Black Mesa Winery is a family-run operation just outside Española that has become one of the better-known wineries in northern New Mexico. The vineyard sits at around 1,800 metres elevation, which gives the wines a distinctive character — the dry climate, high altitude, and dramatic temperature swings between day and night produce fruit with more concentration than you might expect from a state not traditionally associated with viticulture.
The winery produces both traditional varietals and wines made from local fruit, including black currant blends that are particular to the New Mexico style. The tasting room is unpretentious and gives you a chance to talk directly with the people who grow and make the wine. Visiting on a weekend is the safest bet for finding the tasting room open; call ahead during the week. The Black Mesa volcanic formation visible from the winery gives the place its name — the same mesa dominates views across the northern Rio Grande Valley and has been a landmark for travellers and settlers in this part of New Mexico for centuries.