The Best Santa Fe Wineries: Southwestern Treasures

There’s a reason they call New Mexico “The Land of Enchantment”. With its many National Parks, deserts and mountain scenery, this southwestern gem offers luxurious views. Whether you’re visiting New Mexico for skiing, riding bike trails or visiting Native American pueblos, the state capital, Santa Fe, will likely be on your itinerary. While you’re here, take a break from the outdoor sights and recreation, and enjoy one of the many vineyards and wineries local to Santa Fe. Unknown to many, some of the finest wines in the world are produced in New Mexico. Sante Fe produces a wide variety of wine-producing grapes. So naturally, there are some award-winning wineries in the area that you must visit. Here are the ones you should be sure not to miss:

1. Vivac Winery

At the Vivac Winery, every step of the winemaking process is performed entirely by hand; from sorting the grapes to punch-downs and bottling. Vivac selects the finest New Mexico grapes and takes the utmost care in gentle treatment of the grapes throughout the wine-making process. Vivac prefers fermenting their wine in oak barrels due to the oak’s ability to contribute sweet spices to the wine. However, when not in oak, their wines are fermented and aged in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks.

You have two options if you’d like to experience the exquisite Vivac flavors. You can choose the convenience of tasting your Vivac selections at their tasting room in the city or make the short five-mile trip to the winery itself, where you can get the entire sensory experience. You can smell the grapes in their natural state, and follow them from vine to bottle. The vineyard is expansive in size and offers indoor scenery of contemporary art. You’ll have the opportunity to enlighten your taste buds by tasting some cheese and chocolate pairings with the many available wines. Vivac Winery hours vary depending on the time of year. Before planning a visit, call them at 505-579-4441 to be certain of the current hours of operation.

2. Black Mesa Winery

Just a 45-minute drive from Santa Fe, you can find Black Mesa Winery. This is a winery you certainly won’t want to miss. Black Mesa is widely known for its use of the widest variety of grapes grown in New Mexico. Their Velarde Tasting Room is located in the navel of the northern New Mexico mountains. There, you can enjoy captivating views while indulging your palate with a host of finely crafted wines. All Black Mesa wines are produced on their estate in Velarde, New Mexico. This single-site production concept allows Black Mesa absolute control over every step in the process. For more than two decades, the vineyard, winery, and tasting room have delighted visitors from around the world. If you taste something you must have again, and you will, Black Mesa offers numerous wine club options that afford you the opportunity to purchase your favorite selections during your visit, or have some shipped to you later. Black Mesa Winery is open Monday thru Saturday 11 am to 6 pm and Sunday Noon to 5 pm.

3. Casa Abril Vineyards & Winery

Venture just a half-hour from Santa Fe to the small town of Budaghers, and you’ll find one of New Mexico’s largest vineyards. Casa Abril Vineyards and Winery doesn’t just produce some of the most delectable wines you’ll find anywhere; it provides an authentic Spanish family experience, with its spirited, opulent fields of grapevines, waiting to overwhelm your senses. Their motto is Vivir, meaning ‘to live’ or ‘to celebrate’. And celebrate you will, as you sample their world-class wines. Every year, Casa Abril Vineyards grows more grapes than the previous year. They continue to win gold medals when compared with other New Mexico wineries. Casa Abril gets high marks from visitors on a number of travel review websites. Casa Abril Winery is open Thursday thru Sunday Noon to 5 pm.

4. Gruet Winery

The Gruet family, already legendary in France for their world-class Champagne, knew some European winemakers who had started vineyards in New Mexico, with favorable outcomes. They visited New Mexico and observed the obvious ideal climate for growing grapes. Gruet credits these uniquely favorable conditions for making fine wines; high elevation, sandy soils, and sweeping winds that keep away pests. In 1983, the Gruets purchased a vineyard near the Elephant Butte Reservoir and expanded their legacy to the U.S.

Gruet Winery specializes in a wine-producing method of making sparkling wine, that leaves the last stages of fermentation until after bottling. This New Mexico-based winery produces sparkling wines and a small collection of still wines, with roots originating from Gilbert Gruet’s Champagne house in Bethon, France. Gruet Winery is highly-acclaimed and remains a favorite among prestigious sommeliers. Gruet winery hours are: Monday thru Friday from 10 am till 7 pm, Saturday from noon till 7 pm and Sunday from noon till 6 pm.

5. The Wine Spot

Short on time and want to wet your taste buds for the grapes in one stop? You can try The Wine Spot. New Mexico is the oldest wine country in the U.S.; its reputation for award-winning vineyards is expanding around the globe. At The Wine Spot, you can enjoy the largest selection of New Mexico wines without leaving the Sante Fe city limits. The Wine Spot is a rare place where over 60 vintages can be experienced in the same room. The Wine Spot is open 1-9 pm Fri, Sat, Sun, and 1-7 pm on Mondays.

Whatever brings you through Santa Fe, if you have a penchant for fine wines, made from a wide variety of not-so-ordinary grapes, you should make time to visit one of the many Santa Fe wineries. No doubt you’ll find a selection or two that you’ll want to enjoy at home. Almost all the wineries on this list can arrange to ship a couple of bottles, or even a case, to your casa. Check-in with any winery you plan to visit for days and hours of operation.