Residence with Tasting Room | 80 Acres of Prime Vineyard Land in Southern Arizona
Willcox, AZ (April 10, 2025) -- Pillsbury Wine Company, a distinguished and award-winning winery, is nestled in the heart of the renowned Willcox Bench within the Willcox AVA—an area celebrated for producing some of the highest quality grapes in Arizona. This exceptional estate spans 80 acres and is home to a Residence Tasting Room and approximately 21 acres of mature, sustainably farmed estate vines.
The vineyard boasts 12 grape varieties, including Syrah—widely regarded as the finest in Arizona—along with Viognier, Grenache, Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, Mourvèdre, and Shiraz Clone 6 (own-rooted). With more than 13,000 vines in production and an additional 10 acres fully piped and ready for planting, this vineyard yields between 80 to 90 tons annually, positioning it as a significant contributor to Arizona’s wine industry. The fruit commands some of the highest prices per ton in the state.
The Pillsbury estate includes a charming 2.5-bedroom, 1-bath Residence that doubles as a Tasting Room, surrounded by mature trees and vineyards. Nearby structures include a winery building, an equipment shed, a storage lab/barn, and nine reefer trailers for cooled and dry wine storage. Wine-making equipment, tractors, trailers, and all necessary farm and vineyard equipment are included in the sale, offering a turnkey operation for a new owner.
Regional Overview
Willcox is located 90 minutes from Tucson and 56 miles north of the Mexican border, in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. The area has earned the AVA designation due to its unique terroir. With average rainfall between 13–18 inches, the vineyard sits at an elevation of 4,350 feet on Igneous Alluvial soil known as Sonoita, a well-draining sandy loam and gravel with a limestone subsoil 3 to 4 feet deep. This elevation and soil composition, combined with high UVB exposure, cool desert nights, and diurnal temperature swings of up to 50 degrees, create optimal conditions for disease resistance and grape quality. These factors contribute to the Willcox AVA producing 80–85% of Arizona’s wine grapes.
The local community supports a thriving wine tourism economy with tasting rooms, art galleries, and boutique accommodations in historic Downtown Willcox. Pillsbury Wine Company is located in the Kansas Settlement area, near prominent neighbors such as Rhumb Line Vineyard and Lavender Farm, Bodega Pierce, Carlson Creek, Zarpara Vineyard, Olive’s Cafe, Birds and Barrels Vineyards, Soaring Wines, and Tirrito Farms. The area is also a hub for outdoor enthusiasts, located near Chiricahua National Monument, Cochise Stronghold, and the Dos Cabezas Mountain Wilderness.
Legal Description: E2SE EXC the 1ac DED to CTNY Sec 17-15-26 – 79.00 AC; APN# 305-32-050A
Legacy of Visionary Winemaker Sam Pillsbury
Sam Pillsbury, the founder and visionary behind the Pillsbury Wine Company, is a pioneering figure in Arizona’s wine industry. A former filmmaker from New Zealand with a deep love for art, architecture, food, and wine, Sam’s creative pursuits led him to discover a remarkable Chardonnay from a remote vineyard in Cochise County in 1999. Inspired by the potential of Arizona’s high desert, he partnered with pioneer Al Buhl to plant 20 acres of Rhône varieties.
Sam Pillsbury has been making wine in Willcox for 25 years, but now he says it’s time to downsize his business, Pillsbury Wine & Vineyard, and find a new owner.
“I’m just ready to move on,” Pillsbury said.
He started his business after tasting a wine made with grapes from Willcox.
“Arizona is just an exquisite place for growing grapes, much too people's amazement," Pillsbury said. "I just had total confidence in that, and I just bought a bunch of land (and) planted a whole bunch of vines.
By 2006, Sam had acquired 100 acres across the road and planted over 13,000 vines, placing a bold bet on the region’s exceptional terroir. His winemaking philosophy—using only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with wild yeasts, farming sustainably, and avoiding new oak barrels—has resulted in elegant, nuanced, and complex wines that have received numerous accolades, including multiple Gold and Double Gold Medals and Best of Class honors in the San Francisco Chronicle American Wine Competition.
“Retiring is something you can do if you quit your job. I can’t quit because I own this place and the place needs attending," Pillsbury said. "So we’re just downsizing a little bit."
All Pillsbury wines are vegan and made exclusively from estate fruit. This meticulously developed property represents a thriving business and a legacy of passion, authenticity, and excellence in winemaking. Whether starting fresh or expanding an existing operation, acquiring this celebrated winery offers a rare opportunity to continue and evolve a genuinely distinguished wine program.
Summary of Plantings
2007-2010
2900 Vines Shiraz Clone 6, own rooted (2008)
775 Vines Petite Sirah, Clone 3
710 Vine Mourvèdre, Clone 450 (2009)
775 Vines Grenache, Clone 362
25 Vines Shiraz , Clone 383
500 Vines Chardonnay, Clone 76
130 Vines Malvasia (2009)
1450 Vines Viognier, Clone 3
1450 Vines Grenache, Clone “Tablas Creek” (2010)
2012 Plantings (mostly own-rooted)
1500 Vines Mourvèdre. Clone 450
360 Vines Pinot Grigio
40 Vines Sangiovese
950 Vines Malvasia Blanca
500 Vines Symphony
500 Vines Chardonnay, Clone 72
2014 “Wild Vine Plantings’ (House Blocks)
750 Vines Roussanne, Symphony, Petite Sirah (own-rooted)
2021/2022
420 Pinot Grigio Clone 52
90 Chenin Blanc
Contact Dede Mikowski with Headquarters West, Ltd. at 406-250-2109 for more information.