Last weekend, we were looking for a quiet couple’s adventure off the beaten path. When I found Anasazi Fields Winery online, I knew it would be the perfect afternoon trip out of the city. Just 30 minutes north of Albuquerque on I25 and a few miles east of on NM165, we were in the village of Placitas. As we rounded the road into Old Placitas and slowed down looking for our turn; a large “winery” arrow pointed the way down a tree lined road. Soon we were surrounded by orchards and vineyards at Anasazi Fields Winery. We walked into the rustic building filled with photography, wood sculptures, paintings, and handmade jewelry along the walls.
As we shared a table near the fireplace, Jim Fish, the vintner, came around the bar with our glasses and the first wine we were to taste. He explained how Anasazi’s fruit wines are nothing like we had ever experienced before – rather than an extreme sweetness often associated with fruit wines; we would taste deliciously dry wines accentuating all the flavors of the fruit. Many of the wines have been aged in oak for two or more years before bottling. Fish, a former experimental chemical engineer, now experiments with his wines infusing them with a very unique taste. The extensive wine list ranges from Plum, Apricot, Peach, and Blackberry – all mixed with other local New Mexico fruits and berries. Most of the fruits are picked locally from within the village.
The atmosphere was so comfortable – we spent the afternoon chatting away with the other patrons – sharing the flavors we tasted over a picnic that had been packed. After our tasting was over and our good-byes were said, we headed off in search of the nearby petroglyphs which inspired the art on the wine labels.
Anasazi Fields Winery is open for free tasting, free tours and wine sales:
Winter Hours (December 1, 2013 through April 13, 2014): The tasting room will be open on Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4:30pm.
Summer Hours (April 16, 2014 through November 30, 2014): The tasting room will be open Wednesdays through Sundays, noon to 5pm.
(505)867-3062
26 Camino de los Pueblitos Placitas, NM
Edible celebrates New Mexico's food culture, season by season. We believe that knowing where our food comes from is a powerful thing. With our high-quality, aesthetically pleasing and informative publication, we inspire readers to support and celebrate the growers, producers, chefs, beverage and food artisans, and other food professionals in our community.
