My Northern New Mexico Love Affair: Tasting La Chiripada Wines

I remember driving towards La Chiripada Winery, between Santa Fe and Taos, during my first trip to the area. I also remember carefully driving across dirt and gravel, only to find the winery wasn't open.

​Imagine my delight when I bumped into a winery tasting room, in the heart of Taos. A confirmed white wine drinker, at the time, I sampled several reds too. Much to my amazement, La Chiripada's port captivated me so thoroughly that I purchased a bottle to enjoy at home. 

Established in 1981, New Mexico's oldest winery still has a Taos tasting room, although it has long since moved from the original location. The winery's name, “La Chiripada” means, “a stroke of luck” or “a lucky fluke”.

Now a confirmed red wine lover, I always look forward to my tasting room visits, which I have enjoyed during trips with several different female friends. Rio Embudo Red was another favorite on my next visit, which occurred many years later, after our daughters became young teens. 

Often voted New Mexico's best winery, La Chiripada creates its multi-award-winning wines using regional grapes that can withstand the area's severe climate, while complimenting the state's signature cuisine. In fact, at 6,100 feet, La Chiripada remains one of the world's highest commercial grape growing entities. 

Whether you visit the winery or sample La Chirapada wines in their Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Embudo, or Pojoaque tasting room, the delicious results will speak for themselves.