Top Weekend Getaways

Oenophiles swirling in thoughts of a weekend in wine country will delight in the offerings of Corrales. No matter the season, residents here crowd to restaurant patios to raise a glass to the values that endure: love of the land, fellowship, and good grapes.
Known for its vineyards since the 19th century, this stretch of the Río Grande Valley has enjoyed a resurgence of boutique winemaking, lending Corrales and the neighboring village of Los Ranchos de Albuquerque an idyllic pastoral character not unlike that of the Napa Valley.

Fill your Saturday and Sunday with leisurely tastings at four family wineries: Corrales Winery and Milagro Vineyards in Corrales, Casa Rondeña in Los Ranchos, and Anderson Valley Vineyards just to the south. All craft small quantities of such varietals as cabernet, Syrah, Riesling, zinfandel—as well as lesser-known grapes like muscat canelli, and viognier. Travel a few miles farther and you can add to your tour Gruet, the European maker of Champagne-style sparkling wine, or the state’s largest winemaker: St. Clair Winery, near Old Town.

Not surprisingly, restaurants in these parts showcase some stunning wine lists, and none more than Casa Vieja, in Corrales. One reviewer called this list “surreal in its perfection.” For fancier fare, the Prairie Star Restaurant, on nearby Santa Ana Pueblo, boasts 500 wines, more than 50 of them by the glass. Blame yourself if you don’t find something here to praise. And if you’re thirsty by noon, Indigo Crow Café in Corrales has a surprisingly affordable lunch menu, with a reasonably priced wine list to match.

The Nora Dixon Place Bed & Breakfast in Corrales makes a friendly base to soak up the neighborhood love. This large adobe home in the older, greener part of the village offers easy access to the beloved acequia banks that meander through the cottonwood bosque past crop fields, pastures, and vineyards. You’re also within walking distance of Casa San Ysidro Museum, a 1650s estate next to historic Old San Ysidro Church and its fascinating cemetery. Larger groups might look to Los Poblanos Historic Inn in Los Ranchos—a working organic farm and lavender field, as well as a showcase for New Mexico art and architecture.

Both Corrales and Los Ranchos lure bons vivants on weekends, and host colorful Sunday farmers’ markets as well as, from May to October, frequent festivals that encourage strolling—good news for anyone who loves to imbibe.