Wine from the Willcox Bench: Sand-Reckoner Vineyards

Sand-Reckoner Vineyards sits 4,300 feet above sea-level on the “Willcox bench”, the popular home of 12 Arizona wineries.

Owners, winemakers, and new parents Rob and Sarah Hammelman purchased the 12-acre vineyard in 2010. This was after returning from France where Rob worked as a ‘flying winemaker’ at Chateau de St. Cosme in Gigondas. Not too shabby.

Now, the Hammelman’s put their wine passion to work at Sand-Reckoner right here in Arizona. The vineyard hosts an assortment of wines including Arinto, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Sagrantino, Montepulciano, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Zinfandel. Not to mention their 2012 Malvasia Bianca, which was ranked in the Top 100 wines by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Two of their most recent wines include the 2012 Z and the 2013 W. A blend of Viognier and Malvasia Bianca grapes, the W introduces refreshing flavors of citrus and orange blossom. The Z is made from a blend of Zinfandel, Montepulciano and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, sourced from the foot of the Dragoon Mountains, offering a bold spice and firm tannins.

A handful of restaurants feature Sand Reckoner, including Poppy Kitchen, who recently added the W and the Z to their boutique wine menu. These will be the first Arizona wines offered at a Metzger Family Restaurant.

“These Sand-Reckoner wines just blew me away,” said Brian Metzger. “I’ve been looking at Arizona wines for some time now, searching for just the right wines that reflect our sense of style and spirit, and the W and the Z do that in spades.”

Poppy Kitchen isn’t the only place to find Sand Reckoner, however. Check out our list below for other locations around town where you can eat and sip.

Where to Get Sand-Reckoner Wines in Tucson

• Blu – A Wine & Cheese Shop 
• Good Oak Bar 
• Harvest 
• Hotel Congress 
• Michelangelo’s 
• Pizzeria Bianco 
• Proper 
• Sidecar 

If you try them out and find that you’re a fan, you can join the Wine Club for bi-annual shipments of the vineyard’s latest releases. You’ll get a whole lot of wine and invitations to special tastings and events.

For more information or to make an appointment to visit Sand-Reckoner, check them out online.