Highlights
- Brett Wagner opens Rancho Castillo Winery on his father-in-law's 26-acre Sonoita property after a decade in law enforcement and four years apprenticing at Flying Leap Vineyards.
- The debut release includes a Tannat anchor, Blaufränkisch from High Lonesome vineyard, a Graciano-dominant field blend, a Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay, and a dark rosé.
- Private barrel tastings are bookable now through the winery's Facebook page; a tasting room is planned for a later date.
- Wagner funded the winery by running a construction company and supplemented hands-on training with UC Davis satellite courses.
Brett Wagner's first wines from Rancho Castillo Winery are hitting the market now, according to Phoenix Magazine's Pavle Milic, who covers Arizona wine for the publication. The winery sits on his father-in-law's 26-acre property in Sonoita proper, with Wagner's wife Autumn and her family as partners.
Wagner's path to the label was anything but direct. Ten years in law enforcement and behavioral health came first. He then spent four years at Flying Leap Vineyards learning the craft, followed by stints with winemaker James Callahan, Twisted Union, and Sunset Ride Vineyards. UC Davis satellite courses filled in the theory. To fund the winery itself, he started a construction company.
The debut release runs five or six wines. Tannat is the anchor. Also in the lineup: a Blaufränkisch sourced from High Lonesome vineyard in McNeil, a Graciano-dominant field blend, a Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay, and a rosé Wagner intentionally skews dark. The label art depicts his actual house.
The winery's address is 9 Curly Horse Rd., Sonoita, and can be reached at 520-241-9278. Private barrel tastings are bookable now through the Rancho Castillo Winery Facebook page. A tasting room is planned but not yet open.
Sources
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- Phoenix Magazine retrieved 01/07/2026 20:13
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 01/07/2026 20:13. Every claim traces to a source.
