Here is a potential Wineries Itinerary for the Group on Saturday, February 7.
Located off Highway 82 near Sierra Vista: Can one of you AZB GPS Weirdo Wallys lay this out in a routing for the AZ Beemer Freaks and Geeks that can't use a map?!?!
Recently relocated from Willcox, Dos Cabezas WineWorks adds another mature vintner to the region. Located just east of the Sonoita Crossroads, make this your first stop on your vineyard tour.
https://www.doscabezaswineworks.com
Rancho Rossa Vineyards is one of the largest, family owned wineries in the Sonoita area. There are 17 acres of estate plantings, 12.5 acres of red varieties and 4.5 of white varieties, and you drive right through part of the vineyard on your way to the tasting room. What could be better?
https://www.ranchorossa.com
A decade or so ago, Kent Callaghan planted rows of grapes in the red soils just off Elgin Road in Sonoita. Ever since, Callaghan Vineyards has established a reputation for producing outstanding wines. Robert Parker, editor of The Wine Advocate, has recommended over 20 Callaghan wines in the last ten years. Come decide for yourself!
https://callaghanvineyards.com
The Village of Elgin Winery makes a variety of unique wines for all tastes and palettes, from hand crafted reds, to nicely balanced white table wines. One of the more interesting wines is Tombstone Red, named after the nearby town that Wyatt Earp made famous at the O.K. Corral. Gary Reeves, the village Wine-Master can be found manning the tasting room, which is open daily for tasting and tours.
https://www.elginwines.com
Sonoita Vineyards is home to Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Mission grapes. Stop here for a picnic on their balcony overlooking the beautiful vineyard, or reserve a luxurious catered lunch for a group of people in their Vintage Room. Please contact the winery for reservations prior to your tour.
https://sonoitavineyards.com
Lightning Ridge Cellars – This particular winery definitely evokes an Old World Italian charm. Don’t be deceived by the relatively modest tasting room; there is much more to this place than meets the eye. During our recent visit, we were treated to a quick tour of the impressive back room, where the winemakers hold various special events throughout the year. Anchored by a massive table, the windowless room houses countless wine barrels. Guests feel as though they’ve truly descended into a wine cellar. The stand-out wine for our group was the light but earthy Mourvedre ($23), unique in that Mourvedre grapes are more commonly used in blends, but hard to find as a single varietal. If you go: Be sure to ask about upcoming tasting events in the barrel room.
https://lightningridgecellars.com
Flying Leap Vineyards – Perhaps the most uniquely-landscaped of all the wineries we visited, Flying Leap Vineyards definitely sets itself apart with the garden of wine bottles “planted” out front. The playful atmosphere carries on inside the tasting room, where a desertscape of paper mache creatures overlook patrons. While the décor might be playful, the wine is serious business. Besides the sparkling wine we bought here over the holidays, my favorite from Flying Leap Vineyards is the bright and rich Estate Temparanillo 2009 ($33). If you go: Strike up a grape-growing conversation with Joan, Flying Leap Vineyards farmer. She is sure to share some very interesting tidbits that wouldn’t occur to us farm-virgins.
https://www.flyingleapvineyards.com
Kief-Joshua Vineyards – Guests know they’re in for a treat the moment they step into what is arguably the most beautiful of all of Sonoita’s tasting rooms. The best part, though, is that the wine doesn’t disappoint and neither does the experience. Every single time we’ve visited, the winemaker himself, Kief Manning, has been behind the counter, pouring our tastes and humbly discussing his craft before wishing us a hearty “cheers” as we drink up. During our most recent visit, the tasting list at Kief-Joshua included three whites and three reds. Personally, I’m partial to the 2010 Cephus ($22; named after the winemaker’s grandfather), a blend of Chardonnay and Roussanne that makes for a divine porch-drinking wine. If you go: Consider a Sunday visit when the omelet bar is open for business (11am-2pm).
https://kiefjoshuavineyards.com
The places we chose were all pretty close to each other giving us time to walk the downtown shops in the tiny town. I was back home by 6!!
