New Mexico may not yet be that well known for its wines and spirits, but Hotel Chaco in Albuquerque aims to change that. The hotel in September unveiled Crafted, a wine and spirits tasting room that highlights New Mexico-made wines and spirits.
The 841-sq.-ft. space offers whites, reds, rosés and sparkling wines by the bottle and glass from local wineries such as Casa Rondeña Winery, Gruet and Noisy Water Winery. Crafted also features vodka, gin, apple brandy and single malt whiskey from artisan distillery Santa Fe Spirits. The tasting room’s menu features wines by the bottle and glass, as well as hand-picked flights that spotlight the unique and native flavors in each category.
New Mexico is actually one of the first and oldest wine regions in the country, according to Molly Ryckman, vice president of sales and marketing for Hotel Chaco’s parent company Heritage Hotels & Resorts, the largest independent hotel group in New Mexico. Crafted is the latest in Heritage’s continued support of New Mexico winemakers.
In addition to Crafted, Hotel Chaco features a Gruet Bubble Bar at Level 5, the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and lounge. Heritage’s Hotel St. Francis, a boutique hotel in Santa Fe, also features a Gruet Tasting Room that offers an intimate experience for guests to taste and learn about Gruet’s varietals and winemaking process.
