America's Next Great Wine Region Is in Arizona

"At Los Milics I watched harvest unfold beneath an impossibly starry sky—workers picking through the night, grapes clanging into buckets, and then dawn quieting the rows as fruit was loaded and driven to the winery in Elgin. Pavle Milić’s story—born in Medellín, raised in Queens and Scottsdale, schooled in Napa, and driven by a hospitality sensibility—permeates the estate: 70 acres planted to 17 varieties (from Grenache, Syrah, and Tempranillo to Teroldego and Vranac that nod to his roots), a willingness to experiment with lesser-known grapes, and an embrace of Sonoita’s unique terroir. I learned why Petit Manseng is prized here—rot-resistant and tart, “like a freaking Volvo” for the monsoon-prone region—and how Grenache is handled early for bright rosé, exemplified by Ita’s rosé (named for his wife) that he describes as “like drinking a cloud.” The property balances intentional hospitality and artful minimalism—single-story tasting room, shipping-container casitas, and a focus on making Arizona wine feel cohesive and proudly of place." - Lucy Simon