W hile we love to travel, 2020 didn’t offer many chances to get away. So after downing some delicious bottles during lockdown without a sommelier or bartender to guide us, we decided to hit the road for an overnight jaunt to Arizona’s own wine country, Sonoita. While the I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson is pretty mundane, once we turned off the highway to head to Sonoita, the two-and-a-half hour drive made for an easy wine-tasting adventure. IN SONOITA SIDEWAYS Sonoita is located in the high desert grasslands of southeastern Arizona. Its higher elevations mean cooler temperatures, perfect for growing grapes. Sonoita became Arizona’s first AVA, or American Viticultural Area, in 1984, which means the U.S. Government recognized it as a distinctive grape-growing region, similar to an appellation of origin in other countries. With a dozen tasting rooms throughout the region, Sonoita’s vineyards and wineries offer a perfect way to take a sip of the state. Here’s what was on our itinerary. Frontdoors publisher and editor tap Arizona wine country, glass by glass JAN 2021 | 16 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA KEY TO THE GOOD LIFE {what’s trending}

Named after characters in the pre-Latin alphabet, Rune tells a story of time and place in every bottle. ANDREA: The tasting included six wines in all and a lovely progression from white to rosé to red with tasting notes from the staff while we sat out in the sun. My favorites from the tasting — and what I brought home — included the 2019 Rosé (Willcox) and the 2018 Grenache (Willcox). KAREN: These wines were unique, and I loved the spirit of the place. The labels are drawn to look like woodcuts, and each one tells a portion of a story. “It’s like a very expensive comic book,” the tasting-room attendant told us. It’s clear that James Callahan is writing some enticing stories with his wines, and I’m looking forward to what comes next. OUR FAVORITE POUR: 2018 Grenache (Willcox); $32 bottle // runewines.com RUNE WINES Our first stop was Rune Wines, an off-grid winery owned by Scottsdale native James Callahan. We settled into the outdoor tasting room — really, low-slung chairs set up for a socially distanced view of endless foothills in the distance — and let the world fall away as we enjoyed some delicious wines. With a dozen tasting rooms throughout the region, Sonoita’s vineyards and wineries offer a perfect way to take a sip of the state. FRONTDOORS MEDIA | 17 | JAN 2021