Willcox AVA
The Willcox AVA is an American Viticultural Area located in southeastern Arizona, centered around the city of Willcox where it is bisected by Interstate 10. Approximately 85% of wine grapes from Arizona are grown within the AVA boundaries.[4] The AVA consists mostly of flat terrain at over 4,000 feet in elevation, including the Aravaipa Valley and much of Sulphur Springs Valley.[1] It is bounded 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 (96 km) to the southwest is the Sonoita AVA, and the Mimbres Valley AVA is 120 miles (192 km) to the east in New Mexico. The AVA is one of the three major centers of viticulture in Arizona, along with Sonoita and the Verde Valley in central Arizona.[5] Just east of the AVA are Fort Bowie National Historic Site, Chiricahua National Monument, and Coronado National Forest.
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2016[1] |
| Years of wine industry | 1984-present[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Precipitation (annual average) | 8.42 inches (21.4 cm)[3] |
| Soil conditions | Loam[3] |
| Total area | 526,000 acres (213,000 ha; 822 sq mi; 2,130 km2)[3] |
See also
References
- "Willcox AVA". University of Arizona. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- Ruelas, Richard (September 13, 2016). "Willcox wins federal designation as a unique Arizona wine region". azcentral. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- "Proposed Rule". TTB.gov. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- Burch, Cathelina (September 10, 2016). "Willcox takes big step up in wine world". tuscon.com. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
- Selinger, Hannah. "Exploring the Diverse, Terroir-Driven Wines of the American Southwest". Wine Enthusiast. Retrieved 19 December 2020.