Heart of the Dessert 9 of 44

Heart of the Dessert is a tasting room located in Alamogordo, New Mexico. They do grow their own grapes but the wine is manufactured by other wineries. When you first enter Heart of the Dessert you'll notice it's more of a gift shop selling knick-knacks, jewelry and pistachios than it is a tasting room but if you continue to the back you'll notice a very nicely appointed room reserved for tasting wine. On the day I visited Heart of the Dessert, the tasting room was closed but they directed us to a small counter in the front of the store for tasting.

Perhaps it was the chaotic location of the tasting counter being located directly by the cash register with line of patrons buying knick-knacks that made the wine hostess this day seem a little bothered and distracted. Or perhaps it was her comment that, "I've been a bar tender for years and "they" don't swirl or smell the wine as "they" taste it," correcting us as we did so, that has me believing this. I might have put a little credence to her comment if it hadn’t been for the way she lead into it by saying, "I don't drink wine but..."

First, we are the "they" of whom she speaks and second, correct me if I’m wrong here but in my experience, patrons that order drinks from a bar tender are not typically interested in the experiential nature of tasting their drinks like someone visiting a winery. When was the last time you saw someone swirl and sniff their martini and to carry the thought a step further, why would you care if they did? So I've come to the conclusion, after viewing a few references, that an ex-bar tender does not a good wine hostess make. Let's leave it at that.

If you go: I wouldn't.

Acequia Vineyards & Winery 8 of 44

Acequia Vineyards & Winery, in its first year of business, is a "garage" winery by all accounts; the owner literally converted his garage into a lovely tasting room with your choice of either the tasting bar or a bistro table on which to complete your tasting. Acequia is located on the West side of Corrales at 240 Reclining Acres Rd.

We tasted three of Acequia's wines: the Kestrel, Chardonnay and red Zinfandel. The Kestrel is a white, sweet, smooth wine with flavors of pear and a tart finish. The Chardonnay is crisp and clean with a fruity bouquet. The red Zinfandel is light bodied with overtones of oak and spices. All three are rich in flavor that envelopes the palate and delightes the taste buds. I highly recommend all of them.    



Al, Karen, William & Abel

 



I've come to realize that the personality of the wine host, be it the owner or hired hand, is crucial to an enjoyable experience and directly affects my decision to purchase wine both at the vineyard and later as I look to replenish my stock at the store. Acequia is at the top of my list in this respect. The owner greeted us with a happy, welcoming smile and continued with a cheerful demeanor through our entire visit sharing his wine making stories and experience with us. Al, you're awesome, thank you!

If you go: There is no event schedule at Acequia but that doesn't mean you won't have an enjoyable and relaxing time with Al tasting some of the best wine in New Mexico.



Custom made Acequia pottery bowl

First Impressions

I'm sure you've all heard that first impressions are everything. This age old adage is never more "real" than when one is visiting a winery. With everyday shopping you typically already know what you want or you want to survey the stock so aren't really interested in asking for help. It's different for me when visiting a winery because of the personal nature of the tasting process.

Allow me to paint the picture: The host pours you a smattering of an often times award winning wine and you put it in your mouth and make an assessment of its taste and character...all while the maker watches with gleeful expectation. To me, it's an experience with certain intimacies similar to tasting your grandmother's family-favorite pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving while she looks on with a loving smile. You'd never dream of spitting it out followed by a hearty, "YUCK" now would you?

So there is a balance that has to be struck between taster and host and as with any other retail establishment, the personality of the staff (in this case the wine host or hostess) is in direct proportion to the guest's first impression and enjoyment of the wine and the winery. When the customer is made to feel inadequate or dumb by a self centered host, it affects how much the customer purchases both at the time of tasting and later when in other stores as they look to replenish their supply. Conversely, if the host is friendly and opens up to the tasters to help create a mutually respectful relationship and inviting atmosphere, the customer is more likely to not only buy wine but to spread the word about their positive experience at the winery to their wine loving friends.

Here's the point of this post. If you visit a winery and you aren't met with a sincere greeting and then made to feel as though the host or hostess wants you there, leave. It really is that simple. As I've been visiting wineries over the past few months on my quest to win a wine cruise there have been some wineries where the visit turns into a lovely time of chatting and tasting and buying. Then there have been others where I can't wait to leave; sometimes before ever tasting a drop. I didn't leave because I want to complete the contest but I can assure you that when this contest is over, I won't be going back.

Corrales Winery, Corrales, NM - 7 of 44

The White Buffalo is Corrales Winery's Mascot

Directly across Highway 528 from Matheson Winery and down Corrales road no more than a few miles is Corrales Winery. This winery, founded by a former Sandia Laboratories engineer, is nestled in the lovely village of Corrales, NM and boasts that it is solar powered and completely "off the grid." Once inside, the view from the tasting room is breathtaking. You hardly notice that the vines in the foreground, while starting to sweat, are not yet in full bloom as the Sandia mountains in the background envelope the huge picture windows. It has to be one of the most magnificant views of the Sandia mountains I've ever seen from inside a dwelling.

Sweating Vines

Corrales uses 100% New Mexico grown grapes, as do most of the wineries we've visited so far. Since they were sold out of all but two of the wines, I tasted both. The Cabernet Sauvignon and the Rojo Blendido. The Cabernet has a deep, rich color with hints of plum and a dry finish. The Rojo is sweet and syrupy and reminds me of black currents. We took a bottle of the Cabernet with us and made our way back down the long driveway to Corrales Road. Another winery awaits.

Trivia: Vines sweat (emit small droplets of water) just before their first buds of greenery appear in the Spring.

If you go: Hours are Wed-Sun from noon to 5. They typically sell out of all wine so if you like a wine you've tasted, don't wait, pick it up. Better yet, join the wine club.

Matheson Winery, Rio Rancho - 6 of 44



Mark, William, Karen and Abel

What this "urban" winery lacks in curb appeal it more than makes up for in warmth, wine variety, taste and personality. This award winning winery is located in a non-descript strip mall complex right on Highway 528 in North Rio Rancho at 528 and Sundt. It is owned and operated by Mark Matheson who also founded Assets Grille; Albuquerque's first brew pub. Mr. Matheson's pedigree of brewing and wine making is evident in the knowlege of wine and of the New Mexico wine making industry he delightfully shared with us as we tasted. From hauling the grapes to his winery to pressing, firmenting, bottling and selling, Mr. Matheson does it all. If you don't believe me, there are pictures on the walls to prove it.


Matheson makes mostly red wine so I was a happy camper but we did try all the wines this day; two of which were white. The 2009 Carnivale is a Muscat, Malvaisa and Reisling blend that is sweet yet with a crisp soft finish. The 2007 Chardonnay has a delightful tart/vanilla flavor that isn't buttery. I could imagine sipping the Chardonnay as the last little bit of the summer sun casts long shadows across my newly mown lawn. Or, it would make a great gift for friends who love Chardonnay.  

Award winning Matheson Wine

The five reds range from dry to sweet beginning with the Rio Cuvee which is light bodied and dry with a tart finish to the Doce which is a sweet port made syrupy with brandy. This one was reminisient of the wine I had as a kid during holy communion that warmed me down to my toes. In between lie the Cabernet Sauvignon with a lovely smooth, oak flavor you'd expect from a Cabernet to the Sagio Franc, slightly sweeter and fruiter than the Cabernet to the Tres which is smooth, sweet with hints of spicy cloves.

I took home the Rio Cuvee and the Chardonnay but don't get your hopes up, the Chardonnay is a gift.

As with many of the wineries the wine club has no membership fee and they also offer a Prefered Customer Card that offers increasing discounts, up to 20%, as you purchase wine throughout the year.

If you go: The tasting room is open Wed-Sunday from noon to 5:00. If you ask, Mr. Matheson just might give you a tour of the bottling room.

Screw tops waiting for their perfect pairing.

Anasazi Fields Winery - Placitas, NM 5 of 44

Iron sign: Anasazi Fields

I love this winery. I love it becuase 1.) it's not pretentious, 2.) all the wines are made from fruit besides grapes and 3.) Jim Fish, the owner, is a delight! Besides being a wine maker, he's a poet. You can purchase his published book of poetry at the winery. Jim was more than willing to spend time with us telling us how each wine is made and where he gets the fruit. From the moment you drive onto the property you get the feeling that this winery is different. Different in a good way; a way that makes you feel comfortable.

Anasazi Fields Winery is in Placitas, New Mexico which is about 25 miles North of Albuquerque and tucked back in the Sandia mountains where it's quiet and peaceful. Almost all the fruit used to make the wines is grown in Placitas. To find out why I say "almost" you'll have to keep reading.

I know what you're thinking....because I was thinking the same thing....fruit wine must be sweet. Not true. From the Peach to the Apple to the Raspberry to the Wild Cherry (and I could go on), these wines are dry, tart, refreshing and such a surprise to the palate.

William, Abel, Jim, Karen and Dan

My favorite, and the one that came home with me, is the Rojo Seco. This is a blend of two wines, a 2008 Syrah and a 2006 Wild Cherry. It has a beautiful rich color and is dry and flavorful with hints of cinnamon. Jim said this wine would go great with game and dark chocolate. Or, if you're like me and the last time you actually had "game" was never, would go perfect with grilled steak or salmon.

My second favorite is the 2010 Wild Cherry. This wine has flavors of black cherry and cinnamon. While to me not as robust as the Rojo Seco, it has a wonderfully smooth finish.

The most surprising wine, and the only one made from fruit not grown in New Mexico (good, you kept reading), is the American Cranberry. This wine is made from pure fruit, not blended, and has a dry fruity (cranberry) taste. Surprisingly, this wine isn't syrupy, as I thought it might be. Jim said this wine sells best at Thanksgiving time. Hum? I'll swap out the cranberry sauce for the cranberry wine anytime.

Trivia: You'll notice that Anasazi wines have petroglyphs on their labels. The renderings were photographed from ancient drawings Jim found in the Placitas wilderness.

Artwork abounds.

If you go: Check their event schedule because they have events almost every weekend. From poetry readings to live music and art shows, there's alwasys something happening.

St. Clair Winery Albuquerque 4 of 44

St. Clair Winery & Bistro is a departure from the traditional wineries we've visited so far. You know, the ones with a nice quiet tasting room and the owner more than happy to chat, take care of us and pose for a picture. St. Clair is the largest winery in the state with multiple locations and this time we visited the location near Old Town Albuquerque. This location is a full-on restaurant and while less intimate than the others it has fabulous food, entertainment and a attentive wait staff to take care of us. We happend to go on Sunday night and they had a live jazz band in the bar area which made for a great evening of tasting, noshing and toe tapping. In the summer the bands are on the expansive patio.

Wine flights are $6.00 for 6 choices.  I chose all red, of course (one of these days I will expand my selections...promise!). St. Clair produces over forty wines under four different labels. This is unlike the other wineries we've visited so far who have just one label, but none the less. For my wine flight I chose the St. Clair Cab Zin (mild, tart and light bodied), DH Lecombs Syrah (my favorite of the night; oaky, smokey, smooth and full of body), St. Clair Reserve Merlot (dry with hints of black cherry and medium body), St. Clair Meritage (tart, light and a little bland for me), Blue Teal Cabernet Sauvignon (dark color with sweek oak overtones)and DH Lescombs Cabernet Sauvignon (full flavored).

I have to admit that tasting (or should I say drinking and enjoying) 6 wines (albeit small glasses) in a row is a little like having 6 kids. The first two get all the attention, pictures and video and then by the time you get to the 6th, they're kind of on their own...now, which one's Johnny? Same for my notes on the last couple wines; all bets were off and my notes are a little sketchy. I'll pay more attention to this next time.

By visiting this winery I completed the first prize level in the contest. I like prizes.
If you go: Go on Sunday night for live jazz. Local jazz artists will knock your socks off.

Tierra Encantada 3 of 44



At the bar.



How do you make a small fortune in wine making? Start with a great one. Words of wisdom from Pat Coil, the proprietor of Tierra Encantada Winery.

The Tierra Encantada winery is a hidden South Valley treasure...literally. Unless you know where Cinco Puntos (5 Points) is, you might need your GPS to find it but what better place than in one of Albuquerque's oldest agricultural settings. Once there however, you will be amazed by the variety of wine and enchanted, pun intended, by the spirit and vitality of proprietor, Pat Coil.

Pat started the winery over 6 years ago with her husband, who has since passed away. Through teary eyes she told us of their vision to have a boutique winery where the proprietors are intimately involved with the wine making. Pat has managed to keep this vision alive and proved her passion for wine making as she gave us a brief history and recipe of each of the wines in her wonderful selection. Tierra Encantada's collection includes white, blush and red wine, all of which Pat takes part in creating.

Although there are tables for gathering we chose to sit at the antique bar that greets guests as they enter the front door. The bar's beautiful oak fronts and white marble top made for the perfect setting to begin our tasting. At Tierra Encantada you get one taste for free and 5 for $5. We chose 5 of the reds; Shiraz, Chambourcin, Tempranillo, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Melot and we chose Atrisco Sunset as our free taste.



Three wines stood out as our favorites: The Chambourcin, Tempranillo and the Cabernet Franc. The Chambourcin is wonderfully dry with hints of pepper, spices and cloves. The Tempranillo is mild and smooth with a fabulous oaky finish and more tart than the Chambourcin. The Cabernet Franc is quite smooth and soft on the pallet and won best of show at the 2009 NM State Fair.  All three made their way home with us. The Atrisco Sunset is syrupy sweet and the perfect dessert wine if you like dark chocolate.



Through jokes, chit chatting, trying to decipher the delicate flavors within the wine or what type of meal you would pair it with, something magical happens when you share a glass of wine with a group of people. They grow closer. Just as the winery brought Pat and her husband together, our experience at Tierra Encantada brought our group closer together and now, Pat is part of that experience. Thank you Pat, we'll be back!

Vino de pata.

If you go: There is plenty of free parking and bring your camera to capture a moment behind the scene wall. There is no fee to join the wine club. 5 Points Road is just a few blocks South of Central and Atrisco.





Guadalupe Vineyards 2 of 44

Sunday: March 13, 2011.

Today was a beautiful, warm, sunny day in New Mexico. The kind of day made for Sunday drives. About one hour West of Albuquerque is Guadalupe Vineyards, our first destination for the day's wine tastings. The quaint, boutique vineyard is nestled in the foothills of Mount Taylor and about 1/2 mile up a gravel road off of old route 66 and quite easy to find.



Our hosts; Salina and Vato.

 The tasting room is located in a beautifully kept, modern adobe style house with incredible vegas spanning the great room. Our hostess, Salina, was delightful and met us at the front door with Vato, the 1/2 wolf sheppard. She was more than willing to pose for a picture and share with us the history of the winery as we made our way though the three wine offerings. 

Started by Antonio Trujillo and his wife, Lucinda, Guadalupe Vineyards bottles strictly German white varieties. When they bought the property close to 11 years ago they found three struggling grape vines and cultivated them into the award winning business they have today. Most recently, their 2009 Riesling won the 2010 Gold award at the New York International wine festival. 

Being mainly a dry, red wine drinker, I have to admit I was skeptical about finding a wine I would like while visiting a winery that only sells white wine. But, I reminded my self that wine cruise contents don't win themselves and the mission is to visit all of New Mexico's 43 wineries  (and one of the festivals) regardless of their offerings. Besides, a georgeous day and excellent company (Abel, Karen and Dan) was a recipe for success, regardless.




Vato: Had no wine, just napping like he did.

Guadalupe's wines include a 2009 Riesling, 2010 Gewurztraminer and a 2010 Muscat. The Riesling was first and had a clean taste with hints of green apple, grapefruit, black pepper and, to my pleasant surprise, was thoroughly refreshing. Dan bought a bottle and we drank it there. "What?, You want to drink it now!? Well, ok, twist my arm." :) As I sipped I imagined a warm summer night, relaxing on the patio and enjoying this light wine with cheese and crackers.

Now on to the others; the 2010 Gewurztraminer, much sweeter than the Riesling, had hits of peach and cloves and a wonderfully smooth, rich finish. Again, while I preferred the crisp finish of the Riesling, I was pleasantely surprised by the Gewurztraminer and could imagine enjoying it with a lovely light, fish and salad.

Next came the sweetest of the three, the 2010 Muscat. This dessert wine and 2010 Winner of San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Bronze Medal tasted to me of tropical fruits and would go best with desserts or chocolate.

We finished our tasting, said goodbye to Salina and Vato and made our way back down the gravel road. In the rear view mirror I could see the deep blue New Mexico sky framing the Guadalupe Vineyard and the hills surrounding it.

If you go: Stop at Route 66 Casino for brunch or lunch. The vineyard is just a short drive from the casino.

2 down, 42 to go. The adventure continues. See you next time!

The Adventure Begins

1/30/2011: Albuquerque, NM: 1 of 44

I had no idea that New Mexico was home to over 40 wineries until our good friends invited us to join them at Casa Rondena. As my birthday celebration they treated us to a full wine tasting, tapas, more wine and lots of laughs at the stunning winery located in Los Ranchos. They couldn't wait to tell us about the New Mexico Winery Passport. What is it you ask...well that's what I said. Here's the deal. If you visit all 43 NM wineries and attend one of three wine festivals before July 1, 2011, you win a 7-day wine tasting cruise. "That's incredible," I said, "can it be done?" Our friends have already visited 20 wineries so they're fairly confident they can do it. 

So here's how it works. As you visit wineries and make a minimum $5.00 purchase (basically the cost of a wine tasting) you receive a sticker to place in your NM Winery Passport. Then you register your visit at http://www.nmwine.com/ where your progress is tracked.

Back to my question, "can it be done." I'm not sure but we want to give it a try. So the adventure begins and I plan to track our progress here. This is post 1 of 44 and by July 1 I hope to be on post 44 of 44.

I don't consider myself a wine expert but I do enjoy myself a little vino now and again. I'm hoping that through this experience I'll gain a better understanding and appreciation of wine, it's history and how it's made. Plus, I'll get to share my adventure with you.

A little bit about Casa Rondena? You can find out all the details and particulars on their web site so here's my perspective. Anyone who's been here I think would agree that it's absolutely beautiful. As you drive through the gates it's as if you are escaping Albuquerque's North Valley and were ported directly to Tuscany. The grape vines flank the sides of the long driveway in neat and orderly rows and up ahead are the beautiful buildings that make up the estate. To the left is the tasting room and event center, in the middle is the former residence of the owner and to the right is the barrel aging room. With the building's green tile roofs, stone work and stucco that match the surrounding trees and landscape it's truly a beautiful setting.

We did a full wine tasting of 11 wines for $8.00. Our server, Karen, was delightful and spent time talking with us about the wine, the estate and it's history (thank you Karen).

After the tasting (because our friends are members of the 1629 club) we spent some time in the main house and former residence of the owner enjoying tapas and more wine. The house is a magnificant space where you can have dinner, relax with a glass of wine and enjoy special events.

As the afternoon ended I headed back to the tasting room and bought several bottles of my two favorites; 2007 Founder's Reseve and 2007 Clarion, both red. The Founders Reserve is a full bodied, luscious Cabernet Sauvignon and the Clarion is light, slightly tart and citrusy by contrast. If you join any of their three wine clubs you'll enjoy a discount; what's better than a discount?!

I know what you're thinking. If I spend even $100 at each winery I could have paid for the cruise a couple times over. I thought about this too BUT my spirit of adventure kicked in and I love a challenge. Plus, I'll get to experience all the wonderful wines and wineries our beautiful state has to offer. That's twice the price of admission.

Thanks for reading and check back to see how I progress on my NM Wine Country Adventure!
Wine"ing" Will