S-K-Y-H-A-V-E-N Vineyards and Winery – 2023 Cabernet Franc
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
I had the opportunity to taste the 2023 Cabernet Franc, a Gold Medal winner at SF Chronicle wine competition at a recent visit with them. Left the winery with a purchase of a bottle to try with food at home. This wine on the eyes again provided a cavernous darkness in color and held all the varietal characteristics of both old world and new world combined. Pyrazines were minimal with only the exquisite taste of the fruit being presented. Aged 18 months in neutral oak. This wine also won a Gold Medal at the 2026 Arizona Governor’s Cup and “Judge’s Choice” award. An excellent representation of Cabernet Franc with 13.1% alcohol and available at $38/bottle.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Tonight’s dinner was a slow cooker red wine braised beef short ribs. It is made with red wine, garlic, herbs and mushrooms. The ribs were first browned/braised on the skillet then placed in the slow cooker. Then onions and mushrooms were also browned with oregano, thyme, rosemary and marjoram to create the sauce. Then the sauce was poured over the ribs in the slow cooker. Bay leaves were then added. It then cooked for 8-9 hours.
The Cabernet Franc wine was chosen as it makes an ideal pairing with the wine’s acidity and structured tannins. The tannins cut through the fat of the beef counterbalanced with the dark fruit, pyrazines and earthy notes of the sauce. The fruit notes of dark berries, roasted bell pepper, subtle smokiness or sweet pipe tobacco resonated with the aromatics, herbs and red-wine reduction of the dish.
Accompanying by halved small Yukon Gold potatoes, roasted and topped with grated Parmesan cheese. Also, a fresh garden salad was served.
A very solid and delicious food and wine pairing this evening.
The Winery
Picture by SKYHAVEN Vineyards and Wines
SKYHAVEN Wines was recommended by another winery on a recent visit to Willcox AVA and very much appreciated. Spoke to Bridget on the phone, setting up the time and date for the visit. Upon driving down several “dirt & gravel” roads, I had no idea what to expect. Drove in cold and I was instantly warmed up by their radiant personalities, open hospitality and sincere desire to produce outstanding wines.
Met with Chris Brinkmeyer, who is trained and earned his viticulture and enology degree from Yavapai College. He spent time working at Pillsbury Wine Company honing his craft. You know he has a twist on producing wines as rather than calling himself the winemaker, he goes by The Wine Shepherd. Once into our conversation, it made perfect sense as his belief is that “great wine isn’t manufactured, it’s guided. Coaxed. Listened to”.
His life partner is Bridget Hildebrand who also has a unique title as CPKO (Chief Pants Kicking Officer)! While a bit lighthearted, Bridget spent 25 plus years in building brands in the tech industry and traveling about the world tasting wines indigenous to various areas. Bridget handles the marketing, manages the tasting rooms and is the glue holding these various pieces together.
Just by the self-anointed job titles, this is no ordinary winery! While appearing lighthearted, their work ethic and determination is at a higher level. While only being in their second year, they have won awards at both the prestigious 2026 San Francisco Chronicle and Arizona Governor’s Cup wine competition. For a newbie wine company, this shows the dedication to their craft. Well done Chris and Bridget, the future is extremely bright for you.
Their property is ten acres with seven and half planted in vines. Each of their wines are all small lot with limited and controlled batches.
The name Skyhaven Vineyards and Winery is a long name, suffice it say it is easy to understand with the sky pictures taken the afternoon of my visit.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The winery’s focus is on French, Spanish, and Italian varietals grown on the high-desert Willcox Bench. Their current lineup includes 2023 Syrah, 2023 Pandemonium blend (43% Grenache, 43% Mourvèdre, 14% Syrah), 2025 Viognier and 2025 Spectre Rosé. While all these wines are solid wines, their award-winning wines include:
2023 Cabernet Franc – 2026 San Francisco Gold Medal Winner
2023 Mourvèdre – 2026 San Francisco Silver Medal Winner
2023 Artificer Petit Verdot – 2026 San Francisco Silver Medal Winner
They have also received awards from the Arizona Governor’s Wine Competition.
When in Willcox and now Bisbee, where they opened a new tasting room stopping by and tasting their wines will be a real treat. If you get a chance to meet Chris and Bridget, you will be enthralled and wines will taste even better.
If you can’t attend either of those locations, they are scheduled to be at the SanTan Art and Wine Festival October 31st to November 1st, 2026, at 2218 E Williams Field Road, Suite 235, Gilbert, AZ in the Phoenix area.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com