the Pavle Milić show
Pavle Milic has spent 40+ years in the hospitality business — co-founding FnB restaurant in Scottsdale, building Los Milics Vineyards across three Arizona tasting rooms, and writing about wine for Phoenix Magazine for the past decade. Now he's pulling up a chair with people from well outside his own world and seeing where the conversation goes.
If you have any questions or ideas for an upcoming show, and if you would like to be a guest on the show, email psst@pavlemilic.com
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the Pavle Milić show
025: Brett Wagner's Rancho Castillo
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Rancho Castillo Winery | Brett Wagner | Arizona Wine | Sonoita-Elgin AVA
Brett Wagner didn't arrive in the Sonoita-Elgin wine region by accident. He's been drawn to the high grasslands of southern Arizona since childhood, and after a decade in law enforcement, four years making wine at Flying Leap Winery, stints with James Callahan at Deep Sky and Autumn Sage, and a winemaking role at Twisted Union — he's finally doing it under his own name.
In this episode, Pavle Milic sits down with Brett Wagner, founder and winemaker of Rancho Castillo Winery, a new Arizona winery launching its first commercial release in July 2026 out of Sonoita, Arizona. Brett talks about his path into winemaking, the influence of mentor James Callahan, his UC Davis viticulture and enology training, and the unconventional decision to start a construction company to fund his wine dream.
They discuss Brett's winemaking philosophy — neutral oak, varietal-driven, blending as craft — his fruit sources across the Sonoita-Elgin AVA and Willcox AVA, and a lineup anchored by Tannat, Blaufränkisch, Graciano, Petit Verdot, Chenin Blanc, and a dark, structured rosé.
Rancho Castillo Winery is currently offering private barrel tastings by appointment. Public tasting room opening anticipated July 2026. Follow updates at Rancho Castillo Winery on Facebook.
Topics: Arizona wine, Sonoita-Elgin AVA, Willcox AVA, independent winemaker, Tannat, Blaufränkisch, Graciano, natural winemaking, small production winery, Arizona wine country, new winery 2026, Pavle Milic, Pav on Juice.