Over the past year, I have made several trips to Willcox Wine Country—meeting the winemakers, tasting the wine, and gaining an understanding of why Arizona deserves recognition and a place at the tasting table for outstanding, delicious wines.
Willcox became an American Viticultural Area in 2016. Prior to that time winemakers used “Cochise County” on the labels to define where the wine was produced. Willcox became the second AVA in Arizona following the Sonoita AVA which was established in 1984. Willcox is the largest AVA in Arizona in both vineyard plantings and wine production. The Willcox AVA produces over 75% of the wine grapes grown in the state.
There are so many things that make Willcox AVA special—and not just the AVA, but also the town and the people and the landscape. I live about a 2-hour drive from my home in New Mexico to Willcox, Arizona. It’s a little spot in the road with maybe 2 exits off Interstate 10. For years I have driven right past Willcox on my way to someplace else—Tucson, Phoenix, Los Angles—you get the picture. It doesn’t look like anything special, but I’ve come to believe it is one of America’s best kept secrets!
The Terroir
Willcox is a viticultural dream. In general, the area is flat but the elevation averages between 4200 and 4800 feet. Due to its high altitude, the growing season–basically early April to the end of October—averages perfect daytime temperatures between 65°F and 70°F. These high desert conditions provide welcome diurnal temperature shifts, especially during the summer when the temperature can drop by as much as 50 degrees overnight. This allows for slow ripening while maintaining a refreshing natural acidity and concentrated fruit flavors.
The soils of the Willcox AVA are mostly sand and gravel, with some sandstone, granite, and dacite along the southern border. This soil composition influences water storage and drainage here. More sand and gravel mean easier drainage, while the soil’s rock composition absorbs heat influencing root, canopy, and fruit development.
As with many desert areas, Willcox winemakers are always in a battle for water. This area of southeast Arizona is known to have an arid climate, with the most significant amounts of rainfall typically occurring in July and August. The AVA sees about 14 inches of rainfall a year. This aridity places stress on the vines during much of the growing season, slowing vegetative growth and adding complexity to the grapes.
The Grapes
Perhaps the reason I am so enamored with Willcox wines is that the area definitely favors the big, bold, dry red wines that fascinate me. There are over 80 varieties of grapes grown in the Willcox AVA and the vast majority are red. Tempranillo, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Granache, and Sangiovese are among the most prominent—just to name a few. Tannat is also making a good showing. Among the few white grapes being grown, Viognier is probably the star. It is vinted as a varietal and used for blending. Malvasia Bianca and Chardonnay are also found successfully growing in the vineyards
Winemaking
What I love about the winemaking in Willcox is that each winemaker has a unique philosophy and style, yet they work side-by-side to help each other create unique quality wines. When a piece of machinery goes down, another winery will step in the help out. If there are weather emergencies or harvesting challenges, their neighbor winemakers will be right there. This type of close-knit community among those who could be considered competitors is refreshing and unmatched anywhere that I have ever visited. Even with such a tight community, every winemaker has a different style and a different taste. As crazy as it sounds, I can also “taste” the personality of each of the winemakers I’ve met and interviewed. Recently, in a blind tasting of 4 wines, I was able to correctly identify which winery produced each of the wines. When I visit Willcox, I can also tell which wines are produced by the wineries who have chosen not to be part of the community. I know. It sounds crazy, but it’s real!
Over the next several weeks, I will be highlighting some of my favorite wineries and winemakers. (I’m linking to their websites below). Many of them have tasting rooms in Tucson or Phoenix, as well as in Willcox. And, most of them attend wine events all over the state of Arizona. It is my hope that all of my readers will make a point of visiting Willcox. It may seem off the beaten path, but it really is very accessible from Interstate 10.
Lastly, Willcox Wine Country hosts 2 wine festivals each year. A spring festival in May and a fall festival in October. They are great festivals—small but mighty! They are expertly run and make for a fantastic afternoon—or stay for the whole weekend.
If you want to get a head start on learning more about the specific wineries I will be featuring, just click the name of a winery below and it will take you to their website. There is also a link for purchasing tickets to the May 2024 festival.
Get tickets HERE for the Spring Wine Festival on May 18 and 19, 2024
Until Next Time….
#CHEERS
Wine of Enchantment 