Arizona Winery & Vineyard For Sale – Willcox Bench

Details

Celebrated Pillsbury Vineyard and Winery, Residence Tasting Room, 80 acres of Prime Vineyard Land in Southern Arizona: Pillsbury Wine Company is in the heart of the unique Terroir called the Willcox Bench, in the Willcox AVA and is producing Top Award-Winning Wines!

The Willcox Bench is known for being one of the highest quality grapes growing areas in the state. Pillsbury’s renowned mature vines produce sought after Syrah, reputed to be the best in AZ. Approximately 21 acres of sustainably farmed Estate Vines in 12 varieties from Viognier, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay to Mourvedre, Shiraz Clone 6 (owned rooted) producing some of the highest price per ton fruit in the state. Totaling more than 13,000 vines with an additional 10 acres piped for irrigation and ready to plant. Vineyard production has been up to 80-90 tons per annum.

Pillsbury Wine Company is a host to harvest festivals and many special events. The quaint 2 1/2 bedroom 1 bath Residence / Tasting Room is surrounded by mature trees and vines provides many uses for you to expand on and enhance. The storage lab/barn, Winery and equipment shed are situated nearby. There are nine reefer trailers used for cooled wine storage and dry storage areas. Wine making equipment, tractors, trailers, farm and vineyard equipment on site convey in this sale.

General Area Description

Willcox is a short 90 mins out of Tucson and 56 miles north of the Mexican Border in the Sonoran Desert and has been awarded one of the 3 regions of the Arizona’s American Viticultural Area AVA status. The average rainfall is 13-18 inches. The vineyard is at 4350 ft elevation with an Igneous Alluvial soil called Sonoita, a well-draining sandy loam and gravel, and a Limestone sub-soil at 3-4ft. At this elevation, we have endless sunshine and cool nights, a significant UVB boost and up to 50-degree diurnal temperature swings, assisting the vines defense against fungal diseases, and stimulating the grapes to develop better flavor, color, and tannins. The low humidity is great for the vines and the fruit… some of the reasons 80-85% of grapes for Arizona Wines come from the Willcox AVA.

Historic Downtown Willcox supports tourism with tasting rooms, art galleries and the surrounding area has many recognized wineries, tasting rooms, hospitality and retail. Pillsbury Wine Company is in the Kansas Settlement area, and close neighbors include Rhumb Line Vinyard and Lavender Farm, Bodega Pierce, Carlson Creek, Zarpara Vineyard, Olive’s Cafe, Birds and Barrels Vineyards, Soaring Wines and Tirrito Farms. Also nearby are the Chiricahua National Monument, Cochise Stronghold and the Dos Cabezas Mountain Wilderness.

Legal description:  E2SE EXC the 1ac DED to CTNY Sec 17-15-26 – 79.00 AC; APN# 305-32-050A

Grower/Winemaker Sam Pillsbury is a Pioneer in the Arizona Wine Industry. He is a diver and sailor, has written, directed and produced films in NZ and the USA, loves art and architecture, music, food and wine, and has often been a guest chef at top restaurants! Sam’s Wines have won Multiple Gold and Double Gold Medals and Best of Class in The San Francisco Chronicle American Wine Competition. Pillsbury wines are vegan and made from 100% Estate Fruit. Acquiring an establishment that has been nurtured with wisdom and expertise will get you started in the right direction or enhance your existing program.

Mission Statement: Sam Pillsbury

One of the most exciting things in my life was discovering in 1999 a stunning Chardonnay from a remote Vineyard in the desert in Cochise County, Arizona.

A filmmaker from New Zealand, I had wanted to make wine for years, and I wasn’t afraid of unusual places. And with so much generic food and wine out there, I wanted to make an authentic wine, wine that came from a place, and was made by a person. We could do it here. I planted with pioneer Al Buhl 20 acres of mostly Rhone varieties. The results were so spectacular, in 2006 I bought 100 acres across the road, planted over 13,000 vines, gambling on that unique Terroir, that once again, the high elevation, the desert soil, endless sunshine and the diurnal temperature swings would make great wines.

It worked. We make the wine and bottle on our Estate with our Estate only fruit, farm sustainably, ferment with wild yeasts, never use new oak barrels. The wines came elegant, nuanced, fragrant and complex. The awards poured in. We were on our way.

Summary of Plantings

2007-2010
2900 Vines Shiraz Clone 6, own rooted (2008)
775 Vines Petite Sirah, Clone 3
710 Vine Mourvèdre, Clone 450 (2009)
775 Vines Grenache, Clone 362
25 Vines Shiraz , Clone 383
500 Vines Chardonnay, Clone 76
130 Vines Malvasia (2009)
1450 Vines Viognier, Clone 3
1450 Vines Grenache, Clone “Tablas Creek” (2010)

2012 Plantings (mostly own-rooted)
1500 Vines Mourvèdre. Clone 450
360 Vines Pinot Grigio
40 Vines Sangiovese
950 Vines Malvasia Blanca
500 Vines Symphony
500 Vines Chardonnay, Clone 72

2014 “Wild Vine Plantings’ (House Blocks)
750 Vines Roussanne, Symphony, Petite Sirah (own-rooted)

2021/2022
420 Pinot Grigio Clone 52
90 Chenin Blanc