The Ultimate Elgin and Sonoita Wine Tasting Guide (2024)
Want to know how to enjoy the Elgin and Sonoita wine region of Southern Arizona? We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know!
The Ultimate Elgin and Sonoita Wine Tasting Guide
Did you know there is a highly awarded wine region just south of Tucson, Arizona?
From the towns of Elgin and Sonoita, there are dozens of wineries popping up that offer tasting rooms in the area, as well as a few that offer tasting rooms right in Tucson!
For my 27th birthday, JP and I decided to take a day trip through the area to find the best local wines and here is what we found.
1. Arizona Hops and Vine (Sonoita)
Location: 3450 Highway 82, Sonoita, AZ 85637
What we loved about this wine tasting experience is that the wines were paired with various snacks like cheetos, funyuns, potato chips, cereal, etc.
With as many wine tastings as we’ve been to, this was a first for us!
The set up of this place is great too!
Outside there are tons of picnic tables and various patio furniture set ups to enjoy the wine tasting.
There is also indoor seating if it gets too hot or cold or windy.
After our tasting we also tried a bit of their sangria!
Fun fact – if you visit during the holidays, they have mulled wine!
2. Rune Wines (Sonoita)
Location: 3969 Highway 82, Sonoita, AZ 85611
About 5 miles up the road is the next stop – Rune Wines!
During our visit they were doing tastings outside, but they had lots of sitting areas still.
We saw a really great storm form over the mountains off in the distance which was really cool.
The best part though is that every wine in this tasting was our kind of wine.
We usually like to buy a bottle of our favorite wine from each tasting but here we bought THREE!
First was the 2018 Petite Sirah from Rune Wines from Pillsbury Vineyard in Willcox.
Next was the 2017 Can-Can from Brigand Wines right in Sonoita.
This one is a mix of 70% Carignan, 15% Syrah, and 15% Grenache.
Last but not least was the 2018 Shootout from Brigand Wines.
This one is a mix of 40% Carignan, 35% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, and 5% Sagrantino.
3. Flying Leap Vineyards Tasting Room (Elgin)
Location: 342 Elgin Rd, Elgin, AZ 85611
About 7 miles South is the next tasting room of the day – Flying Leap Vineyards.
I personally feel like this was the most built-up tasting room we went to.
The property was on par with places we’ve seen around Temecula and the Solvang/Los Olivos areas of California.
This place actually introduced me to a type of wine I had ZERO idea I would like.
I don’t eat anything spicy at all because I just don’t like spicy food and I get really bad heartburn and acid reflux all the time.
So when they said one of the wines on the tasting was habanero chili infused I was not thrilled.
But here is the cool thing about it – you get the flavor of habanero chili without the burn.
I was very pleasantly surprised!
We actually bought a bottle and drank it within a couple weeks of getting home.
The habanero chili infused wine is one of their best sellers and always sells out quickly.
We were tempted to buy multiple bottles of it, but we had just bought 3 bottles at the last place so we refrained.
Bonus: Cabal Cellars Tasting Room – Tombstone, AZ
Location: 410 E Allen St, Tombstone, AZ 85638
Now most people would be content with 3 wine tastings in one day.
But if you want to venture a little further or you’re already planning to visit Tombstone while you’re in the area, then this is the perfect stop for you!
I knew there were wineries in the general vicinity, but I was very happy to come across a wine tasting room right in the middle of Tombstone, Arizona!
It’s about 45 minutes from the Elgin and Sonoita area.
We shared more about this tasting room in our Tombstone Day Trip Itinerary.
More Wineries and Tasting Rooms In Elgin and Sonoita
If you have more time or you’re spending multiple days in the Elgin and Sonoita area, here are some more wineries to enjoy.
➡ Dos Cabezas Wine Works
Location: 3248 Highway 82, Sonoita, AZ 85637
Dos Cabezas is open for wine tastings 11 am – 5 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
On Saturdays and Sundays they are open from 11 am – 6pm.
➡ Autumn Sage Vineyards
Location: 90 Elgin Road, Elgin, AZ 85611
Autumn Sage is open for wine tastings from 11 am – 5 pm on Wednesdays through Sundays.
➡ Deep Sky Vineyards
Location: 124 Elgin Road, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Deep Sky Vineyards is opening for wine tastings from 11 am – 5 pm on Wednesdays through Sundays.
➡ Ranch Rossa Vineyards + Rescued Hearts Cellar
Location: 201 Cattle Ranch Lane, Elgin, Arizona, 85611
They are open for wine tastings from 11 am – 6 pm on Thursdays through Saturdays.
On Sundays through Mondays they are also open from 11 am – 4 pm.
➡ Callaghan Vineyards
Location: 336 Elgin Road, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Callaghan Vineyards is open for wine tastings from 11 am – 4 pm on Thursdays through Sundays.
➡ Wilhelm Family Vineyards
Location: 21 Mountain Ranch Drive, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Wilhelm Family Vineyards is open for wine tastings from 11 am – 4 pm on Fridays through Sundays.
➡ Twisted Union Wine Company
Location: 370 Elgin Road, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Twisted Union Wine Company is open for wine tastings from 11 am – 5 pm on Thursdays through Sundays.
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays they are open by appointment only.
➡ Elgin Winery and Distillery
Location: 471 Elgin Road, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Elgin Winery and Distillery is open for wine tastings from 10 am – 4 pm on Mondays through Fridays and Sunday.
Additionally, they are open on Saturdays from 10 am – 5 pm.
➡ Sonoita Vineyards
Location: 290 Elgin Canelo Road, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Sonoita Vineyards was Arizona’s first winery.
They are open for wine tastings daily from 10 am – 4 pm.
➡ Copper Hop Ranch & Microbrewery
Location: 5 Fairview Lane, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Copper Hop Ranch is open for wine tastings from 12 pm – 6 pm on Fridays, 11 am – 6 pm on Saturdays, and 12 pm – 5 pm on Sundays.
➡ Lightning Ridge Cellars
Location: 2368 SR-83, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Lightning Ridge Cellars is open for wine tastings from 11 am – 4 pm on Fridays through Sundays.
➡ Los Milics Vineyards
Location: 423 Upper Elgin Road, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Los Milics Vineyards is open for wine tasting from 11 am – 4 pm on Thursdays through Sundays.
➡ Hannah’s Hill Vineyard
Location: 3989 SR-82, Elgin, Arizona 85611
Hannah’s Hill Vineyard is open for wine tastings from 12 pm – 5 pm on Fridays and Sundays and 10 am – 5 pm on Saturdays.
➡ The Meading Room
Location: 3470 SR-82, Sonoita, Arizona 85637
The Meading Room is open for wine tastings from 11 am – 4 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays.
They are closed on Wednesdays.
Additionally, they are open from 11 am – 6 pm on Thursdays through Sundays.
➡ Sunset Ride Wine
Location: 3266 SR-82, Sonoita, Arizona 85637
Sunset Ride Wine is open for wine tastings from 11 am – 5 pm on Thursdays through Sundays.
Where to Eat Around Elgin and Sonoita
It’s important to stop for food throughout the day when you’re wine tasting.
There are several restaurants in the area to choose from and these are our favorites.
✔ The Cafe
Location: 3280 SR-82, Sonoita, AZ 85637
If you’re in the Elgin and Sonoita area when you’re starting to need to eat something of substance, The Cafe is the perfect stop.
JP and I shared a salad and a burger and fries.
It was the perfect amount to feel satisfied without being too full for more wine!
We personally decided to eat between our 2nd and 3rd stop.
✔ Copper Brothel Brewery
Location: 3112 SR-83, Sonoita, Arizona 85637
Copper Brothel Brewery is known for their made from scratch and made to order foods.
We had the Sam’s Mac & Cheese, which is made with Vermont white cheddar sauce, cavatappi noodles, and toasted panko.
I think JP had the chimichanga plate or the enchiladas.
They also serve one of my favorite desserts, sopapillas.
These are sweet dough, cinnamon, and sugar, with a choice of caramel or honey for dipping.
Where To Stay In The Area
With Tucson being the closest major city, I recommend making it your home base when exploring Southern Arizona.
Varsity Clubs of America Tucson
If you want to visit the Elgin and Sonoita region as part of a larger trip to the Tucson area, like we did, I highly recommend staying at the Varsity Clubs of America Tucson!
We had a great one bedroom unit and enjoyed the pool and hot tub every night of our stay.
👉 Click Here To Book Your Stay At Varsity Clubs of America Tucson Today!
Know Before You Go
I do want to add in a little side note about our day of wine tasting.
This was in mid August in the middle of the week.
There are many tasting rooms that are only open on weekends or the days closer to the weekend.
So if you’re visiting Tuesday/Wednesday you may have limited options.
We personally think that you can’t really go wrong with any of the wineries you choose in the area, but just keep in mind that the timing of your visit may determine your options for you.
Hopefully in the future we’ll be able to add more local wineries to this post!
More Fun Things To Do In Southern Arizona
Nearby Elgin and Sonoita there are so many cool places to visit.
From historic sites, to natural wonders, to amazing restaurants, there is so much in this seemingly empty area.
✅ Tombstone Day Trip
Tombstone is the town too tough to die. You may know it from the mega blockbuster back in the early 90s.
There are so many cool things to do here from dining in a local saloon, antique shopping, wine tasting, re-enactments of the OK Corral, and tons more.
We loved it so much we actually went twice in the same trip!
👉 Click Here To Book Your Day Trip To Tombstone Today!
✅ Best Affordable Attractions Near Tucson
There were so many places we went in Tucson that we decided to put them all together in one post.
Check out historic missions, underground caverns, and popular National Park Service sites.
✅ Best Restaurants For Foodies In Tucson
The soil of Tucson has been used to grow food for over 10,000 years continuously.
There are different designations within UNESCO that allow specific restaurants to be recognized.
We decided to try a variety of them because local cuisine is a huge part of travel.
Conclusion: The Ultimate Elgin and Sonoita Wine Tasting Guide
Elgin and Sonoita is probably the best up and coming wine region in the US right now.
It’s in a great location in Southern Arizona where there is so much to do that you can’t really do anywhere else.
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