The approximately 526,000-acre “Willcox” viticultural area is in portions of Graham and Cochise Counties in southeastern Arizona.

The AVA is in the Arizona geological province known as the “basin-and-range” province, which is characterized by high mountain ranges that are separated by valleys. It is located within a broad, shallow basin and is surrounded by higher mountain ranges including the Chiricahua, Dos Cabezas, Pinalenos, Dragoon, Little Dragoon, and Winchester Mountains. The underlying geology of the AVA is comprised mainly of water-borne and wind-borne deposits, in contrast to the surrounding mountain ranges which are comprised of igneous rock and other volcanic materials. Over time, the geologic activity of the region has disrupted the flow of creeks, rivers, and drainage systems and has left the proposed AVA in a “closed basin.” Because the basin is “closed,” the aquifer beneath the AVA is recharged only through rainfall, in contrast to the nearby “open basin” valleys which have year-round or seasonal creeks. Therefore, vineyard owners within the AVA use drip irrigation to conserve water.

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