New Mexico is a beautiful state full of western desert landscapes and red rock canyons. It shares a border, and desert, with the neighboring country Mexico.
Mexican and Native American cultural influences make wine tasting in New Mexico one of the most unique and beautiful experiences in the entire United States.
Where to Go For Wine Tasting in New Mexico
Albuquerque
Albuquerque is home to one of the best wine scenes in the entire United States and is certainly one of the best cities to go wine tasting in the entire American Southwest. There are more wine bars in the City of Albuquerque than anywhere else in the entire region.
D.H. Lescombes Winery and Bistro is one of the most popular and most recommended places to go wine tasting in the Albuquerque area by locals and visitors alike. The cellar-style tasting room is beautifully decorated and there is a huge variety of different wine styles to choose from.
Salt and Board is a charcuterie and wine bar with an “approachable” wine list. Their charcuterie boards are thoughtfully crafted and feature selections of imported cheeses and meats. They also serve toasts and small plates that are all designed for wine pairing compatibility.
The Feel Good is a bright space that is thoughtfully decorated with a light and bright aesthetic. They serve a carefully curated selection of primarily French and Italian wines, and a sommelier or someone with a fantastic taste in wine clearly took their time creating it.
Farina Alto Pizzeria & Wine Bar has two different occasions in the city of Albuquerque in order to bring more top-tier pizza and wine to more people around the area. The pizza dough is handmade, and they cure their own meats in-house, all of which pair great with their red wines.
MÁS Tapas y Vino is a full-service hotel restaurant that makes diners feel as if they were transported from New Mexico to the streets of Spain. Their Spanish cuisine is some of the best in the United States, and they also feature one of the deepest Spanish wine lists anywhere.
VARA Winery and Distillery products both wine and spirits, and their tasting room has quickly become one of the most popular and talked about wine tasting options in the city. They focus on growing grape varietals that are native to Spain, and they also offer private wine tastings.
Sheehan Winery Tasting Room in Old Town is the newest concept from the Sheehan Winery, which is a family-owned winery producing wine from New Mexico-grown grapes. They offer a VIP lounge for wine club members, and one of the largest sweet wine selections in the state.
Noisy Water Winery serves a large variety of gourmet food along with their locally grown and produced wines. Their tasting room is one of the best places for casual wine tasting in the city, and the staff is glad to assist and educate customers about the world of wine.
Las Cruces
Las Cruces is the second largest City in the state of New Mexico, and it sits right along the border of Mexico. Much of the wine produced in this state is grown in the rural areas surrounding the city of Las Cruces, making it a great place to stay while going wine tasting.
Luna Rossa Winery & Pizzeria is a favorite among LAs Cruces locals, and the mixture they offer of refined wine selections and approachable pizzas are truly one of a kind. They produce a wide variety of different red and white wines, and the staff is extremely helpful with wine tastings.
NM Vintage Wines is a tasting room that serves wines local to the state of New Mexico, as well as local craft beer and hand-rolled cigars. The staff is very passionate and knowledgeable about the local wines and the history of the region, and they often host live music events.
Willow and Blaine serve “Garden to Table” cuisine in a beautiful bistro setting, and they serve a nice variety of wine along with their signature cocktails. Willow and Blaine were awarded the diners choice award in 2021 by OpenTable, and it is quickly gaining popularity in the area.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe is located about an hour’s drive by car from downtown Albuquerque, and the big city’s love of wine certainly has traveled up the highway to the city of Santa Fe. There are tons of great options for wine tasting in Santa Fe, with many new establishments opening every year.
La Boca serves “Modern Spanish Cuisine” and what makes their wine selection so special is the emphasis put on dessert wines like sherry. La Boca is home to one of the largest dessert wine selections in the state of New Mexico, and they offer a full menu of other Spanish wine choices.
Hervé Wine Bar is owned by the same group that runs D.H. Lescombes Winery and bistro in Albuquerque, and they did a fantastic job in converting this once nightclub into a sprawling lounge for wine tasting. They offer a full wine selection in one of the most scenic spaces in NM.
TerraCotta Wine Bistro was granted the “Award of Excellence” by Wine Spectator in 2021, and they market themselves as a “Smart Casual Food and Wine Restaurant.” They serve refined dishes with world-renowned wines in a casual and approachable dining environment.
315 Restaurant & Wine Bar features a well-thought-out and worldly wine list, featuring selections from France, Mexico, California, and Italy. They serve a limited menu of refined and upscale selections including oysters, mussels, and steaks.
La Casa Sena Wine Shop carries a huge selection of different wines, and they are very selective when it comes to their curation process. They grill producers about their sustainability and farming practices before carrying a bottle, and their tastings are well known in the area.
Ahmyo Wine Garden is one of the most unique and beautifully decorated indoor and outdoor wine tasting concepts in the entire United States. They host tons of different wine tasting events, and they serve charcuterie that pairs great with wine. Wine flights are also available!
Coyote Cafe and Rooftop Cantina is a stunning restaurant with one of the most amazing dining rooms and rooftop wine tasting areas that can be found anywhere in the world. This is a fantastic date night spot, and the wine selection is sure to not disappoint any wine enthusiast.
Roswell
Roswell, New Mexico is well known worldwide as home to Area 51, where many people believe that the US government has been hiding aliens and other secrets for decades. The city has really leaned into “alien tourism,” and the wine tasting here is truly out-of-this-world!
Pecos Flavors Winery and Bistro has been producing wine in Roswell, New Mexico since 2004, and in that time they have become a staple in the area for wine enthusiasts. This family-run business serves a fantastic variety of wines, coffee, meats, and cheeses in a laid-back space.
Pasta Cafe Italian Bistro is the most popular and highly recommended Italian restaurant in the Roswell area, and they feature a solid wine list with plenty of selections for pairing with everything from pizza and seafood to their signature pasta dishes.
Cattle Baron is a traditional American steakhouse with an “Old West” theme. They offer a large selection of wines, and their knowledgeable staff is fantastic when it comes to finding the best glass of wine to pair with their very popular steak dinner options.
Conclusion
New Mexico offers plenty of options when it comes to wine tasting, and the city of Albuquerque in particular is home to one of the best wine scenes in the entire United States.
Santa Fe is also quickly emerging with a quickly growing wine scene, making it a great state for wine drinkers!
Feel free to comment below and let us know your favorite places to go wine tasting in New Mexico, as there are so many different concepts opening so quickly that it can be hard to keep up!
There is truly enough variety for every style of wine drinker in the state of New Mexico.
