Three decades of high desert winemaking
Dos Cabezas WineWorks turns 30 this year, a significant milestone in Arizona wine country.
Since 1995, the Sonoita winery has helped define modern Arizona wine and mentored a new generation of winemakers.
From state fair ribbon to Arizona wine pioneer
The story began when Army veteran Al Buhl moved from Virginia to southern Arizona and discovered local wine. He started experimenting at home, then entered a bottle in the state fair and earned a blue ribbon and $3.65. He and his wife, Ann, used that modest prize and additional savings to buy Arizona’s oldest vineyard in Willcox.
In 1995, Al released the first Dos Cabezas vintage and helped launch a new chapter for Arizona wine. Todd Bostock joined the winery as winemaker in 2002 and quickly leaned into the potential of high desert fruit. In 2006, Todd and Kelly purchased the winery, moved operations to Sonoita, and sharpened the estate-driven approach.
They strengthened vineyard programs, refined winemaking, and embraced collaboration with neighboring producers across the Sonoita and Willcox regions.
Two vineyards, one Arizona story
Dos Cabezas now farms about 40 acres across two high-elevation estate sites in southern Arizona. The Pronghorn Vineyard in Sonoita sits around 4,800 feet, with brown topsoil, gravelly loam, clay, and pockets of red clay.
The Cimarron Vineyard, near Kansas Settlement outside Willcox, sits around 4,300 feet with sandy, calcium-rich soils under open skies. Together, the vineyards support over 30 grape varieties, including Garnacha, Tempranillo, Piquepoul blanc, and Roussanne.
The team selects varieties that thrive under intense sun, big diurnal swings, monsoon patterns, and the high desert’s constant wind. Each harvest, they start with a vision for the wines, then respond to the vintage rather than forcing the fruit. They often co-ferment grapes, age wines on lees, and rely on large oak and concrete to preserve freshness and texture.
