One of my absolute favorite things we did on our recent trip to Arizona was check out the Sonoita wineries. It’s like a little hidden gem that you don’t hear about everyday. Located opposite the Santa Rita mountain Range from Green Valley is this open valley with grass, cows and a little more greenery than you see in GV. Sonoita is quiet and open and feels like a whole new world to explore. Its a small town that pumps out some pretty impressive wine. Sixteen wineries to be exact! We only had one day to explore so we unfortunately couldn’t see everything but I highly recommend the places we DID see. 😉
Arizona Hops & Vines
First stop of your tour of Sonoita wineries, Arizona Hops and Vines. This place is super funky, not to mention, women owned and operated, plus they pair every wine in the tasting with different types of chips. Ok, not just chips, one comes with Cocoa Puffs and another with CHEETOS. Yep, Cheetos with wine, just like god intended. Another cool thing about this place is all the awesome “wanderlust” quotes painted all around the property. Once your tasting is over, grab a glass or bottle of your favorite and hang in their kitschy backyard with gorgeous views that you can only get in Sonoita. Plus, there are super cute farm animals too.
Now don’t leave here without your glass. Another cool thing about Sonoita is your tasting is cheaper if you bring your own glass (or bring one from a tasting at another vineyard.)
3450 Highway 82 Sonoita, AZ 85637 301-237-6556
F-Su 10am-6pm Thu 10am-4pm
$10 tastings with a souvenir glass, $5 with your own glass
Deep Sky
From there, take a left on to 82, then take another left at the 4-way stop on to 83. (Yes there is only one 4 way stop out here, so you can’t mess it up.) Head down 83 for a few minutes until you hit Elgin Rd, turn left and you will head straight in to a lineup of awesome wineries.
We started at Deep Sky, a simple tasting room, with a beautiful view of the vines straight ahead. The owners have a fun story about how they visited Argentina and fell in love with the Malbec wines, only to return home and notice the similarities in the terroir in Arizona. From there, they started making their own Malbec wines in AZ as well as on land they purchased in Argentina. When you go in for a tasting you not only taste the (now many varieties) of Arizona wine but also their wine from Argentina, its a really unique opportunity to compare the flavors.
124 Elgin RoadElgin, Arizona 85611
Thur-Sun 11am-5pm 520-490-6170
$10 tastings, $7 with your own glass
Callaghan Vineyards
Next stop, Callaghan Vineyards. This one came highly recommended. Callaghan has many nationally recognized wines and has even served their wine at the White House on FOUR separate occasions! Now this is a big honor for any vineyard, even more one from an area you don’t hear enough about. They had a wide selection of wine on their tasting menu, which I always love, and they were awesome. From dry Rose’s to Tempranillo’s to unique blends, you are bound to find something you enjoy here.
336 Elgin Rd Elgin, AZ 85611 520-455-5322
Thur-Sun 11am-4pm
$10 tastings
Rune Vineyards
Now there are plenty of cool wineries right in this area to check out, we were running out of time and knew we wanted to see Rune before they closed so we headed that way. But if you have more time, check out some others in this area, like Flying Leap or Keif-Joshua, but DON’T miss Rune.
Once your finished in this area, head left on Elgin Rd eventually to what turns into Upper Elgin Rd until you hit 82 again. After a few minutes you will see signs for Rune on your left, follow the gravel road until you stumble upon it. This place is GORGEOUS, and off the beaten path. Of all the wineries in Sonoita, I imagine this one has the best views. Founded in 2013, this vineyard has some delicious wines and a super unique vibe. Go in for the tasting, come out for the view. Now we were visiting on a super cloudy day but I can only imagine how beautiful it is here when the sun is setting on a cloudless night.
3969 HWY 82 Sonoita, AZ 85637 520-338-8823
Thur 12pm-4pm Fri-Sun 11am-5pm
Here is a map to help you find your way around.
So there we have in, in a nutshell, a simple guide to spending a day exploring the Sonoita wineries, an incredibly unique experience. Although I can appreciate doing the well-known, more popular wine tours, I think there is something to be said for a place like this. A place that is lesser known, producing wines of equal quality, that provide a different overall experience. If you are in to off the beaten path travel, this is a must. Sonoita Az is an incredible place. Enjoy!
Looking for other awesome things to do in the area? Check out my post on 5 Things you MUST do in Tucson.
xx,
Hannah
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2 Comments
Brian
February 19, 2019 at 6:45 pmAwesome photography! You both really know how to capture the essence of Elgin/Sonoita! We vacation there at least two times a year. It’s the only place we can actually go and relax. Not just for the wine, but the views are amazing. I’ve really enjoyed your blog and will keep checking in!
Hannah
February 26, 2019 at 2:21 pmHey Brian! Thanks so much for reading! Sonoita is such a treasure that I feel like people need to see! We had such a great time there 🙂 Glad to hear you enjoy the blog, you have no idea how much it means to me!