Corrales Winery



 

Since I have lived here one town I have found myself consistently wanting to visit is Corrales. This small town is a relaxing drive that has so much to offer, and it seems like every time I visit, I find something new to stop and check out. The first time was to check out a brewery, which I still love going to. However, on my most recent visit I decided to follow the signs on the road and check out somewhere new. So, with a right turn off Corrales Road and following the banner I found myself at Corrales Winery. 

Driving up to Corrales Winery you feel right at home, and when you arrive you find yourself taken back by the scenery. In a huge yard with outdoor seating, you find yourself surrounded by plants, the small vineyard with a gorgeous view of the Sandia as a backdrop. The inside of the tasting room is equally as beautiful with large windows showing off the same views. In addition, they have displays throughout the tasting room showing all the awards this small winery has won. But great scenery, and environment are only part of the equation, the next question is what wine to try?

Thankfully Corrales Winery has a great tasting room employee to guide customers through the tasting. She is incredibly knowledgeable, and passionate about the wines produced. During my tasting I opted to try two white wines, and two red wines neither of which disappointed. For my choices I chose the Viognier and the Riesling. The Viognier is the driest of the white options, and it was fantastic. It had a slight mineral taste but was very citrus forward. Very unique is the only way to describe it, and this is a great white to start your day with. The Riesling was very interesting and took away any stereotypes you had about the style. This had all the great green apple qualities that the style has, but without all the sweetness. It was still subtly sweet, but very drinkable and refreshing, again with a subtle citrus flavor. In addition, there is a Rose and Muscat. 

For fans of red wines there are several options with a wide variety of styles, body, and flavor. The Merlot is incredibly smooth with a berry flavor. If you want something bolder, but very smooth, and balanced the Cab Franc is a must try. But, for fans of those deep, rich reds the Crimson Blend is a must try. This is a blend of the Cabernet Sauvignon and the Petit Verdot. It pours a deep red, and is full of complex flavors including berry, and black pepper. It is dry, rich, and full bodied but incredibly delicious and worth the trip. In addition, there is also sweeter table reds which I did not try, but sound refreshing to have on the patio on those warm days. 

With so much to offer visiting this winery is a no brainer. Great scenery, a wide selection of wines, a spacious tasting room, and a tasting room employee that clearly loves her job, and New Mexico. There are larger wineries you can visit, but this is a small, and off the beaten path place that will not disappoint. Corrales Winery embodies the town with its small-town vibe, and great service. It is a place I would not hesitate to visit again or bring people to. It’s a great place to enjoy a tasting, a glass, or a bottle to go. 

To see photos of my visits follow me on Instagram @the_nm_tx or tag me using #thenmtx
To support my adventures and see exclusive content check out www.patreon.com/thenmtx

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