Wine Tasting in Southern Arizona

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Coronado Vineyards Near Willcox Az

Coronado Vineyards Willcox Az

Coronado Vineyards is just off the I-10 (exit 344) a few miles east of Willcox. To our delight, they had a great wine-tasting offer. Six different wines to sample plus the wine glass for only $7.00. Now, if the wines are any good, this could be a bonanza.

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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

Southern Arizona Wines – Willcox Area

Southern Az Wine Grapes

(October 2, 2011) Ms. Karen and I enjoyed our backroad travels yesterday in Cochise County – Southeastern Arizona. Stopped at the Rex Allen Museum in Willcox for the first time. The crowd was celebrating Rex Allen Days. Definitely esoteric local history. Which, by the way, I enjoy. I meet a lot of interesting people going to events like this. The Museum: western memorabilia for those over the age of sixty. Ancient history to those younger. Whatever age-of-innocence existed in the 1950′s is long gone. Along with Roy and Gene, Rex was known as one of the singing cowboys. Actually, he had a pretty good voice. His movies? Well, that’s another matter. As I said, I meet interesting folks at events like this. Met Beckey Burgoyne who was signing her newly published book about Gunsmoke’s Miss Kitty, actress Amanda Blake. It’s entitled Perfectly Amanda.  Haven’t read the book yet, but she … 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