The Willcox AVA is located in southeastern Arizona and was designated as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) on September 12, 2016, making it Arizona's second federally recognized wine region. The AVA covers approximately 526,000 acres (212,850 hectares), or about 822 square miles (2,129 square kilometres), across northern Cochise County and southern Graham County. It is the largest AVA in Arizona and contains the majority of the state's commercial wine grape vineyards. Approximately 70 to 75 percent of Arizona's wine grapes are grown within the Willcox AVA.
The region is centred around the city of Willcox in the broad Sulphur Springs Valley. Surrounded by the Chiricahua, Dos Cabezas, Pinaleno, Dragoon, Little Dragoon and Winchester mountain ranges, the AVA benefits from high elevations, warm sunny days, cool nights and a long growing season that allows a wide range of grape varieties to ripen successfully.
Today, the Willcox AVA is the centre of Arizona's commercial wine industry and supplies grapes to many wineries throughout the state.
Wine production is concentrated throughout the Willcox AVA and surrounding communities.
Willcox - The commercial centre of the AVA with vineyards, wineries and tasting
rooms.
Kansas Settlement - One of Arizona's most important vineyard districts with numerous
commercial vineyards.
Pearce - Home to several vineyards and wineries south of Willcox.
Cochise - Agricultural area supporting vineyard development.
Dragoon - Vineyard sites located near the Dragoon Mountains.
The Willcox AVA produces a wide range of premium wines including:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Franc
Merlot
Syrah
Grenache
Mourvedre
Tempranillo
Sangiovese
Malbec
Petite Sirah
Nebbiolo
Zinfandel
Viognier
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling
Gewurztraminer
Pinot Gris
Marsanne
Semillon
Trebbiano
Rose wines
Red blends
White blends
Viticulture within the Willcox AVA is influenced by:
Elevations ranging from approximately 4,100 to 5,000 feet (1,250 to 1,525 metres)
Warm sunny days during the growing season
Cool nights that help preserve acidity and flavour development
Large day-to-night temperature variation
Semi-arid climate with summer monsoon rainfall
Approximately 190 to 200 frost-free days
Broad basin surrounded by mountain ranges
Flat valley floor with excellent sunlight exposure
Well-drained loam, sandy loam, silt and clay alluvial soils
Low annual rainfall with irrigation supplied primarily from groundwater
The combination of elevation, abundant sunshine, large day-to-night temperature variation and well- drained soils provides excellent conditions for producing ripe, balanced grapes while retaining natural acidity.
The Willcox AVA contains most of Arizona's commercial vineyards and supplies grapes to wineries throughout the state. While relatively few wineries are located within the AVA itself, many Arizona wineries rely on fruit grown in the region. Bordeaux, Rhone, Italian and Spanish grape varieties have all adapted well to the area's climate and soils.
Many vineyards employ drip irrigation, sustainable vineyard management and careful canopy management to maximize fruit quality while conserving water in the region's semi-arid environment.
The Willcox AVA is Arizona's largest and most productive wine region. Covering approximately 526,000 acres (212,850 hectares), the appellation combines high elevations, basin-and-range geography, abundant sunshine, cool nights and well-drained soils to create one of the premier grape-growing regions in the American Southwest. Today, it serves as the backbone of Arizona's wine industry, producing most of the state's wine grapes and supporting a growing number of award-winning wineries.