Overview

Prescott Valley is decorated with hundreds of acres of verdant vineyards, wineries, and tours through the area, between Prescott and Sedona in towns like Page Springs, Cottonwood, and Jerome. Downtown Prescott offers many wine bars, restaurants, and cafes to sample delicious wines, beers, and cuisine. Prescott is the epicenter of Arizona wine country, offering tremendous opportunities for tourists to taste some of the best wines in the country. Surrounded by the beauty of the Prescott National Forest, the Prescott Valley wineries allow wine lovers to enjoy the wide open spaces in this gorgeous valley tucked between Bradshaw Mountains to the north and the Mingus Mountains to the south. The rich history in the valley dates back to the 1900s when it was a mining center, now home to cutting-edge vineyards and hip art scenes along with a fantastic climate and spectacular natural scenery.

Things to See and Do

Lynx Lake is a 55-acre reservoir located within Prescott National Forest, about 5 miles east of Prescott, Arizona, in the Bradshaw Mountains. Lynx Creek Ruins which is right before the lake with a short hike that leads to a small set of ruins. Take a walk around the lake or get out on the water and kayak, paddleboard, fish, and bird watching. There are some campgrounds nearby, a restaurant, and a store, as well as boat rentals at the lake. The lake is surrounded by tall pine trees and verdant grassy areas. There is a cafe by the lake with fabulous views and typical American burgers, salads, and sandwiches on the menu.

Watson Lake is one of two reservoirs at the Granite Dells in Prescott, Arizona. There is a beautiful hike to Watson Dam where there are a couple of waterfalls. This formed in the early 1900s when the Chino Valley Irrigation District built a dam on Granite Creek. Go hike around the lake, go kayaking, or canoeing, and use the lakeside rentals.

The Phippen Museum features art and heritage of the American West exhibiting cowboys and Native American-themed works tracing the culture of the West. The intimate museum has everything you need to know about the Wild West. There are educational and group tours available and their permanent exhibits include studio replicas, a special collection room, a Western heritage gallery, and a rancher and cowboy hall of fame. George Phippen was a local artist and the first president of the Cowboy Artists of America. The facility is home to the Kemper and Ethel Marley Western Art Gallery and boasts two detailed studio replicas, four amazing galleries and a well-stocked museum store, a multipurpose classroom, a research library, and four outstanding exhibits including the Bill and Marion Gary Western Heritage Gallery with artifacts, photos, artwork, and a wording chuck wagon.

Antelope Park is a beautiful 10-acre park located on private land within the Navajo Nation. The park features a stylish walking track, a footbridge, a playground, and picnic areas. The park offers hiking trails in Upper Antelope Canyon with a ground-level entrance, Lower Antelope Canyon attracts the more adventurous on a sandy hike to get to the canyon and maneuver several elevation changes with stairways and ladders into the canyon. Page Rimview Trail is a 9.8-mile hike that leads to views of the canyonlands, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Damn, and dramatic rock formations. The canyons were formed by millions of years of water and wind erosion, the canyon was named for the herds of pronghorn antelope that once roamed the area. Antelope Canyon located in Page, Arizona is the most famous slot canyon formation in all the world and for good reason, there are fantastic tours and more. Find out why the American Southwest is considered the Canyon Capital of the World.

Yavapai Lake is located 1.2 miles from Prescott Valley, Arizona, in Yavapai County. A perfect lake for some family fun and a great location for fishing. The surrounding topography makes it a great location for walking trails around the lake, the lake is approximately 5,013 feet above sea level. There is a 0.9-mile loop trail near Prescott Valley, it is popular for running and walking around and the trail is open year-round, and beautiful to visit anytime. Fishing is very popular with baitcasting, spinning, and fly fishing. Yavapai Campground is located within the Granite Basin Recreation Area at an elevation of 5,600 feet, the campground is seven miles northwest of downtown Prescott.

Mountain Valley Park sits on 69 acres of land and is home to the Mountain Valley Splash Outdoor Aquatic Center is a skate park and a dog park. The park was established in 1967 and features ramadas, pavilions, fields, rentals, playground equipment, an amphitheater, ramadas, walking paths, a mountain valley splash outdoor aquatic center, a skatepark, a dog park, multi-use lighted and unlighted athletic fields and basketball fields.

Fain Park is situated at 2200 N 5th St in Prescott Valley, a wonderful community park with trails leading to the lake and a few creeks with fishing, hiking, and picnic areas. The Arizona Game and Fish Department stock the lake with rainbow trout. The park opened in 1997 and the historic land was donated to the Town of Prescott Valley by one of the region’s first frontier families. The park sits on 100 acres with hiking paths through 80 acres of undeveloped land, there is also a refurbished stamp mill on site.

Prescott National Forest is located in the mountainous area of central Arizona, between forested plateaus to the north and arid desert to the south. The Prescott National Forest has divided into three Ranger Districts; Chino Valley, Bradshaw, and Verde, the park is filled with natural beauty and scenic views of the mountain tops, clear lakes, rivers, unique wildlife, and remnants of cultural heritage. For a diverse outdoor recreation experience with 96 trails for hiking, walking, and bird watching. There are trails that range from 29 to 3,517 feet in elevation and over 450 miles of scenic trails. Other popular activities include backpacking, horseback riding, mountain biking, hang gliding, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and bouldering.

The Highlands Center for Natural History is a non-profit nature-based education organization that operates under a Special Use Permit from the Prescott National Forest. The 80-acre campus lies within the Lynx Lake Recreation Area among ponderosa pines adjacent to Lynx Creek. Located on South Walker Road in nearby Prescott, the campus is made up of pristine forest and offers guided tours with all kinds of interesting facts and figures about the history and geology of the area. There is a diverse plant and animal life here and a botanical garden with hands-on and instructional activities for all ages.

The Tonto Natural Bridge is located near Payson, Arizona, and known to be the world’s largest natural travertine bridge. The surrounding area has been turned into a state park called Tonto Natural Bridge State Park, located off State Route 87. The bridge is 150 wide and arches 184 feet above the sparkling Pine Creek, surrounded by pine trees. Over thousands of years, volcanic lava, seawater, and precipitation combine to form a travertine dam, then as the dam fractured, water began seeping through, slowly the water eroded the travertine and the bridge was formed.

Del Rio Springs Vineyards

Del Rio Springs Vineyards is located near the headwaters of the Verde River, at the north end of Arizona's Chino Valley. The vinter; Richard Skladzien started planting on his Paulden estate, rimmed by the Mingus, Bradshaw, and Juniper mountain ranges in 2009, he crushed his first commercial vintage in 2013. The vineyards sit at 4,550 feet above sea level with a microclimate well suited for growing cool climate grapes that create Arizona’s cool climate Premium Pinot Noir and Grand Reserve wines. The vineyard sits on 6 acres on a highland bench that overlooks the Black Mesa basin, the valley’s micro-climate is linked to that of Napa Valley, with similar mountain orientation, and the right amount of warm breezing days and cool nights. The tannins are softer and rounder due to the higher elevation where the sun radiates. The vineyards planted select Pinot Noir clones, Pommard, and Martine clones, all of which are premier reserve wines. In 2010 there were plantings of Carmenere and Phoenix and Vignoles in 2011, the first commercial crush of Pinot Noir and Carmenere wine grapes was in 2013. The first commercial crush amounted to 2.5 tons from the 2014 harvest and rose to 9.5 tones in the 2019 harvest which included Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat, Late harvest Vignoles white wines, and Pinot Noir Rose, as well as reds such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon. There is a tasting room located in the Old Firehouse Plaza in the City of Prescott that opened in 2020.

Juniper Wells Winery

Juniper Wells Winery is a 50-acre property that sits at 5,000 above sea level at the base of Granite Mountain and is surrounded by the Prescott National Forest. Frank and Gloria Bonham purchased the property in 1980, and after Frank died in 1988 their son David moved to the property and took over. There are log cabins at the ranch portion of the property where visitors can stay, there are vineyards and a wine tasting room, and 42 acres of event space. Sample wines of the west from Juniper Well Ranch or Our Tough Country Winery both featuring local Spanish Tempranillo grape wines. The winery is located just 25 minutes from downtown Prescott in Tonto Flats, a sub-irrigated area with abundant groundwater that feeds the ancient Juniper trees, Cottonwood, Black Walnut, Pine, Black Jack, and Gamble Oak, and Manzanita. David and his wife Linda now harvest the wine grapes that are grown on their property to make their wine.

Flying Leap Vineyards

The Flying Leap Vineyards are located in the heart of Arizona wine country, 50 miles south of Tucson. Flying Leap’s Estate Vineyards, Winery, and Distillery facilities are some of the most beautiful wine venues in the southwestern United States. The vineyards operate with a very high degree of vertical integration, controlling the majority of the product value chain from the actual growing of the fruit to its vinification, cellaring, bottling, and sale. Discover the intricacies of the art of distillation, relax and unwind at the charming property and learn about Arizona grape viticulture and winemaking from the team of trained sommeliers. The grapes here are all hand harvested, and only the highest standard berries make the cut, the owners are familiar with high-quality products, also owning ‘Arizona Rub’, a company making premium, non-GMO dry rubs and spices. Flying Leap is a committed team of Arizona family farmers, skilled winemakers, artisan distillers, and a team of passionate wine and spirits retail merchants. They grow a vast portfolio of French, Spanish, and Italian wine grapes at the vineyards and produce a delicious array of ultra-premium wines and distilled spirits from our harvests. It was founded in 2010 just south of the Willcox rural agricultural growing area also known as the “Kansas Settlement”. The initial vines were planted in 2011 and developed and trellised over three full growing seasons.

Prescott Winery

Prescott Winery is located in downtown Prescott, it is the first tasting room in the city, an easy walk from Whiskey Row, set in a small, charming house where visitors can enjoy wine inside or on the outdoor patio. This quaint winery offers music, small bites, and unique Arizona wines, in a cozy, warm, modern, welcoming atmosphere. Bill Smoot is the owner and greets his guests personally, he became interested in opening a winery after spending time in Sonoita, and Verde Valley Wine Country. They focus on boutique, small-batch wines produced based on customer demand, there are several first offerings named in the spirit of Arizona history including a Chardonnay named “Heritage”, a white blend named “One Fifty” to commemorate Prescott’s 150th birthday, and “Alias” a red blend named after John Miller, “who claimed he was the legendary Billy the Kid”. The One Fifty white blend is a complex blend dominated by Malvasia Bianca with flavors of melon and summer grass, a unique and refreshing blend of a popular Arizona grape.

Superstition Meadery

The Superstition Meadery is a tasting room in downtown Prescott, in Prescott’s Courthouse Square which offers family-friendly festivals, fun dining, and haunted hotels. Enjoy some of the world’s best mead and cider as well as delicious tapas and live local music. The staff offers a tour guide through mead history and mead styles as you gain access to one-off test batches on tap, special releases, and otherwise unobtainable products on the Cellar List. “Mead” is the fermentation of honey and is considered winemaking in Arizona. Superstition Meadery was established in 2012 by Jeff and Jennifer Herbert, they were the only Arizona company to make RateBerr.com’s list of the world’s Top 100 brewers in 2018. They were also named The U.S. Small Business Administration Persons of the Year in 2019. SM started in skull valley and then to the historic renovated building in downtown Prescott, they have introduced 90 unique meads, and hard ciders since 2012. The majority of the products made at SM use the oak barrel aging process and currently utilize new American oak, bourbon barrels, Madeira barrels, port barrels, french oak, and an innovative barrel exchange project where they swap barrels with breweries. When they have the time and space these barrels will include rum, tequila, scotch, and aquavit barrel aging. They produce 6,000 gallons a year and have won four gold medals and one silver at the 2016 Mazer Cup International mead competition.

Vino Zona

Vino Zona is located in the Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village in Sedona, nestled amongst art galleries. A quaint and cozy wine-tasting room dedicated to enjoying amazing small-batch farm-to-table Arizona wine. The state of Arizona is home to the perfect climate, elevation, and weather that helps to produce the very best grapes and every wine they serve is 100% Arizona grown and made. They hand-pick the very best of what Arizona has to offer, and an awesome tasting experience to fit every palate. There are two great locations; one in the historic Kelly House in Jerome overlooking the beautiful Sedona and Verde Valley, both with wine tasting and wine store locations. They offer a tasting menu of the best award-winning dry Arizona reds and whites and the best sweet wines Arizona has to offer. Vino Zona offers exclusive small-batch wines some as small as one or two barrels made from handcrafted and exclusive experiences. Soak up the charm of Tlaquepaque and the Arts and Crafts village of Sedona, they offer a curated tasting menu with the best wines, delicious cider, and the best sweet mead.

Back Alley Wine Bar

Back Alley Wine Bar is located in the back alley of the famous Whiskey Row in Downtown Prescott offering the best wines, beer, and cider from around the state of Arizona. Try the Arizona Wine Flight or one of the many wines from around the world and delicious cuisine with options for charcuterie boards, small appetizers, and desserts. They host a weekly Pizza Night every Thursday from 5-8 PM with woodfired pizzas, there is also live music on Friday and Saturday nights, and Sunday Funday with the Ping Brothers. Back Alley Wine Bar has a homely atmosphere and customers can relax and enjoy the spectacular decor.

1764 Vineyards

1764 Vineyards was founded in 2017, a family-owned and operated vineyard located in the Pearce/Sunsites area of Cochise County. A 30-acre property that sits at 4,500 feet in the Wilcox AVA that produces handcrafted wines that represent the terroir of Willcox, infused with passion, dedication, and love to inspire others to follow their passions. The climate in this area is reminiscent of growing regions found in Italy, Spain, and France. Currently, they grow Petit Verdot, Picpoul Blanc, and Vermentino. Syrah, Riesling, Sagrantino, and others are planned in the upcoming years. The first wine was released in 2018, Deep Thought Syrah, a Silver Medal Winner at the 2020 azcentral.com Arizona Wine Competition. The tasting room at the vineyards offers panoramic views of the Willcox basin and Cochise Stronghold, where guests can relax and enjoy the beauty of Cochise County while sipping award-winning wines. Julia Dixon and Brooke Lowry Ide, two dynamic women from two different backgrounds found new lives and purpose in wineries located in southern Arizona in two separate American Viticulture Areas or AVAs.

Arizona Hops

Arizona Hops and vines is a quaint winery, one of the best in the Sonita-area in Southern Arizona, run by two crazy awesome sisters (Meagan and Shannon) and their friends and family. The winery is family and pet friendly with a petting zoo on site. These ladies had a dream to open up their own winery, they wanted to create a family, pet-friendly establishment where visitors can feel relaxed and have a good time. There is an amazing outdoor patio, storytelling, sipping on fine wines, or watching the kids play. Hops and Vines is the perfect, quaint, and whimsical place for weddings and private events with views of the verdant rolling hills, and mountains in the distance. Both sisters are passionate about winemaking and providing visitors with an amazing experience, come and make some memories at this beautiful winery and farm. Hops and Vines is set in Arizona’s wine country, officially designated by the ATF as an American Viticultural Area, with many active wineries, ranches, and farms going back generations to the 1830s, the area has been farmed for over 4,000 years.

Bodega Pierce

Bodega Pierce is operated by two generations of award-winning Pierce Family winemakers with decades of international experience and accomplishments since 2010. The family has estates at Wilcox Vineyard and Clarkdale Winery locations where they produce world-class wines and wine tasting. Bodega Pierce is operated by two generations of Pierce family winemakers with decades of experience, the winery highlights wine made exclusively from 18 different varietals made exclusively from 18 different grapes grown at the family’s estate. The wines here are made to express the high desert terroir of the Wilcox Bench which is found to be unsurpassed by producing world-class wines, they aim to provide Arizona wine drinkers with a consistent product that over-delivers on quality. Bodega Pierce is a small family-run vineyard and winery producing Arizona-grown small-batch wines. The winery is open for wine tasting offering old-world varietals such as Graziano and Tannat. The vineyard sits at 4,200 feet also known as Wilcox Bench with the rising elevation away from the valley floor that provides air drainage from freezing temperatures. The soil is very well-draining and composed mostly of gravel and sandy loam.

Bruzzi Vineyard

Bruzzi Vineyard is located in the scenic and historic town of Young in Arizona, they were the first vineyard in Gila County. The grapes at this vineyard are expertly crafted into some of the finest wines in the state. There is a tasting room on site where award-winning wines can be sampled, explore the farm and local products, as well as the verdant vineyards. The Superior tasting room opened in 2020 and is housed in the same historical building as La Paloma Fine Art gallery, guests can enjoy some wine while browsing the art on display. They also have a wine-tasting room located in Superior, the remote, wild, unspoiled lands between Young and Superior are simply spectacular, crossing the Sierra Ancha Mountains, through Tonto Basin, past Roosevelt Lake, and through the Queen Creek Canyon.

Burning Tree Cellars

Burning Tree Cellars is located in the historic Old Town Cottonwood, a small batch, of meticulously maintained, boutique wines that utilize the finest available fruit sources, quality oak, and patience. This is the newest wine tasting room in Cottonwood with a welcoming tasting room offering a wide range of single-varietal wines, and traditional blends sourced from some of Arizona’s finest vineyards. It is conveniently located on the main strip of Cottonwood, there is indoor and outdoor seating, friendly staff, live music, and an enjoyable atmosphere. Visitors can sample award-winning wines at Burning Tree’s which are proudly part of a small special local Cellar and will never be found in supermarkets. Founded in 2007 by two men that are passionate about wine; Mitch Levy, and Corey Turnbull, Levy is the general manager who runs day-to-day operations and participates in winemaking, while Turnbull is the visionary and winemaker behind the Burning Tree Cellars. Some of the grapes used to craft wines at the winery are Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Viognier, Riesling, Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre, Petite Syrah, and Tempranillo. The ripe grapes are used to make red, white, and rose wines, one of their wines was one of the first two Arizona offerings to earn 90 points from Wine Spectator.

Callaghan Vineyards

Callaghan Vineyards planted their Buena Suerte Vineyard in 1990, is a family-run vineyard located in beautiful Elgin, AZ. It is the second oldest vineyard in the state specializing in wines full of character, they specialize in Spanish, Italian, Mediterranean, French, and many other varietals with an extensive wine-tasting list including 22 choices. The wines here have received huge accolades from the most respected wine writers and publications in the world; Robert Parker, Decanter, Karen MacNeil, Oz Clark, Tom Stevenson, and The Wall Street Journal. The Spanish varieties are best suited to our sites such as Graciano, Mourvedre, and Grenache. Petit Verdot is a Bordeaux variety with a distinctive spicy/peppery/meaty blend. Tannat is a black, burly variety from just north of the Pyrenees, which has shown itself to be well-adapted to southeastern Arizona's terroir. There is only one white wine on the estate named “Lisa’s” a blend of Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Malvasia Bianca, Clairette, and Petit Manseng. The primary concerns are depth of flavor and complexity, and textural considerations are secondary and best addressed by appropriate cellaring and/or food pairing. Callaghan Vineyards has been crafting exquisite wines that express the region’s unique soil and climate for over 25 years. Harold and Karen Callaghan are the original owners, now helmed by Kent and his wife Lisa.

Cellar Winery

Cellar Winery is located in Elgin, in the rolling oak-dotted hills of southeastern Arizona at an elevation of 4,800 feet. Established in 1990, a family-owned vineyard that has been crafting award-winning wines, and earning accolades for its rich, complex red and white wine, which have been served in the White House on three occasions. The winery earned its superb reputation for consistently producing outstanding wines. Callaghan’s Claire’s 2004 is a blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, and Petite Sirah served at President George W Bush’s dinner for retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Callaghan’s 1998 Buena Suerte Cuvee, a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, was served at President Bill Clinton’s last State Dinner for the Prime Minister of India. The vineyard site sits at a high altitude to create a 30-degree temperature differential between the daytime high and nighttime low. The large mountain was needed to impact the local microclimate. The 10,000-foot peaks of the Chiricahua Mountains soar behind the vineyard. The site lies along the banks of the 600-foot wide Ash Creek which serves as the drainage way for water and air, the vineyard is planted in very rocky soil that helps quickly drain away moisture. The violence and heart of volcanic activity create soils that impart pleasurable characteristics to wine grapes.

Charron Vineyards

Charron Vineyards and Winery are nestled in the foothills of the Emerita Mountains at an elevation of 4,400 feet above sea level with stunning views of the Santa Rita mountains from the famous glass-enclosed tasting room or wine deck. The vineyard offers a selection of great wines, famous in the area for our dry and white merlots, as well as sweet wines or wine slushies on a warm summer day. There are over 16 different wines offered at Charron Vineyards, it is one of the oldest vineyards in Southern Arizona, the vines here enjoy warm summer days and cool nights which is the perfect growing condition for the grapes. A small family-owned winery producing hand-crafted Arizona wines, the vineyards were established in 1995 and produce many distinctive wines including the award-winning White Merlot. Charron Vineyards is committed to its community and customers, the staff here strive to create a family and dog-friendly environment where visitors can relax and recharge.

Copper Horse Vineyard

The Copper Horse Vineyard is located in a historic building in Old Willcox, sitting on the sunshine on Railroad Avenue, planted on the slopes of the Sulfur Canyon, near Rodeo, N.M. Eric Desfachelles is the owner of the vineyard which he purchased in 2000, the vineyard was planted in 2013, and the Desfachelles family permanently moved onto the vineyard land. Copper Horse Vineyards consists of five acres with six varieties of grapevines, they offer “Vins Naturals” or raw wines, with no chemicals, no pesticides, or fertilizers used on the vineyard. They use horse manure for fertilizer and guinea fowl for pesticides. Copper Horse Vineyard is a beautiful boutique winery set at the foothills of the Chiricahuas Mountains, they grow local grapes at 4,5000 feet, situated just 50 miles from the border of Mexico. The vineyard consists of French Rhone-type grapes, such as Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Viognier along with Muscat a Petits Grains, and Spanish Tempranillo. They provide quality, local wine at affordable prices, with locally grown grapes to create quality products, they also help the economy and preserve the environment.

D.A.Ranch Estate Vineyards

D.A.Ranch Estate Vineyards was established in 2002 by the Petznick family, a boutique winery, and family-owned estate vineyard located in Cornville, AZ. The quaint, historic D.A.Ranch is a working ranch and special event destination in the heart of the Verde Valley featuring a 100-year-old red barn where past and new family traditions come together. Situated on the banks of Oak Creek, this beautiful estate has a unique charm and a cozy indoor bar, wrap-around porch, lush verdant vineyards, sprawling lawns, a tree swing, a fire pit, and live entertainment. Visitors can enjoy wine tasting and host celebrations and parties here in the expansive space, a place to create rare and beautiful memories. The ranch has been producing award-winning wines that are 100% estate-grown wines that visitors can try in the tasting room, or on tasting flights. The ranch produces nearly 1,500 cases of wine. The Petznick family operates one of the oldest privately owned agricultural businesses in Arizona. The family quickly saw the potential at the ranch in the fertile soil found on the land, where they began planting on their 7 acres of vines.

Deep Sky Vineyard

Deep Sky Vineyard is a 20-acre boutique vineyard located just south of Willcox, Az where great grapes are grown and 80% of the wine is made in the field. There are 15,000 vines in the vineyard and each one is touched at least 5 times a season as they prune, leaf-pull, shoot thin, drop fruit, and finally harvest. Don Sobey is the vineyard consultant who is affectionately known as “the grape whisperer”, In 2014 they harvested over 65 tons of fruit and sold grapes to some of the best-known wineries in the state of Arizona. Deep Sky grows Malbec and Rhone varietals, Grenache is one of the red Rhones along with Mouvedre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, and Counoise, and Viognier is the Rhone white. The vines are planted on the denser side with 8 feet between rows and 5 feet between plants, which improves the grape quality. They offer tastings in their gorgeous, rustic tasting room.

Salt Mine Wine

Salt Mine Wine is a small, family-owned vineyard and boutique winery located in Camp Verde, Arizona. The Norton family selected a historic farm site as a future vineyard and winery, brothers Kevin and Chip opened the vineyard in 2013 near the historic Verde Salt Mine, one of the oldest underground mines in the U.S. The beautiful vineyard is surrounded by pecan groves, pastures, small farms, and produce stands where six varietals are grown. Primitivo, Montepulciano, and Aglianico vines are planted in the former pastures with fertile soils and cold winter temperatures. There are Malvasia Bianca, Sangiovese, and Barbera vines planted on the hillside where the soils are well drained and the summer temperatures are warm. The Norton family lives on site and is personally involved in all aspects of Salt Mine Wine, from vineyard maintenance, harvesting, and wine production. Since 2013 the Norton family has planted an additional five acres of vines compatible with the growing season, soils, and microclimate. They planted Italian varietal grapes in the area, these varietals reconnect to a memorable place and culture and serve as a reminder that the goal at Salt Mine Vineyard and Winery is to create a place-based experience that integrates sustainable agriculture, scenic mountains, flowing rivers, and streams with a friendly small-town atmosphere.

Autumn Sage Vineyard and Winery

Autumn Sage Vineyard and Winery are located in Elgin, Arizona, a place for special gatherings with friends and loved ones, wine tasting, and an amazing location. Autumn Sage is a Premiere property in the heart of Southern Arizona Wine Country, it offers a unique ambiance and tasting room set on 30 acres of high desert bliss with 8,300 Sagrantino, Albarino, Counoise, Cabernet, Franc, Aglianico, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese grape vines. A winding road with a classic white picket fence leads you up to Autumn Sage Tasting Room for a unique tasting experience. The tasting room is situated next to the vineyard with a comfortable indoor and outdoor seating area, Sagrantino’s Patio is across from the tasting room and they focus on outdoor events. The beautiful outdoor space boasts a classic gazebo, and a dock overlying a fish pond, the perfect setting for weddings, anniversaries, festivals, and more. Sagrantino’s Patio features a Tuscany vibe with a hand-painted mural and views of the verdant r b bolling hills. Steve Basila is the brainchild behind Autumn Sage Vineyards, who has a 40-year career as a developer and road builder, along with his wife Nancy. The Basilas are based in the Valley, they bought a second home in Sonita, and have always enjoyed the conviviality of wine culture.

The Meading Room

The Meading Room is a mother/daughter duo Barbara Christianson and daughter Kylie Daniels who own the Meading Room on Arizona Highway 82 in Sonita that they purchased in 2015 and oped the room in 2019. Mead is honey wine, they also service fruit ciders, wines, and lavender on a small family farm and winery. They have over 10 wines to choose from all made with farm-fresh ingredients, there is a playhouse, snacks, chickens, a friendly cat, and plenty of lawn space for sipping a glass of wine. The farm is where tons of lavender, sunflowers, prickly pears, apple, pear, and peach trees, hackberry, magnolia, and native thistle. The Sonoita-Elgin wine region started back in the 70s, there are over 30 wineries in 2 primary areas: The Verde Valley north of Phoenix, and the southern Tucson area. The Space Cowboy is a popular mead to try. The Meading Room at Cave Creek with a tasting room in the heart of the quirky, little western town of Cave Creek with bars, shopping, and bull riding with unique restaurants, bars, and shops. Mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage and one of the tastiest made by fermenting honey with yeast, all products are made in-house by Barbara and Kylie with fresh ingredients.

Rancho Rossa Vineyards and Rescued Heart Cellars

Rancho Rossa Vineyards and Rescued Heart Cellars is an estate winery set on 24 acres with 13 different grape varieties, proud to be the only 100% estate in the Sonoita area. Chris Hamilton is the owner with over 30 years of experience making beer and wine. The first vines were planted in 2002 and after two long years, they produced grapes to make Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah vines that matured and were picked in the first harvest in 2004 when the first wines were made. They started Rescued Hearts Cellars at the end of 2019 after losing their beloved rescue dog, George Bailey, they donate 100% of the wine sales to the rescue of the month, for one week every month. During the year they raised $16,000 for 12 animal rescues. In 2022 over $20,000 was raised, and they now have 12 different non-profit wines featuring the rescue animals. Rancho Rossa is a hidden gem with unique wines masterfully created by the owner/winemaker Chris and his wife Breanna, The tasting room opened in 2006 featuring just four wines, the 2004 Syrah won the AWGA award for best red wine in the state. There are many other award-winning wines produced at the vineyard and served in the tasting room including the Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon called Emotional Rescue. Over 1100 cases are produced annually, made with high-quality grapes.

High Lonesome Vineyard

High Lonesome Vineyard is Veteran owned and operated by US Army veterans Tom and Edie Gustason, a premier location for fine wines in McNeal, Arizona in a fertile valley surrounded by mountains and the Chiricahua National Monument. The award-winning wines produced at this winery include Riesling, Cab Franc, Lemberger, Malbec, Mourvedre, Tannat, and PicPoul Blanc. The owners have called Arizona home since the 80s, the vineyard sits on 36 acres of rich, sandy loam, and the wines here are anything but typical. High Lonesome is located around 15 miles east of Tombstone at an elevation of 4,300 feet, they experience a four-season climate with summer temperatures seldom exceeding 100 F. The vineyard works with a working cattle ranch nearby, where visitors can go to see the daily working of one of Southeast Arizona’s biggest ranches, there is camping available and wine tasting. HLV features an outdoor tasting area with hand-made wine barrel furniture and a large shade sail.