From cactus to cabernet: A guide to Arizona’s wine scene

Arizona may be known for its stunning desert landscapes and vibrant sunsets, but it's also home to a thriving wine scene that's gaining national recognition. Whether you're a seasoned oenophile (wine connoisseur) or a casual sipper, this guide will take you through some of Arizona’s best wineries, where you can taste bold reds, crisp whites, and everything in between.

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards

Arizona Stronghold Vineyards’ wines capture the essence of Arizona’s wild landscape and terrain. Sourced from their Bonita Springs Vineyard near Willcox, along with other local vineyards, they focus on crafting high-quality Arizona-grown wines that showcase the bold character of the region.

Their Site Archive wines, Provisioner wines, signature, regional blends and more are available at both their Old Town Cottonwood Tasting Room and Old Town Scottsdale Tasting Room.

Where: Arizona Stronghold Vineyards Tasting Room, 1023 N. Main St., Cottonwood and 4225 N. Marshall Way, Suite 2, Scottsdale.

More information: azstronghold.com.

Chateau Tumbleweed

Chateau Tumbleweed is the result of a passionate collaboration between four friends—two husband-and-wife teams—who share over 30 years of combined experience in Arizona’s wine industry. After honing their skills at local wineries, they took the plunge and launched their own winery, producing their first wine in 2011.

Chateau Tumbleweed, one of Clarkdale's first commercial wineries and tasting rooms, opened in 2014. The winery offers a relaxed atmosphere and focuses on fun and approachable wines.

Where: 1151 W. State Route 89A, Clarkdale.

More information: chateautumbleweed.com.

Cove Mesa Vineyard

After years of studying fine wines worldwide and gaining knowledge as investors in one of the Willamette Valley’s best wineries, Emil J. Molin and Cindy Molin founded Cove Mesa Vineyard in 2020. Their specialty? European style wines.

“Arizona is a very unique grape growing area in that a very wide range of grapes native to France, Spain, and Italy produce great fruit and beautiful wines,” Emil said. “Our wine is some of the best in the world. We enter our wines in two big annual wine competitions, the San Francisco International and the San Francisco Chronicle competitions.”

Additionally, Cove Mesa Vineyard and Emil Molin are featured in the documentary “Vintage Arizona – The Heart of Winemaking,” now streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Where: 1210 S. Western Dr., Cornville.

More information: covemesa.com.

D.A. Ranch Estate Vineyards

Located between Oak Creek and House Mountain, D.A. Ranch is a 170-acre high-desert oasis where Arizona’s ranching heritage meets the art of winemaking. Once a working cattle ranch, the property has transformed into a serene vineyard retreat, surrounded by lush pastures, towering old-growth trees, shimmering ponds and fruitful orchards. At its heart stands a historic red barn with a tin roof, a nod to the land’s deep-rooted history.

The Petznick family, traditionally cattle ranchers, did not originally intend to establish vineyards upon acquiring the property. “Our neighbor, Eric Glomski of Page Springs saw a hopeful future for a brand new wine region, now called the Verde Valley AVA,” Earl Petznick III said. “He advised my dad to choose grapevines as the landscape feature… We had no idea what this area would become 20 years after our first vine plantings in 2004.”

Today, D.A. Ranch produces 100% estate-grown wines that reflect the region's terroir. Tannat-based Mae Rose and Capra are their two most popular wines. Whether enjoying a lively weekend with live music and food trucks or a peaceful afternoon under the cottonwood trees, visitors can experience the beauty of the Page Springs wine corridor while sipping some of Arizona’s finest wines.

Join D.A. Ranch at their free, 2nd Annual SIP Experience happening April 26-27. The weekend will feature fine wine, live music and food.

Where: 1900 Dancing Apache Road, Cornville.

More information: daranch.com.

Laramita Cellars

With all their wines made from 100% Arizona grown grapes, Laramita Cellars Winery is located on the property of Chiricahua Ranch Vineyards, nestled in the foothills of the Dos Cabezas mountains.

While the name "La Ramita" expressed as two words means "the twig" in Spanish, when combined as one word, "Laramita," it refers to the town in Arizona that served as the state's first port of entry from Mexico. Their wines are made with a deep respect for Old World wine making traditions and the incorporation of the best modern wine making techniques, with a focus on sustainability.

Where: 6223 E. Cattle Dr., Willcox.

More information: laramitacellars.com.

LDV Winery

With a commitment to sustainability, LDV Winery focuses on single-varietal wines that are processed with limited winery manipulation. This allows the fruit, volcanic soils and the mountain influence of the wines to reveal themselves in every bottle. With several award-winning wines, the LVD Winery estate and vineyards is located at 5,000 feet above sea level at the foothills of the 10,000-foot peaks of the Chiricahua Mountains. 

Guests can reserve a time to tour the vineyard in Pearce, or they can try the wines at their Tasting Room and retail outlet, located in Scottsdale. LDV is co-owned by Peggy Fiandaca and Curt Dunham.

“Curt and I are longtime wine collectors and we love to create memorable experiences through our love of food, wine and entertainment. The vineyard is pristine and picturesque,” Fiandaca said. “Prior to LDV Winery, nothing had been grown on the property in the last 100 years and there was no production agriculture nearby.”

This ensures the soil is ideal for growing grapes and is free of pesticide drift. “We have multiple award-winning wines and we, along with other Arizona vineyards and wineries, are truly making our state a true wine destination,” Finadaca said.

Where: Tasting Room, 7134 E. Stetson Dr., Suite B110, Scottsdale and LDV Winery Vineyard, 13922 S. Kuykendall Cutoff Road, Pearce. 

More information: ldvwinery.com.

Page Springs Cellars

Page Springs Cellars has spent over two decades crafting exceptional wines that showcase the unique natural landscape of Arizona. Located along Oak Creek's banks, the winery’s commitment is in expressing the land through their wines while fostering a strong sense of community. 

“We’re not just making wines—we’re creating an experience that brings people together… Beyond the bottle, we focus on authenticity and connection,” Brandi Corley, marketing director said. “Visiting our winery is like stepping into an oasis.”

Page Springs Cellars boasts a diverse selection of wines, including popular choices like Dark Star and offerings from their Colibri Vineyard. They provide visitors with multiple ways to experience their wines, including tasting room visits paired with bistro menus and in-depth vineyard tours.

Where: 1500 N. Page Springs Road, Cornville.

More information: pagespringscellars.com.

Wine Girl

Wine Girl strives to be one of the most approachable wine bars around, with an ever-changing selection of wines on tap.

“We reimagined the wine bar experience by putting our unique and refreshing flare on what one expects from a wine bar,” owners Trevor and Amy Johnston said. “With our unique styling and indoor/outdoor aesthetic paired with our trendy boutique wall, Wine Girl has set the tone for what is to be expected for the next generation of the wine drinking experience.” 

Guests can look forward to their new spring drinks - Elderflower Spritz, Spring Fling shots and Grapefruit Paloma. They’ve also recently launched their online boutique available at shopwinegirl.com.

Where: 4205 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale.

More information: winegirl.com.

1764 Vineyards

Located in the Pearce/Sunsites area of Cochise County, 1764 Vineyards is a family-owned winery nestled in the Dragoon Mountains. With its 30-acre property at 4,500 feet in the Wilcox AVA, the vineyard thrives in a climate and soil similar to renowned wine regions in Italy, Spain, and France. 

Founded in 2017, 1764 Vineyards crafts wines like Petit Verdot, Syrah, and Malbec, with their first release, the 2018 Deep Thought Syrah, winning a Silver Medal at the 2020 Arizona Wine Competition. 

The vineyard’s tasting room offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. The name 1764 symbolizes the vineyard's passion for exploration and individuality, drawing inspiration from science fiction, history, and the belief that everyone should boldly follow their passions.

Where: Vineyard, 357 W. Treasure Road, Pearce and The Wine Collective of Scottsdale Tasting Room, 4020 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale.

More information: 1764vineyards.com.