8 Best Sights in Sonoita, Southern Arizona

With interesting varietals and sangrias, a hip vibe, and bottomless bowls of Cheetos to accompany tastings, AZ Hops & Vines rocks the Sonoita wine-tour scene. This spunky, women-owned and family-friendly winery boasts outdoor seating, games, and a petting zoo.

This vineyard produces some of the best wine in Arizona. Its Buena Suerte 2015 ("good luck" in Spanish) is a favorite, and Caitlin's is considered one of the top wines in the United States.

Award-winning reds and whites (and a sparkling rosé) can be sampled here. They also rent a couple of suites to stay in after your tasting tour.

Winemaker Kief Manning uses the traditional methods of open fermentation and barrel aging he learned in Australia. You can get a tour of the vineyards or a private, in-depth tasting if you call ahead.

You might think you're in Italy when you visit this Tuscan-style building perched on a pretty hillside. The wide porch with Adirondack chairs and a bocce ball court invite you to linger awhile after sampling Italian varietals like Sangiovese and Primitivo.

This vineyard, known for its high-quality reds, was the first commercial vineyard in Arizona, planted in the early 1970s as an experiment by Dr. Gordon Dutt, former agriculture professor at the University of Arizona. It's still going strong with Gordon's granddaughter, Lori, at the helm.

One of the largest producers of wines in the state is home to Four Monkeys wines and Tombstone Red, which the winemaker claims is "great with scorpion, tarantula, and rattlesnake meat." Sample craft spirits (rum, whiskey, and brandy) next door at Elgin Distillery.

This producer of seven red varietals, including a homegrown Syrah and Tempranillo, offers tastings Friday–Sunday 11–4 and by appointment.