The “V” illustrates the importance of celebrating challenges and rewarding all the small victories along the way. Strive Vineyards began with a passion for wine and our aspirations of growing a family and farm in the high desert climate and sandy loam terroir of Willcox, Arizona.
While Ryan and Desiree have been faced with countless obstacles along the way, their wine is the unique culmination of weather, soil, grapes and the people of each vintage. At Strive Vineyards we recognize that goals worth achieving rarely come easily, however we will always strive to persevere.
The Story of Our Vineyard
Ryan and Desiree both grew up in Wisconsin. Together they attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where Desiree earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and Ryan earned his doctorate in pharmacology. Afterward, they moved down to Arizona for the amazing weather. Desiree went on to receive her master’s degree in Special Education at Arizona State University and taught Special Education in Phoenix for 8 years. Ryan has and continues to work as a pharmacist for a national brand.
While on a weekend vacation to Arizona’s wine country, Desiree asked her husband, Ryan, why they’d never tried making their own wine. They had always had an interest in food, wine and chemistry. The very next weekend they went out and purchased a home winemaking kit from the local brew shop. That first batch was undrinkable, to put it politely, which only fueled them to research, revise and try again.
When a 6-gallon glass carboy exploded in their guest bedroom, they decided to go full speed ahead. They ripped out the carpeting and built a complete in-home winery. Not long after, they looked for land in Willcox (where 85% of the grapes grown in Arizona come from) and began the journey to grow a family, vineyard and winery.
Our Mission
Share the stories of our life, love and livelihood with you, while providing you with a truly exceptional and personalized vineyard and winery experience in alluring Willcox, Arizona.