Willcox AVA
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2016 |
| Years of wine industry | 41 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Arizona |
| Other regions in Arizona | Sonoita AVA, Verde Valley AVA |
| Growing season | 192 days |
| Climate region | Region V |
| Heat units | 4,170 GDD units |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 8.42 in (214 mm) |
| Soil conditions | Loams comprised of sand, silt, and clay |
| Total area | 526,000 acres (822 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 454 acres (184 ha) planned: 650 acres (260 ha) |
| No. of vineyards | 21 |
| Grapes produced | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Malvasia Bianca, Marsanne, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Muscat, Nebbiolo, Norton, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, Riesling, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Syrah, Tempranillo, Trebbiano, Viognier and Zinfandel |
| No. of wineries | 18 |
Willcox is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in Cochise and Graham Counties of southeastern Arizona, centered around the city of Willcox and bisected on a southwest-northeast axis by Interstate 10. It was established as Arizona’s second AVA on September 11, 2016 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing a petition submitted by Paul S. Hagar, the special projects manager of Dragoon Mountain Vineyard, on behalf of Dragoon Mountain Vineyard and other local winery and vineyard owners, proposing the viticultural area named "Willcox." The AVA derives its name from the city of Willcox.
The region consists mostly of flat terrain at over 4,000 ft (1,200 m) in elevation, including the Aravaipa Valley and much of Sulphur Springs Valley. A large natural landform in the interior, nearly center, is Willcox Playa, a dry bed of an ancient lake and lowest elevation of the viticultural area at 4,135 ft (1,260 m). Willcox AVA is encircled by the Chiricahua Mountains and Dos Cabezas Mountains to the east, the Pinaleño Mountains to the northeast, and the Dragoon Mountains to the west. Sixty miles (97 km) to the southwest is the Sonoita AVA, and 120 miles (190 km) to the east, in New Mexico, is the Mimbres Valley AVA. Just east of the AVA are Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Chiricahua National Monument, and Coronado National Forest.
Willcox viticultural area is approximately 526,000 acres (822 sq mi), the state's largest, containing 21 commercially-producing vineyards cultivating approximately 454 acres (184 ha) distributed throughout the area sourcing 18 wineries. According to the petition, there was an additional 650 acres (260 ha) of vineyards planned for the near future. Approximately 85% of Arizona's wine grapes are grown within the Willcox viticultural area. Willcox AVA is not located within any established AVA. The distinguishing features of the Willcox AVA are its geology, topography, soils, and climate. In 2021, Willcox viticultural area became one of three viticulture regions in the state, along with the older Sonoita and the new addition Verde Valley in central Arizona.