Nogales is the gateway to Hwy 82, aka the Patagonia Hwy, which rumbles through rolling hills, open range, wine country and bird refuges to link up 70 miles later with Hwy 80 near Tombstone. Tall grass sways in the breeze and lazy cattle graze in fields dotted with the occasional windmill. If the land looks familiar it’s because you’ve probably seen it on film. More than 50 movies were filmed in this area, including Red River and Oklahoma. It’s truly a road less traveled and a great way to get away from it all and perhaps taste a bit of Arizona wine. Didn’t know they grew grapes down here? OK, so it’s not the Napa Valley and there are only seven wineries thus far, but thanks to a special microclimate, the grapes are thriving. Most wineries are open for free public tastings from Friday to Sunday but one that’s open daily is the spooky-cool Arizona Vineyards , about 15 miles along the highway. The tasting room is as dark and dank as Dracula’s den and filled with wacky flea-market furnishings and burning incense. Labels are called Rattlesnake Red and Sweet Killer Bee.
