Viognier
S-K-Y-H-A-V-E-N Vineyards & Wines Visit, Willcox AVA, Arizona
Background
As a wine writer and a recent transplant to Arizona, I knew there were roughly 150 plus wineries in Arizona, with approximately 80% of all the wines produced using Willcox grapes. Decided I needed to understand the area and ventured off to meet a few of the wineries/winemakers and of course taste the wines. Surprisingly I have not been able to find many of the Arizonan wines in local bottle shops or retail stores.
Willcox AVA Background
The Willcox AVA is the largest in Arizona and encompasses 833 square miles in southern Arizona.
Map from University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
The length ranges from 40 to 45 miles, running north and south and the width averaging between 15 to 25 miles wide east to west. It is a large flat valley (or playa/bench) with an average elevation of most vineyards being 4,200 to almost 5,000 feet elevations. The Willcox Playa is sitting between the Dragoon Mountains to the west reaching 7,500 feet and the Chiricahua with the highest point 8,000 feet and Dos Cabezas Mountains 7,500 feet to the east. The highest mountain peak is in the northeast at 8,100 feet. With the high mountains surrounding the high valley floor, the diurnal temperature swings (daytime to nighttime) can average between 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit. This cooling down feature from the mountain air sinking to the basin, is a hallmark in preserving acidity in the grapes.
The land is a combination of sandy-gravelly, alluvial and volcanic loam soils which are ideal for vineyard sustainability. The Willcox AVA was designated in September 2016. Many indigenous people occupied the land like the Chiricahua Apache’s including the well-known leaders Cochise and Geronimo.
The Winery
Picture by SKYHAVEN Vineyards and Wines
SKYHAVEN Wines was recommended by another winery 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, its 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 the previous wines are all small lot with limited and controlled batches.
The name Skyhaven is a bit long, suffice it say it is easy to understand with the sky pictures taken this afternoon. The balance of story Chris or Bridget will be happy to tell.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The winery’s focus is on French, Spanish, and Italian varietals grown on the high-desert Willcox Bench. Their current line up 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.
We sat and discussed many topics beyond their delicious wines for some time. When tasting through about five wines, all being solid elixirs, three stood out as excellent and exquisite. The first was their Syrah. This is 98% Syrah and 2% Picpoul Blanc making this a solid representation of Rhone French wine. Dark and luscious on the eyes, with fruit forward aromas and taste, coupled with a modicum of tannins and finishing smooth and silky. The wine was aged 18 months in neutral oak barrels and goes for $34/bottle. This wine won a Gold Medal at the SF Chronicle wine competition and at the 2036 Governor’s Cup a Silver Medal.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Next up tasting was the 2023 Cabernet Franc, a Gold Medal winner at SF Chronicle wine competition. Only a few wineries from my limited research in Willcox AVA produce a Cabernet Franc. 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. I purchased a bottle on my way out!
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The third being their Viognier. We got caught up discussing a specific Double Gold and Best of Class Viognier wines which I had judged at a recent competition in California and the similarities with their bottle. We discussed getting together in Mesa to try a side by side tasting soon. All three of us were so engaged in the conversation, no picture was taken!
Don’t despair, as they have two tasting facilities; one at the winery and just opening October 1st -3rd in Bisbee at 14 Main Street. If you can’t attend either of those locations, they are scheduled to be at the SanTan Art and Wine Festival October 31 to November 1st, 2026 at 2218 E Williams Field Road, Suite 235, Gilbert, AZ in the Phoenix area.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
A Simple Meal While Watching the 49’er Game with a Refreshing White Wine
Background
While wanting to watch the first football game of year, with our “home team” the San Francisco 49’ers, we had an early and simple dinner with a lovely and refreshing wine, 2023 Lavender Ridge Vineyard Côtes du Calaveras Blanc
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
First on the eyes, this wine is a light and enticing soft golden color with a medium-heavy viscosity. On the nose aromas of honeydew, strong floral notes and cantaloup waft gently in the senses. On the palate a symphony of each of the four varieties used in the wine are noted. First Lavender Ridge’s excellent Marsanne with its creaminess and brioche, Grenache Blanc providing minerality, wet stone and crispness, Roussanne bringing more rounded acidity, elegance and aromatic complexities to the blend with a mouth feel of fullness and 12% Viognier with oily, round and lovely fruit expression. These four are weaved together seamlessly. The finish is mouth filling, round and with so many nuances of flavor. An excellent wine representing Southern Rhone blend.
The wine currently sells for $26/bottle. It comes in at a high alcohol level of 14.3% yet seemingly tasted more like 12%. Made in 100% stainless steel tanks. The next release will feature a French oak version which will only add more body to the wine. Rumor has it that it will be out for holiday season.
A fine wine that will make my 2026 annual list of Best Wines tasted during the year. This list comes out each December.
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
A quick pan fried pounded seasoned chicken breast served with roasted Yukon Gold potato slices. Accompanied by a warm spinach salad with purple onion, sliced hard boiled eggs, bacon and a scrumptious dressing of red wine vinegar, bacon drippings, mustard and sugar.
The wine was perfect with chicken and potato slices. As with any “vinegar based” dressings, we had to wash out the taste of the great salad dressing before finishing the wine. We did enjoy the balance of the wine while watching the 49’ers trounce the Rams!
The Winery
Picture from Lavender Ridge Vineyard Facebook
Lavender Ridge Vineyard tasting room is in the town of Murphys in the lower Sierra Nevada foothills. Lavender Ridge specializes in Rhone varietal wines. They include Cotes du Calaveras Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Rolle, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Rose, Grenache, Cotes du Calaveras, Mourvedre, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Vin Doux and Anniversaire Blanc. They also feature an artisan cheese selection that is unique and has something for just about everyone.
To read more about Lavender Ridge, see three previous articles:
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
https://californiawinesandwineries.com
An Opulent Night in the Sonoma Square
Photo from Ledson Hotel website
After the afternoon wine tasting of Ledson & Mountain Terraces wines, I headed down the valley to Sonoma Square. Steve Ledson opened the Hotel and Zina Lounge on the Sonoma Plaza in August 2003. Each of the six-luxury rooms in the boutique hotel was hand crafted (just like his wines) to exacting detail. It is reminiscent of a 19th century inn.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Rooms with a terrace view of the town plaza are remarkable as is the bar/lounge on the first floor with seating inside and outside.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Fireplaces with the modern flat screen televisions and air conditioning complete the “old & new” amenities. You can see in the pictures intricate wood working like Ledson Castle. This is a beautiful blend of yesteryear’s elegance with today’s modern conveniences.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
On the ground floor is the Zina Lounge/Bar that serves another label that of Steve Ledson’s called Zina Hyde Cunningham. His other wines are also available from Ledson Winery & Mountain Terraces.
Photo from Café La Haye
After tasting these two wines, went to Café La Haye to have dinner with Steve and Amy Ledson.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The restaurant is small and intimate with artwork adorning the walls.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
I ordered one of the specials being pan seared salmon and roasted vegetables over mashed potatoes. Enjoyed this with a lovely wine of 2022 Mountain Terraces Viognier that the Ledson’s brought to dinner. This was also tasted previously at the winery during the day.
The highlight of the evening was, however, not the food that was delicious, but the conversation with Steve and Amy. Steve’s family history could fill volumes of books. More specially, got to know more about his personal journey as a person and in business.
So ended the day of wine tasting with Ledson Winery wines and Mountain Terraces wines, falling back in time at a beautifully constructed boutique hotel, more wine at the Zina Bar and then a lovely dinner and great conversation with Steve and Amy Ledson.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly