Skip to content
Free Travel Guide Guide
Callaghan Vineyards (Credit: jnovak83 on Instagram)

Cities

Sonoita-Elgin

It's wine country, without the snootiness. Sonoita and Elgin locals welcome the opportunity to show off the sights, tastes and experiences that they love about the region.

If you're driving on Arizona State Route 82 or 83 in southern Arizona, the towns of Sonoita and Elgin may not stand out much, but stop and explore a bit, and you'll find several standout attractions.

You're probably here for the wine

The wineries of Sonoita-Elgin are the main reason out-of-towners find themselves in the area. It's the first region in Arizona to have earned the American Viticultural Area (AVA) designation, thanks to its rolling hills and cooler temperatures, and there are about twenty wineries here—the view from Rune is particularly impressive.

Arizona Hops and Vines pairs its wines with Hot Cheetos and Fritos, and the events are as memorable as the wine tasting experience, like the Drag Races, an annual LGBTQ+ benefit featuring drag queens sprinting in their best outfits. There's also a late-summer camping sleepover (if the thought of waking up in a tent with a red wine hangover doesn’t terrify you).

Suds and spirits

Wines aside, Sonoita-Elgin are also home to Copper Brothel Brewery and two distilleries. Take a sip of Copper Brothel's craft beers, like the Ivy, a fruit-forward IPA. Flying Leap Vineyards & Distillery's Elgin location distills spirits, including whiskey, brandy and vodka, while the Elgin Winery and Distillery is a must-visit attraction that produces the world's best rum. That's not an exaggeration. Its Ron Regalo De Vida® spirit won the best rum in the world, back to back (2018 and 2019), at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Sonoita Fairgrounds

At the intersection of Arizona State Routes 82 and 83, the Sonoita Fairgrounds are at the southwest quadrant—but, one could argue they're the center of it all. Year-round, the Sonoita Fairgrounds draws crowds, hosting rodeos, horse shows and horse races (the same races where, decades ago, multiple-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert got his start). In the fall, the Sonoita Fairgrounds become a cacophony of oinking, screaming, and singing—it's the Santa Cruz County Fair, where livestock competitions, amusement rides and entertainment are combined into one epic weekend. Don't skip the local honey.

Dining

Fritos from Arizona Hops and Vines not doing it for you? Maybe the pies at Pronghorn Pizza located at Dos Cabezas WineWorks soaked up the alcohol but you're still hungry? Try The Steak Out, Sonoita's longest-running restaurant and saloon, serving more than 60 years of classics. The setting is as important as the steak—The Steak Out is like a living bulletin board, displaying decades of local history. Read the newspaper clipping of the local who made it onto American Idol, or check out the photos of vintage Sonoita, featuring John Wayne-esque cowboys.

Visit the Towns' Website

More to Explore Near Sonoita-Elgin

Sonoita Creek State Natural Area

Sonoita Creek State Natural Area

Hiking trails and wine trails intermingle at this outdoor paradise in Southern Arizona.

Patagonia

Cities

Patagonia

Spend time outdoors, then sample the local cuisine and arts scene in this small town south of Tucson.

Patagonia Lake State Park

Patagonia Lake State Park

Discover a refreshing oasis tucked away in the rolling hills of Southeastern Arizona.

Tubac

Cities

Tubac

Spend some time in this Spanish Presidio turned artist colony, where creativity is as present in the galleries and shops as it is in restaurant...

Tombstone

Cities

Tombstone

Like an Old West theme park, the Town Too Tough to Die brings its history to life on Allen Street. Located in southern Arizona's Cochise County,...

5 Day Trips from Tucson

Road Trips

5 Day Trips from Tucson

The next time you find yourself in Tucson, consider a day trip to one of these Southern Arizona destinations—all of which can be done within a...

Arizona Road Trip: Amazing People and Places

Road Trips & Tours

Arizona Road Trip: Amazing People and Places

Join us on a trip to meet the amazing people behind some of Arizona's most amazing experiences.

Beginner's Guide to Arizona's Incredible Wine Trails

Eat & Drink

Arizona Wines 101

Discover the regions and vineyards making Arizona a must stop for wine lovers. The wine industry in Arizona is rooted in the 1600s, but only...

Unique Wine Experiences in AZ

Eat & Drink

Unique Wine Outings in AZ

Arizona's three major wine-growing regions—Sonoita, Willcox and the Verde Valley—produce some pretty incredible wines, most of which you can...

Emerging Winery: Los Milics Vineyards

Eat & Drink

Emerging Winery: Los Milics Vineyards

One of Arizona’s fastest-growing emerging wineries is Los Milics Vineyards.

1764 Vineyards & Vino Stache Winery

Arizona Women in Wine

1764 Vineyards & Vino Stache Winery

Two dynamic women from two different backgrounds, Julia Dixon and Brooke Lowry Ide found new lives and purpose in wineries located in southern...

Search Filters

Search Results

Twisted Union Wine Company

Wineries

Twisted Union Wine Company

Our collective of grape growers, winemakers, and storytellers came together to craft quality wine celebrating the West’s unique terroir.

Wilhelm Family Vineyards - Sonoita

Wineries

Wilhelm Family Vineyards - Sonoita

You'll find our Sonoita-Elgin tasting room just one hour south of Tucson in the heart of the Empire Mountain plateau---the beginning of our...

Results 37 - 38 of 38

homepage default image
Free Travel Guide Guide

Discover

Cities & Regions

From the abundance of Saguaro cactuses and unique wildlife in the Sonoran Desert to the high country and forests of the White Mountains to the breathtaking Grand Canyon, Arizona’s regions are full of experiences that don’t disappoint.