Just down winery row, as it’s so cutely nicknamed, is Sonoita Vineyards—one of the oldest commercial vineyards spanning 40 acres of prairielike terrain. Beginning as an experimental project between vineyard owner, Dr. Gordon Dutt, and retired University of Arizona soil scientist, A. Blake Brophy, the two literally stumbled upon their future vineyard noting their success was due to the area’s very rich soil composition—a balance near identical to the soils of Burgundy, France. According to Sonoita Vineyards Web site, “the vineyard consistently creates gold medal winners, including a cabernet sauvignon chosen by national wine critics to serve at a Presidential Inauguration Gala, due to the unique growing conditions of the Sonoita Appellation.” At 5,000 feet elevation, the vineyard bottles chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, merlot, pinot noir and mission varietals. www.sonoitavineyards.com.

And like Cali, Southern Arizona’s wine region offers worthy tours. Not only do these tours introduce locales to the area’s best kept secrets, they also offer the perfect way to befriend area wine makers and ask questions about their vineyards. Most wine connoisseurs jump at the opportunity to learn about a new vineyard and sample several of their wines, so why not you? Enjoy an afternoon sampling several of the area’s best wines and touring their vineyards.