A monthly look at Arizona wine with Valley dining impresario Pavle Milic.
I’ve routinely crossed paths with Corey Turnbull while pouring at the annual Governor’s Cup – Arizona’s premier wine competition, where industry experts evaluate submissions in a double-blind tasting format and award medals in a variety of categories.
For the past two years, Los Milics Vineyards has been invited to participate. In 2024, we proudly took home Best White, Best Rosé and Best in Show. Let’s just say I became very popular in my mother’s apartment building. That same year, Corey – the creative force behind Rubrix Wines in Cottonwood – was awarded Best Malvasia. In 2025, he was there again, this time accepting Best White for a striking white wine made with Grenache grapes – though he calls it Grenache Noir.
Many will also recognize Corey from his earlier work at Arizona Stronghold Vineyards and Burning Tree Cellars. I’ve had my fair share of his wines – and they’re well worth seeking out: balanced, expressive, and deeply rooted in a sense of place. I’ve long called Malvasia Bianca “Arizona’s aromatic empress,” and Corey’s rendition lives up to that title: lemony, floral, citrus-laced and packed with laser-focused, thirst-quenching acidity.
His wines are as visually striking as they are drinkable. Each label features watercolor artwork painted by his daughter – eye candy for any cellar shelf. You’ll find them in Old Town Cottonwood at the Rubrix tasting room, where you can sip your way through his lineup. On weekends, live music runs from 5 to 8 p.m., making it a worthy stop for wine lovers and road-trippers alike.
Rubrix Wines
1040 N. Main St., Cottonwood,
928-649-8733, rubrixwines.com
Arizona’s wine scene is evolving fast, and Corey is a key figure in that story. His wines cast a bright, compelling spotlight on what this state can accomplish.
