Sonoita Vineyards is a 25 acre vineyard situated on the south side of a hillside, surrounded by rolling grasslands and several mountain ranges.  This hillside planting protects the vines from harsh winds and frost.  The grape varitials grown at Sonoita Vineyards are Chardonnay, Mission, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir.

Certainly there are challenges to growing fine wine grapes in the climate of the  American Southwest, but vineyard manager, Mike Dupont, takes advantage of the benefits this region offers.  The phylloxera louse finds life in such dry weather extremely difficult -  if not impossible, as do most rot, mold and mildew.  Cold winters in the high altitude of Arizona greatly reduce the risk of Pierces disease.  Insects and other pests generally exist in much lower concentrations in desert areas as compared to the lush valleys of California and the Pacific Northwest, providing growers positive conditions for reduced-pesticide farming.

At Sonoita vineyards, we define sustainability broadly, seeking not only to be responsible stewards of the land, but also to preserve this land for future generations of our family.  There is nothing static about this view of sustainability—it requires innovation and action.  We believe that preserving the unique ecosystem of Sonoita is essential to wine quality, as well as to the health of our family and business.  In 1976,  Dr. Gordon Dutt developed a system of water harvesting utilizing the hillside and building berms that would both reduce the affects of erosion and reduce the overall amount of water needed to irrigate.  It has been the policy, since our inception, to recycle all bottles and cardboard at the local recycling center.  We also compost all wine making byproducts by returning the grape skins, stems, and seeds to the vineyard for use as a fertilizer, which in turn reduces waste.