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.