VARA Winery & Distillery

VARA is an Albuquerque-based winery and craft distillery known for wines and spirits that express a uniquely New Mexican perspective. Drawing on Spanish varietals and 400 years of local winemaking history, VARA—with third-generation winemaker Laurent Gruet—produces a range of sparkling, still, and fortified wines celebrated for their quality and shareability. Highlights include a sparkling brut, sparkling brut rosé, and still rosé—made exclusively with New Mexico grapes—each reflecting the land and legacy behind every bottle. At the distillery, VARA transforms the landscape and character of New Mexico into a portfolio of gin, rum, vodka, brandy, and whiskey—each one deliberate and deeply rooted in place.

Guests can enjoy VARA’s two tasting rooms: the Balloon Fiesta Park location in Albuquerque, where an open lawn and relaxed atmosphere set the stage for gatherings, and the Santa Fe location, a welcoming space defined by art, culture, and curated small plates.