continue reading

Cochise Stronghold Bed & Breakfast

Cochise Stronghold

I had a pleasant conversation with the proprietor of the Cochise Stronghold Bed & Breakfast, Ms. Nancy Yates. She showed me around the property and her one unoccupied casita – very pleasant. If I am limited to just two words to describe her B&B, they would be serene and isolated. Unless Nancy gives you VERY specific directions, you will never find it, which is actually her marketing strategy. She has a very specific clientele in mind and does not want people just driving around to bop in uninvited. Much of Nancy’s business is hosting retreats and special events, such as weddings. Nancy prepares special, very healthy breakfasts and has them delivered to your casita. Now, that’s service. … Continue reading