Sonoita

HISTORY

Sonoita is where many vineyards produce a variety of colorful and award-winning wines ranging from single varietals such as Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and blended delights crafted in the traditional style of Clarets. The soil around Sonoita and the neighboring hamlet of Elgin is nearly identical to that of Burgundy, France, and the countryside is characterized by rolling grasslands, blue skies, wide open spaces, numerous vineyards, cattle ranches, pronghorn antelope and magnificent mountains. The friendly town of Sonoita and its scenic landscape have been used in several movies and television shows, including "Tin Cup," "Red River," "The Fantastiks," "Gunsmoke," "Oklahoma," "The Young Guns" and "The Young Riders." Sonoita also is home to two of Arizona's "Top 100 Restaurants," Cafe Sonoita and The Wine Country Caffe. The settlements of Sonoita and Elgin were founded when the Santa Fe Railroad built an 88-mile-long line in 1882 that ran the full length of Sonoita Creek from Benson to Nogales.

BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

Located at the crossroads of U.S. Highways 82 and 83, Sonoita was once part of a large Spanish land grant. The strongest economic base is in ranching, but the area also experiences tourism dollars and local vineyards contribute to the economy.

STATISTICS

• Population: 826 (2000)
• County: Santa Cruz
• Elevation: 4,880 feet
• Total Area: 45.6
• Average July High: 90
• Average January Low: 31
• Average Yearly Precipitation: 19.6 inches
• Median Household Income: $51,310
• Median Age: 50
• Cable Internet Service: Yes
• Fiber Optics: Yes
• (information current as of 6/2004)

ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS

Sonoita and neighboring Elgin are known for their small wineries and intimate vineyards - it is a rare treat spending the day traveling to all of them and enjoying beautiful scenery while sampling award-winning wine. The Nature Conservancy's Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve is a first-rate bird watching location for spotting more than 250 different species of birds. Parker Canyon Lake, south of town, offers fishing and camping. Patagonia Lake State Park, not far from town, is another wonderful spot to enjoy fishing, camping and boating. The Empire Cienega Ranch, once one of the largest and most prosperous cattle operations in the Southwest, is now operated by the Bureau of Land Management as an antelope preserve, open to the public. The ranch's notable corrals and ranch house are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Annual events in Sonoita include the Blessing of the Vineyards, the Santa Cruz County Fair, the Sonoita Rodeo, Santa Cruz County Horse Races, the Grass Ridge Horse Trials annual competition, the Quarter Horse Show at Sonoita Fairgrounds (the oldest such show in the nation), the Alpaca Shearing Day and Fiber Festival at Heartland Ranch, and the Blessing of the Harvest in Elgin.