South of Tucson, past the grasslands around Sonoita and into the oak-dotted hills near Elgin, Arizona's first commercial winery is bringing in the year's grapes the old-fashioned way. Sonoita Vineyards — pouring wine since 1983 — hosts HarvestFest 2026 on Saturday, August 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a grape-stomping competition at 1 p.m., tastings from ten Arizona wine-country producers, live music, and food trucks set against rows of vines at roughly 5,000 feet. Here is the July 25, 2026 Events read on what's happening, the winery's history, and why the roughly 47-mile drive south on AZ-83 is one of the more interesting day trips within reach of Tucson. Aug. 1 — HarvestFest 2026, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.. 1 p.m. — Grape-stomping competition kickoff. 1983 — Year Sonoita Vineyards opened as Arizona's first winery. ~47 mi — Driving distance from Tucson via AZ-83 What's Happening at HarvestFest HarvestFest 2026 runs the full day at Sonoita Vineyards, 290 Elgin-Canelo Road, with the grape-stomping competition as the marquee event at 1 p.m. Per Eventbrite and Sonoita Vineyards, the festival lines up tastings of new releases from ten Arizona wine-country producers — Sonoita Vineyards, The Elgin Distillery, The Elgin Winery, Lightning Ridge Cellars, Twisted Union Wine Company, Wilhelm Family Vineyards, Desert Blossom Vineyards, Strive, 1764 Vineyards, and Flying Kite Vineyards — plus live music from Jeff and Jill Driscoll, food from Las Vigas, and a lineup of artisan and craft vendors. Tickets are sold in advance through Eventbrite; confirm current pricing and any on-site details before heading down, since festival lineups and hours can shift year to year. Arizona's First Winery Sonoita Vineyards traces back to 1973, when University of Arizona soil scientist Dr. Gordon Dutt and Blake Brophy planted an experimental vineyard on the Babocomari Ranch to test whether the region's high grassland could grow wine grapes. The experiment worked well enough that Dutt planted Arizona's first commercial vineyard in 1979 and opened Sonoita Vineyards in 1983 as the state's first bonded winery. The property sits atop a hill about three miles south of Elgin, with 25-to-30-plus acres of vines at roughly 5,000 feet in elevation — open grassland dotted with white oak and framed by mountains on three sides, on soil researchers have compared to Burgundy's. Dutt remained involved with the vineyard for decades and died in 2021 at 91; Sonoita Vineyards continues to operate today. The Festival (Aug. 1, 10am–5pm, Grape stomp at 1pm, 10 wineries pouring): HarvestFest 2026 fills the day with a grape-stomping competition, tastings from ten Arizona wine-country producers, live music from Jeff and Jill Driscoll, food from Las Vigas, and artisan and craft vendors. The Winery (Est. 1983, ~5,000 ft elevation, 25–30+ acres of vines): Sonoita Vineyards is Arizona's first commercial winery, planted by UA soil scientist Dr. Gordon Dutt starting in 1973 and opened to the public in 1983. It sits on a hilltop three miles south of Elgin amid oak-dotted grassland. Getting There (290 Elgin-Canelo Rd, ~47 miles south, Via AZ-83): The drive from Tucson runs south on AZ-83 through Sonoita and down into Elgin — about 47 miles and just over an hour, through the Santa Rita Mountains and open grassland. Why the Drive Is Worth It For Tucson residents, and for anyone weighing what Southern Arizona looks like beyond the city, the Sonoita-Elgin area is worth knowing outside of festival weekends too. It's a different physical setting than the desert floor — high grassland near a mile in elevation, oak savanna instead of saguaro, and vineyards built into working ranch land — and it's reachable in about an hour on AZ-83 south through the Santa Rita Mountains. A festival day is a low-commitment way to see it: park, taste, watch the grape stomp, and get a feel for a part of the region that looks nothing like the desert forty-some miles north. Quick reference (July 25, 2026): HarvestFest 2026 runs Saturday, August 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sonoita Vineyards, 290 Elgin-Canelo Road, Elgin, AZ 85611, about 47 miles south of Tucson via AZ-83. A grape-stomping competition starts at 1 p.m., alongside tastings from ten Arizona wineries and distillers, live music from Jeff and Jill Driscoll, food from Las Vigas, and artisan vendors. Tickets are available in advance via Eventbrite. Sonoita Vineyards opened in 1983 as Arizona's first commercial winery. Festival hours, tickets, and vendor lineups change, so confirm current details with Sonoita Vineyards before heading down. The Takeaway Arizona wine country doesn't come up as often as it should from inside Tucson, and HarvestFest is as good a reason as any to close that gap — a working vineyard that's been pouring since 1983, a grape stomp at 1 p.m., and ten producers worth tasting, all about an hour down AZ-83. Whether you already call Tucson home or are still sizing up what life in Southern Arizona looks like beyond the city limits, August 1 is a straightforward reason to make the drive. Sources Eventbrite — "HARVESTFEST 2026 at Sonoita Vineyards Tickets, Saturday, August 1" — eventbrite.com/e/harvestfest-2026-at-sonoita-vineyards-tickets-1965628958127 — accessed July 25, 2026 (for the August 1, 2026 date, 10 a.m.-to-5 p.m. hours, the 1 p.m. grape-stomping competition, and the venue address). Sonoita Vineyards — "HarvestFest 2026 at Sonoita Vineyards" — sonoitavineyards.com/event/harvestfest-2026-at-sonoita-vineyards/ — accessed July 25, 2026 (for the participating wineries and vendors, live music, and food). Sonoita Vineyards — "Sonoita's and Arizona's First Winery" — sonoitavineyards.com/arizonas-first-winery/ — accessed July 25, 2026 (for the winery's founding and history). Farm Progress — "Arizona soil and wine pioneer remembered" — farmprogress.com/grapes/arizona-soil-and-wine-pioneer-remembered — accessed July 25, 2026 (for Dr. Gordon Dutt's role planting the 1973 experimental vineyard and the 1979 commercial vineyard, and his death in 2021 at age 91). Yelp — "Sonoita Vineyards" business listing — yelp.com/biz/sonoita-vineyards-elgin — accessed July 25, 2026 (for the address, 290 Elgin-Canelo Road, Elgin, AZ 85611). TravelMath — "Driving Distance from Tucson, AZ to Sonoita, AZ" — travelmath.com/drive-distance/from/Tucson,+AZ/to/Sonoita,+AZ — accessed July 25, 2026 (for the approximately 47-mile driving distance from Tucson). All data current as of July 25, 2026; event dates, hours, admission, and vendor lineups change, so readers should confirm current information with Sonoita Vineyards before relying on any single detail. This post is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase real estate. Kyle Berglund and Tierra Antigua Realty fully support and comply with the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act.