Buhl Memorial Vineyard, Willcox, AZ
The Al Buhl Memorial Vineyard lies at the eastern edge of Sulfur Springs Valley (alongside the Willcox Playa) in what is known as the Kansas Settlement. The vineyard site is 80 acres with 60 acres planted. The soils are relatively deep loams and clay-loams interspersed with cobbles. The vineyard sits at 4300 feet and experiences up to 50 degree fluctuations in temperature during the growing season. Harvest usually starts in August and can run into early October. From here we source Syrah & Garnacha for PRIMER PASO, Tempranillo and Garnacha for SANCHA, Sangiovese Grosso for KITSUNÉ, and occasional VSC offerings. The oldest 20 acres of the vineyard were planted in 1982 so some of the oldest vines here are at least 29 years in age.
Varietals & Clones
CABERNET SAUVIGNON -> VSC & Tarzan Red
CHARDONNAY -> Chupacabra Bubbles
DOLCETTO -> VSC, Shinola, Chupacabra
GRENACHE -> VSC, Chupacabra, Chupacabra Rosa
GROS VERDOT -> VSC, Chupacabra
MALBEC -> VSC & Chupacabra
MALVASIA BIANCA -> Shinola Orancia, Queen B Orange, Chupacabra Bubbles
MERLOT -> Chupacabra
MONTEPULCIANO -> VSC & Shinola
MOURVEDRE -> Chupacabra, Jane Pink
PETIT SYRAH - Chupacabra
PETIT VERDOT -> VSC & Chupacabra
PINOT GRIGIO -> VSC
RIESLING -> Chupacabra Blanca
SANGIOVESE -> Shinola Red, Shinola Rosado
SANGIOVESE GROSSO -> Kitsuné
SAVIGNON BLANC -> Chupacabra Blanca
SYRAH -> Chupacabra
TEMPRANILLO -> Tarzan Red
VIOGNIER -> VSC
Acres under Vine
67
Elevation
4300'
Avg Yield Per Acre
1.5 - 3.0 tons
Geology
The Al Buhl Memorial Vineyard, anchored on alluvial fans off the western slopes of Dos Cabezas Mountain, was first planted in the heart of the Willcox Bench in 1982. Very diverse terroir due to the overlapping stream and lake bed alluvial deposits. Fine grained silt and clay with lenticular beds of sand and gravel, these mixed alluvium soils provide glimpses of past volcanic eruptions, faulting, erosion, and the ancient Pedregosa Sea. (For the Geeks- The Pedregosa sea once spanned from Willcox to Sedona/Mogollon Rim. Soils are relatively deep loam and clay-loam interspersed with cobbles derived from Precambrian Granite, Limestone, Rhyolite, Sandstone, Dolomite, and Feldspars.)
Main Challenges/Threats
Spring frost, Extreme spring winds (50mph+), Hail, Monsoon rains from veraison through harvest.
Climate
| Precipitation | 13" |
|---|---|
| Temperature - Average Summer Highs | 93° |
| Temperature - Record High | 110° |
| Temperature - Average Winter Lows | 26° |
| Temperature - Record Low | -7° |
| Average Date of Bud Break | 3/25 - 4/15 |