HARVESTFEST 2026 at Sonoita Vineyards

HARVESTFEST 2026 at Sonoita Vineyards is an annual harvest celebration held on April 11, 2026, at Sonoita Vineyards in Elgin, Arizona — hosted at the oldest commercial winery in Arizona, founded in 1974 on a 100-acre property with over 30 acres currently planted in vines at an elevation of 5,000 feet. General admission tickets are $30, with a designated driver option at $12. The event is organized by Herron Entertainment.

What distinguishes HARVESTFEST 2026 at Sonoita Vineyards from a standard tasting-room event is the working-winery environment it takes place in. The festival program includes wine tasting, food and wine pairings, winery tours, vineyard tours by horse-drawn wagon, and a grape stomping competition — all set against a backdrop of grasslands and three surrounding mountain ranges. Every wine poured is estate-sourced, with grapes drawn exclusively from southeastern Arizona. The winery produces 4,000 to 5,000 cases annually across varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Syrah, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Mission grapes — each bottle hand-bottled and labeled in small batches of fewer than 2,000 bottles per vintage.

General admission at $30 covers wine tasting and access to festival activities. The $12 designated driver ticket provides entry without wine service. VIP pricing has not yet been announced. The winery is located at 290 Elgin Canelo Road, approximately one hour southeast of Tucson and three hours from Phoenix. Visitors planning to stay overnight can arrange dry camping on the property — RVs, vans, and tent campers are accommodated — or book glamping through a separate provider. Pets are welcome on the grounds on a leash but are not permitted inside the tasting room.

Sonoita Vineyards sits within the Sonoita AVA, one of Arizona's designated American Viticultural Areas. The high-altitude desert climate — cold winters, low humidity, and minimal pest pressure — reduces reliance on pesticides and makes phylloxera largely a non-issue. The winery was established by Dr. Gordon Dutt in 1974 and is now operated by winemaker Lori Reynolds, his granddaughter, alongside vineyard manager Robi Reynolds. A Sonoita Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon was selected by national wine critics to be served at a Presidential Inauguration Gala.