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There's a "hole" lot to see down by the border.

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Cochise County Walkabout

Some prefer to wander "around the corner" in the vineyards, others seek the tasting rooms

Arizona's Award-Winning Wine Country

Here are some of Southeast Arizona's great wineries and wines, including a few real category killers on the global stage. And amazing, dedicated vintners and team that make the wine happen..

Award Highlights

Callaghan Vineyards (Elgin) Its 2024 Greg's (Petit Manseng) took the Grower's Cup for Best White Wine at the 2026 azcentral Arizona Wine Competition, while the 2022 North and South earned Best of Class. Callaghan's full 2026 haul: a Grower's Cup, 2 Best of Class, 3 golds, 5 silvers, and 6 bronzes. At the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, five wines took gold — the 2022 Aglianico, 2022 Grenache, 2023 Waverly's Grenache, 2019 La Osa Red Blend, and 2023 Synergy White Blend — plus silvers for Harold's Red Blend and Eloise's White Blend. The Love Muffin White 2022 (Malvasia/Picpoul) won Best of Class and Double Gold at the 2024 SF Chronicle competition, and Greg's Petit Manseng was named Best White Wine in Arizona at the 2025 Phoenix New Times awards. Robert Parker/Wine Advocate has called Callaghan one of the most interesting wineries in America, and in 2006 Arizona's governor designated it one of the state's "Treasures."

Los Milics Vineyards (Elgin) Sandra's 2022 rosé blend won the Governor's Cup for Best Wine in Arizona at the 2024 azcentral competition — the first rosé ever to take that honor — along with the Grower's Cup for Best Rosé. Hannah's 2022 (Marsanne/Malvasia Bianca) won the Grower's Cup for Best White Wine that same year. At the 2026 competition, Los Milics added 4 silvers and 6 bronzes. USA Today's 2024 Readers' Choice named it the #2 Best Wine Tasting Room in the United States.

Golden Rule Vineyards (Willcox/Dragoon) Its Cabernet Sauvignon won 1st Place for Best Cabernet Sauvignon and a Silver Medal Overall at the 2014 Arizona Republic wine competition. It's regarded as one of the oldest and most awarded vineyards in the Willcox Appellation. Note: recent award listings are thin online, since the winery doesn't publish a current awards page — worth a direct call for their latest medals.

Plan Your Trip: Willcox AVA → Sonoita & Elgin AVA

This two-region loop covers Arizona's two most important wine appellations: the high-desert Willcox AVA (Sulphur Springs Valley, roughly 75% of the state's wine grapes), and the rolling grassland Sonoita AVA, Arizona's first and oldest. Willcox sits about 80 miles east of Tucson; Sonoita/Elgin is about 50 miles southeast. The two towns are roughly 90 minutes apart via AZ-83/AZ-82, making a full loop from Tucson very doable over a long weekend. (These are seasonal destinations, so hours and dates may vary.)

Willcox AVA (Kansas Settlement / downtown Willcox)

  • Golden Rule Vineyards — Downtown tasting room: 180 N. Railroad Ave.; Vineyard: 3525 N. Golden Rule Rd., Cochise. goldenrulevineyards.com. Estate reds (Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre) from a 26-acre vineyard on the Gunnison Hills; also grows pistachios.
  • Pillsbury Wine Company — 6450 S. Bennett Place, Willcox. pillsburywine.com. Founded 2006 by filmmaker Sam Pillsbury; Rhône-focused reds and whites with multiple SF Chronicle "Best of Class" wins. Rustic, picnic-friendly estate tasting room.
  • Bodega Pierce — 4511 E. Robbs Road, Willcox. bodegapierce.com. Family-run boutique winery on the Willcox Bench.
  • Birds & Barrels Vineyards — Estate room: 5000 E. Arzberger Rd.; downtown room on Railroad Ave. birdsandbarrels.com. Ten estate varietals including Malbec, Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, and Montepulciano; known for its "Adopt a Vine" program.
  • Zarpara Vineyard — 6777 S. Zarpara Lane, Willcox. zarpara.com. Family-owned vineyard and tasting room in Kansas Settlement.
  • Keeling Schaefer Vineyards — 154 N. Railroad Ave., in the historic 1917 Willcox Bank & Trust building. keelingschaefervineyards.com. Rhône-style estate wines from 25 acres on the Chiricahuas' western slope; among the highest Wine Spectator scores in the state.
  • 1764 Vineyards — 357 W. Treasure Road, Pearce. 1764vineyards.com.
  • High Lonesome Vineyard — 8979 N. High Lonesome Road, McNeal. highlonesomevineyard.com.

Sonoita & Elgin AVA

  • Callaghan Vineyards — 336 Elgin Road, Elgin. callaghanvineyards.com. Founded 1990 by Kent Callaghan — Arizona's most decorated winery, poured at the White House four times.
  • Sonoita Vineyards — 290 Elgin-Canelo Road, Elgin. sonoitavineyards.com. Arizona's oldest commercial winery and vineyard (since 1983); dry whites, rosé, dessert and sparkling wines, plus reds.
  • Dos Cabezas WineWorks — 3248 Highway 82, Sonoita. doscabezas.com. Founded 1995 by current owners Todd & Kelly Bostock, sourcing from Elgin and Willcox vineyards; popular on-site pizza and patio.
  • Rune Wines — 3969 Highway 82, Sonoita. runewines.com. Arizona's only off-grid, solar-powered winery, with 360° sky-island views.
  • Los Milics Vineyards — 423 Upper Elgin Road, Elgin. losmilicsvineyards.com.
  • Charron Vineyards — 18585 S. Sonoita Highway, Vail. charronvineyards.com. Roughly the halfway point from Tucson — a good bookend stop with Santa Rita Mountain views.
  • Flying Leap Vineyards — 342 Elgin Road, Elgin (plus rooms in Tucson, Tubac, and Prescott). flyingleapvineyards.com. One of Arizona's largest vineyard/winery operations; also distills spirits on-site.
  • Wilhelm Family Vineyards — 21 Mountain Ranch Drive, Elgin. wilhelmfamilyvineyards.com. A quaint, low-key vineyard with rock-solid pours.
  • Salvatore Vineyards / Passion Cellars — 313 Elgin Road, Elgin. salvatorevineyards.com.
  • Arizona Hops & Vines — 3450 Highway 82, Sonoita. azhopsandvines.com. Women-owned, with a lively events calendar pouring both beer and wine.
  • Elgin Winery & Distillery — 342 Elgin Road (The Elgin Complex), Elgin. elginwines.com. Arizona's second-oldest winery, home to several house labels including Elgin Wines, Four Monkey, and Tombstone Wines.

October

  • Rex Allen Days (75th annual) — Oct 1–4, Downtown Willcox & Quail Drive Sports Park. willcoxrexallendays.com. Rodeo, parade, live music, carnival, and car show honoring native son Rex Allen.
  • Helldorado Days — Oct 16–18 (parade Sunday, 11 a.m.), Downtown Tombstone. tombstonehelldorado.com. Gunfight re-enactments, street entertainment, and the "World Famous Helldorado Parade."
  • Bisbee 1000 — The Great Stair Climb (35th annual) — Oct 17, 9 a.m., Old Bisbee. bisbee1000.org. A 4.5-mile run/walk up 9 staircases (1,000+ steps); online registration only, no day-of sign-up.
  • Willcox Wine Country Fall Festival — Oct 17–18, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (Wine Benefit Dinner Sat., 6:30–9:30 p.m.), Railroad Park, Willcox. willcoxwinecountry.org. 17+ wineries, barrel/vertical tastings, 50+ artisan vendors, live music.
  • Bisbee Mariachi Festival — Oct 31, Bisbee. bisbeemariachifestival.com. Mariachi performances around Old Bisbee's historic district.

November

  • Empire Ranch Cowboy Festival — Nov 7, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Historic Empire Ranch, Sonoita. empireranchfoundation.org. Free entry (suggested donation per vehicle); Western heritage demos, cowboy cooking, livestock exhibits.
  • Pit Fire Pottery Festival — Nov 13, Cochise College, Douglas. cochise.edu. Ceramics festival with traditional pit-firing demonstrations and vendor booths.
  • Sonoita AVA New Release Festival — Nov 8, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sonoita Vineyards, Elgin. sonoitavineyards.com. $30 advance / $36 at gate, includes souvenir glass and 8 tasting tickets.