Keeling Schaefer Vineyards

On a weekend trip to the Chihuahua Mountains in 2000, Rod and Jan spotted a small ranch for sale on Rock Creek, 12 miles south of the National Monument. It was all grass, with oak and ash trees along the creek in the back. Could this be their vineyard estate? They purchased the property and began the journey that has led them to their new home in wine country.

The home place vineyard was planted in 2004 and they harvested their first fruit in 2005. A small harvest from the young vines, but they made wine and after 18 months in the cellar, began sales operations in 2007.

At 5000 feet above sea level, the summer climate of warm, sunny days and cool, high desert nights combines with the unique rhyolite volcanic soils and hands-on winemaking to create Arizona’s finest wines.

Keeling-Schaefer produces estate grown and bottled Rhone-styled wine on their 25 acres of vineyards located along Rock Creek on the western slope of the Chiricahua Mountains in far southeastern Arizona. Their wines have been featured and reviewed in Arizona Highways, Arizona Republic, Growing, the Wall Street Journal and are some of the highest scored Arizona wines by Wine Spectator.

Visit the Keeling-Schaefer tasting room in downtown Willcox in the 1917 historic Willcox Bank and Trust building that Rod and Jan restored in 2010. The Tasting Room is open every day except certain holidays from 11AM-5PM.