Vara Vinoteca opens in Santa Fe, New Mexico, bringing fine wines and local craft cocktails to the forefront of the city’s bustling culinary scene

(November 4, 2022; Albuquerque, New Mexico)—Embracing the birthplace of the American Wine Trail, Albuquerque-based Vara Winery & Distillery has opened Vara Vinoteca just steps from historic Santa Fe Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Housed in an adobe-style building located at 329 W San Francisco St., Vara Vinoteca blends traditional Southwestern architecture with modern interiors and an elevated wine and cocktail program like no other in the city. Small-production, locally-crafted still and sparkling wines made by Vara’s renowned artisan winemakers and partners – Laurent Gruet, Bob Lindquist and Louisa Sawyer Lindquist – are inspired by the juxtaposition of the Old World and the New, while Vara’s innovative Mediterranean-inspired cocktails Spirits from Head Distiller Scott Feuille and Assistant Distiller Djuna Benjamin offer a mixology experience unique to Vara.

Designed by architect Scharles Wilder of Scharles Wilder Design, the Vinoteca welcomes locals and travelers to a sophisticated, relaxed space with an artistic vibe and one of the most diverse selections of locally made vermuts, aperitifs, wines and spirits. Sparkling wines include Laurent Gruet’s first wines, Vara American Silverhead Brut NV and American Brut Rosado NV, and still wines from Spanish varietals include Vara Albariño, Vara Garnacha and Vara Tempranillo. Vara’s line of wines is available by the glass ($9-$18), by the plane ($14), or by the bottle ($21-$57). For history buffs or curious tasters, the menu also includes Vara’s heritage project, Viña Cardinal, an appetizer made with 100% New Mexico Listán Prieto grapes. Listán Prieto was the first grape variety to be planted in North America by Spanish missionaries in 1629 and continues to grow in the Rio Grande Valley.

The menu also features award-winning spirits, including Vara High Desert Gin, which was recently named America’s Best Signature Botanical Gin by the World Gin Awards. Spirits are available straight ($9-$13), in flights ($14-$15), or in a wide variety of signature and seasonal cocktails ($14) crafted by manager and mixologist Jared Reeder. Signature cocktails include the High Desert Martini, featuring Vara’s High Desert Gin, Vermut Seco and a twist of lemon; the astral walker, with Rum Blanco de Vara, Vermut Añejo, Silverhead Brut Cava and grapefruit oil; and the Diamond Dancer Spritz, with Vara Malvasia 2019, Vara Vermut Seco, lemon and soda.

“Just as Vara’s winemaking team synthesizes groundbreaking techniques with the winemaking legacies of some of the most historically significant regions, Vara Vinoteca also highlights the juxtaposition of old and new with its contemporary interior. in black and white and the classic Santa Fe exterior,” says Sean Holler, Director of Hotel Operations.The Hora of Vermut,‘ the Madrid tradition of a late afternoon refreshment, or stopping before dinner or a show, we are delighted to welcome a new audience to experience all that Vara has to offer.

Cheese and charcuterie plates are currently offered ($22). An expanded culinary program will be unveiled at a later date.

Vara Vinoteca can accommodate 30 people seated inside, with seven additional seats at the bar and 16 seats on the outdoor terrace. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Vara Vinoteca is closed on Mondays. Walk-ins are welcome; no reservation is required at this time. To contact Vara Vinoteca directly, call (505) 898-6280.

About Vara Winery & Distillery

Conceptualized with the first release in 2016, Albuquerque-based Vara Winery & Distillery both embraces and challenges tradition, making it one of the most disruptive and exciting producers in the United States today. As a circle of professionals who have mastered their respective crafts and who have both witnessed and shaped the American beverage landscape, the Vara team is united and passionate about the prospect of breaking boundaries and creating something entirely new. Vara is inspired by the history of wine in New Mexico, which began in 1629 and is as rich, diverse and storied as the region’s colorful landscapes. The road to American wine began with Spanish missionaries who passed through New Mexico to California. Thus, Vara wines come from all three locations and are intentionally blended to create exceptional cuvées using innovative techniques. At Vara, a blend of varietals and origins focuses not on what wine should be, but on what wine can become. Vara’s goal is to embrace diversity and create delicious wines and spirits that are greater than the sum of their parts. Vara Winery & Distillery produces still, sparkling, fortified wines, brandy, gin and rum. Vara’s Tasting Room in Albuquerque offers education classes and curated small plates.

For more information about Vara Winery & Distillery, please visit www.varawines.com and www.varaspirits.com. For more information on the Vara Vinoteca, please visit https://varawines.com/santa-do/.

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