Corey Turnbull is the owner and head winemaker of Rubrix Wines in Cottonwood, located in the Verde Valley, Arizona. A resident of the Verde Valley for 35 years, he has been part of Arizona’s winemaking community for nearly two decades.
In addition to leading Rubrix Wines, Corey serves as head winemaker at a large Arizona winery, where he oversees the production of 60–80 wines annually. His experience spans traditional dry whites, rosés, and reds, as well as more unconventional styles including apple wines, dessert wines, fortified orange wines, ports, and piquettes. He is passionate about contributing to Arizona’s growing and evolving wine industry. Media Inquiries: corey@rubrixwines.com | https://rubrixwines.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?
Growing grapes in Arizona is challenging. Because of the hot, arid climate, we grow at elevation—between 3,500 and 5,000 feet—where vines experience dramatic diurnal shifts. That climate is what makes Arizona unique to me. At Rubrix, we focus on varieties that thrive here, primarily producing Rhône-style wines. We make only about 1,000 cases a year and sell exclusively through our wine club and tasting room in Cottonwood. Rubrix is a small, boutique hometown brand run by my wife, Hayley, and me, with support from a four-person tasting room team. We make wines to share with friends, family, and anyone who finds their way to our little town.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained.
Rubrix grew out of our small, blue-collar family, and we have poured everything we have into the business. It is difficult to make ends meet at this scale, but we keep pushing forward each year. Our dream is to build a production facility of our own, ideally with concrete fermentation and aging vessels, large oak tanks and puncheons, and simply more room. I would also love to farm about 25 acres and produce roughly 3,500 cases annually, focusing on southern Rhône varieties and blends. I would especially like to try growing head-trained Grenache. There is a local ranch in the Verde Valley that feels perfect, with red Gila-series soils, gentle southwest-facing slopes, and a large hill that helps protect the site from frost pressure coming off the creek. I drive by it often and imagine building our vineyard, winery, and home there.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
Our flagship is the Hommage Rhône-style blend from Colibri Vineyard in Cochise County, AZ. It’s 52% Mourvèdre, 29% Syrah, 14% Grenache, 5% Counoise.
This wine is my tribute to the storied reds of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, especially the rare Mourvèdre-driven examples. All the grapes were grown in the granitic soils of Colibri Vineyard, which I consider the best Rhône site in the state. Located just 40 miles north of the Arizona–Mexico border at 5,300 feet, Colibri has north-facing slopes that allow for a longer growing season and produce grapes with deep flavor and excellent natural acidity. The wine was aged for 22 months in 35% new French oak. It offers abundant notes of fresh cherry, pomegranate, bergamot, blood orange, and classic colibri-esque white pepper spice. To me, this wine unmistakably expresses Arizona. Stay tuned, this wine review is coming soon!
Bonus Question: Why Winemaking?
I believe wine is one of the few products that truly reflects place. Nothing else in the beverage world comes close. To me, wine is transformative: it evokes memories, elevates food, and brings people together. Most of all, the wines we make are direct reflections of our home. Being able to share a little piece of our home with others is what makes this work so meaningful.