The Windmill Winery, Florence AZ - Live Love Drink Travel

As Sippin’ September winds down, we bring you The Windmill Winery. Located in historic Florence, Arizona about 60 miles southwest of Phoenix, The Windmill is part winery, part event venue and all Arizona.

The Windmill Winery is a distinct blend of rustic tones and that real rural experience. The property was Arizona’s first brickyard, established in 1906. The handmade bricks were used in buildings all over Arizona.

The brickyard was later sold and converted into a dairy farm. By 2001 it had become a dilapidated farm. The property was purchased, the salvageable buildings restored, and it evolved into The Windmill Winery we know today.

It is a very unique venue. Trees and other greenery cover the entire grounds. There are two lakes on the property which overlooks the Superstition Mountains. The entrance, the Aqueduct Arches, and many of the pathways are built from reclaimed bricks originally made by the brickyard. They offer two event venues on site.

The first is what they call The Lake House. In addition to the house itself, this waterside area boasts a large dock, a wraparound deck, and a synthetic turf area. There are plenty of options for a wedding or event.

The Big Barn is the larger venue. This 100-year old converted barn features a soaring ceiling with exposed rafters and beams. Originally built in 1910 in Wisconsin, it was transported piece by piece to its new home at The Windmill Winery. This location features two unique ceremony sites.

In 2010 The Windmill Winery started its own wine label. There is a vineyard on site where they grow Barbera grapes. Most of their grapes are grown in the Willcox AVA. All of their signature wines are created with 100% Arizona fruit.

Now the important part. In the middle of the property between the two venues lies the wine tasting room. Situated in a 1920’s converted dairy barn, the tasting room is bursting with rustic charm. The tasting room is long and narrow, so social distancing inside can be challenging when busy.

Thankfully, there is also a large patio area to the side, complete with a walk-up bar. We chose to sit outside under a large tree.

We even got table side service from one of the associates working the room. Mama Ruby came with us. Taunya and I both had a red flight, but Mama had the white flight.

The red flight starts with the Pinotage. This is a really nice wine and does not have the tarry effect on the finish usually associated with Pinotage. This grape seems to do well in Arizona and this varietal is a good one.

Next up in the flight is the Alicante Bouschet. This is not a grape variety I was really familiar with. Although it doesn’t have much of an aroma, this dark wine is really good. You can definitely taste some spice and cocoa in there along with fruit.

Third on the menu is the Dutchman's Bold. The 2017 was a table wine, the the 2018 vintage is a 100% Arizona Zinfandel. This is truly a complex wine. The aroma has some spicy notes, and it tastes a little fruity, but not too fruity. What surprised me was the very dry finish. It felt like it just took the moisture out of my mouth.

Last up is the Barbera. I could smell the berry before I took a sip. This wine is a bit jammy, and you can really taste the berries.

The Windmill is a little unique in that they have à la carte tasting prices as the menu, so we also sampled the Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a very light aroma, is smooth and dry, and I pick up notes of a dark fruit, maybe plum.

We both liked the Pinotage and the Alicante Bouschet best. It was close for me, but I think I would pick the Pinotage as my favorite. In fact, of the four wines on the tasting menu, I would rank the flight wines in the order we tasted them. Although I am not sure that is the tasting order I would have chosen myself.

Oh, let’s not forget about Mama Ruby! The white flight consists of Moscato, Symphony, Pinot Grigio, and Chardonnay varietals. The Moscota, and even the Symphony were a bit too sweet for her. Her favorite is the Pinot Grigio. I even tried it, and it is not bad… for a white. 😃

I should note that they have an additional menu of outside beer and wine available for purchase by the glass or bottle. They also have a food menu as well.

The Windmill Winery is not finished. There are plans to expand to the south side of Butte Avenue. These plans include an inn and an additional event venue.

The Windmill Winery and Florence are an hour and a half from us, though it’s not a long drive from South Phoenix or the south east valley. Any of our local readers should definitely take a day trip and check them out.

Be sure to check out tomorrow's feature, Mogollon Vineyards. You can read yesterday's article on Desert Rock Winery, or see all of our Sippin’ September articles here.

Living, loving, drinking, and traveling through life.

— Derek