Everytime we stop in they are closed, regardless of what the website says about their hours. Today, says open 11-7, it's 3:10, stopped, they aren't open. read more

Hidden gem off Alameda. We have been trying to check this place out for years, but couldn't find a time when the kitchen was open too...well, we finally stopped when the stars aligned. Wine was good & eats were fresh. We sat at the bar and had a nice conversation. Will be back. read more

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We were trying to find the parking lot for the balloon fiesta and randomly drove by this winery. The people sitting outside on the patio area looked like they were enjoying their time, so that's when we made the last minute decision to stop here before the fiesta! I would say their drinks are a little overpriced. These are prices we see in Los Angeles. Their (not too small but also not too big) glass of sangria I ordered was $15/$16. They are understaffed (we went on a Sunday evening), and it took awhile for our drinks to come out, as well as getting our checks. I probably wouldn't come back unless I decide on going to the balloon fiesta again. read more

If you're a foreigner or just visiting the U.S., avoid this place at all costs. My group and I went in to enjoy a wine tasting, only to be met with outright discrimination. The server demanded ID, which is fair, but when we presented a valid foreign passport, she rudely informed us that only U.S. passports or driver's licenses are accepted. A passport--an internationally recognized and official form of ID--was not enough for them. This policy is not only ridiculous but also an obvious attempt to exclude non-Americans from enjoying their establishment. It's appalling in a country that prides itself on welcoming people from around the world. The server handling the situation was unprofessional, dismissive, and showed no willingness to understand or accommodate. Instead of providing a sensible resolution or even showing basic courtesy, we were treated like second-class citizens. This place clearly doesn't care about customer service, inclusivity, or even common sense. If you look young and don't have a U.S. passport or driver's license, don't bother coming here--they'll treat you like you don't belong. Save your money and go somewhere that respects ALL customers. Would give zero stars if I could. read more

VARA - Balloon Fiesta Park - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Reservations process was easy. We got there and in no time they checked us in and escorted us to their cute outside seating area. They have big umbrellas on the tables to cover you from the sun and/ or the wind. And this time, since it was winter, they had warmers all around, having everyone feel comfortable enjoying the nice day. I went with a wine flight, and really enjoyed their wines. So much we ended buying some bottles. They also have scotch/ whiskey flights, and cocktails. And they have a food truck with some good wine pairing options, and tapas style great for sharing, having you feel like you're on a picnic. Service was excellent, quick and friendly, and they have their own parking space. Really a great spot! read more

VARA - Balloon Fiesta Park - Flight - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Always a treat! Best meatballs ever and every wine, spirit, cocktails I halve tried are top notch! Everything on the tapas menu I have tried has been amazing! read more

Enjoyed an excellent early dinner on the patio. Quiet and peaceful with great service Tapas menu is extensive so everyone enjoyed the variety I will recommend the Paella....serves 3-5 fir sure....oh so good read more

VARA - Balloon Fiesta Park - Paella ! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I was excited when Vara first opened, and I loved their concept. They imported wines from Spain that they bottled here and also made wines in the same style from grapes grown in New Mexico. Very nice line up of wines. Things have changed a lot, unfortunately. Vara, sadly, no longer imports wine from Spain (which I thought was a big part of what they were about). Worse, they hired the folks who ran the, now defunct, Gruet winery, and now a large percentage of Vara wines are sparkling/bubbly. Not a staple in my house, nor I would expect, in most other wine-lovers' homes. I drink sparkling wine once a year, if that, on a holiday and usually the bottle was a gift. I don't think I've ever bought it. I attended the Christmas event, 2024, at the winery with a friend who had never been there and was considering joining the wine club. But they were not giving tastings in the tasting room, so she wasn't able to taste many of the wines at all. That was a mistake. There was a long table that offered tastings of a few of their new wines and spirits. The woman who gave tastes of the spirits told me she was now the head distiller at Vara. I asked how she happened to get into distilling (thinking it had probably been a long-term goal, involved a lot of training, etc.). She told me it hadn't been a plan of hers, but she had "worked her way up" at Vara and the position was offered to her. A couple of years ago, I met the distiller at Vara at the time, who was very knowledgeable and passionate about his work. He spontaneously took my friends and me on a tour, showing and explaining to us the distilling process. Fascinating. Sad that he is no longer there. I miss the old Vara. read more

Excellent wine and really nice service. Beautiful views and great outside seating. I wish this location had some food, even just charcuterie boards would be wonderful. read more

Vara used to be a great place, we liked coming for dinner and a bottle of wine over many years, but won't anymore. This new policy of charging a $30 corkage fee for drinking a bottle of wine on the premises is a money making scam. There is NO law mandating it. You now have a choice to pay the cost of the bottle of wine at about $34, plus a $30 corkage fee, so $64 to drink a bottle on the premises. OR you can buy four glasses of wine at $14 for a total of $56. Trust me there are plenty of fine restaurants in ABQ with better food and better wine for much less. read more

This review is specific only to the food (my previous review was only about the wine). We ordered for carry out. Fast and easy ordering. Food was ready on time. We ordered the: meatballs: delicious Tapas platter: perfectly pairs with their Garnacha Paella: perfect in flavor and mix of meats/seafood Highly recommend ordering all three. read more

Nothing better than a winery and distillery in one place along with delicious food. The waitress was knowledgeable about the wine and checked with me frequently to make sure I was satisfied. The food was delicious. read more

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Based on one visit for 4 here are my thoughts... I feel that this is not the type of place where you can casually walk in and taste wine or just sit with a friend or two and chat while sipping wine. You must make a reservation. You can do so online. Limit party to 6 due to covid... The place is nice and a little on the small side. There is a shop in front of the tasting room. The service is good and there is a wine menu with several flights available to try. Beverage selections also include various distilled beverages to sample. There is also a tapas menu. Our group had popcorn, dates, and soup. Prices are as expected which is reflective of the venue - a little pricey for little amounts of all items. The service was very nice indeed. No issues here, it just would never serve as a place to go and casually hang out on a routine basis. read more

We had a terrific experience when we dined at VARA. I picked this place because I'd heard great things about it and I wanted my friends to have a great time. The reservation process went smoothly and staff were wonderful over the phone. Parking was a breeze and was close by. We sat outside because I wanted to see the sunset. We saw a lot more than that! The balloon fiesta had fireworks and on top of that, bike tours with beautifully lit bikes kept going by. The outside area was really pleasant. Our waiter/superstar Alex was a sweetheart. He was sensitive to the hubby's picky tendencies and made sure he was happy. He helped pick wine flights and food when I didn't know what the heck I wanted. He was amazing. Food was yummy. I was a bit concerned since the focus was tapas, but it was perfect along with the paella. We thoroughly enjoyed the wine flights. I highly recommend VARA. We had a really special night. read more

I had to take a couple days to digest just how much I love this place before raving about it, so that I could rave in a more coherent manner. Because after being at Vara on a Friday night, I was incoherently smitten. First, there are a lot of places in Albuquerque that get some combination of drinks, food, outdoor space, indoor space, good happy hour, great service, views of the mountains/sunset and live music right. It's one of those "pick 3" things where you expect different combinations of these from different venues. It's a truly rare jewel that nails ALL OF THE ABOVE, and I shall rave about them in order: WINE - I've been to Napa and the wine (and sparkling) on this menu is worthy. Take the time to go when you can get their full presentation. 100% worth it. I adored their Rosado, personally. Also, no one ever gets Sangria right (it's always too sweet) but VARA does. This isn't Plum Loco tasting sugar water, this is a SANGRIA. Take an Uber. Cheers. FOOD - The chef that makes the Paella knows what he's doing, and he does it so well. Perfect texture, flavor, presentation. LOVE. Everything from his space is devine and he and his staff clearly know (and love) the wines that they are pairing with. Can we just take a moment to appreciate that we have paella at a winery in ABQ? Put us on the map, because WE HAVE ARRIVED. Watch out, California. We ate everything, including the specialty dessert for the night, and I only regret not being able to eat more. Ok I lied about writing 17 paragraphs, but the staff was fantastic. They greeted us and immediately gave us a full tour. Outdoors there is both a view of the mountains AND it's the perfect sunset spot. Indoors there was live music. They have such a good thing going. Their only pitfall (but is it?) is that they're tucked away. We cannot let them be forgotten. You must go now and go often. See you there! read more

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Comparing this winery to the others around town is just apples to oranges. Completely different experience, completely different offerings, they're in a league of their own...and I just might be their biggest fan. The Tempranillo is truly magnificent, and I am not usually a rosé person, but I am in loooove with their Garnacha Rosada Rioja!!! Let's not forget the snackles, Chef Javier Montano is on top of his game: ceviche mixto (yellowtail tuna, shrimp, onion, cucumber in charred lime-chile coconut juice and chicarrone), the chicken pinxtos (garlic, sherry marinated chicken with salsa criolla), papas bravas have the perfect amount of heat, and that gazpacho, can we talk about it?!?! I couldn't resist ordering the cinnamon french toast as a bit of a dessert to cap things off and wowza, SO DARN GOOD!!! There's really SO MUCH MORE...Friday nights are cava & paella with live music, brunch on Sundays....come on Albuquerque, get out, ditch the routine and taste what our beautiful city is dishing up. Learning the history behind these amazing wines is definitely the cherry on top. This is a no brainer, folks. Add this to your Duke City Bucket list, stat! read more

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Great Wines! Obviously selected with care to highlight the "historical connection of Spain and New Mexico" wines. Vara Winery and Distillery is located as close as you can get to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF) park without being right in the middle of it. Don't come to AIBF in October without visiting Vara. It will be one of the highlights of your visit to The Land of Enchantment . . . and, while you are here, you can join the "Vara Wine Club" and experience this great wine when you are back home. XAVIER Zamarripe & DOUG Disfenthaler (co-founders) have created a unique wine & spirits destination "celebrating the origins of the American wine experience". The Vara Winery Sunset Sipper was a tasting introduction & tour of this unique historical wine experience. I loved the wines & the food samples presented by a very professional staff. The website (www.varawines.com) - is one of the very best websites I have seen lately. Photography is incredible. Historical connections to wine in New Mexico is presented in detail. Website suggestions: 1) Create multiple pages for the menus to make them easier to read. . . oh, and yes, put some of that great photography on the menus; 2) Include dates on the News content page. Whether you are a resident, or a visitor, do not miss an opportunity to sit on the patio and have a little brunch & wine, watch the sunset, or the balloons with a backdrop of the Watermelon Mountains as you share a great bottle of wine and appetizers with friends. All in all, this was one of the best introductions to a great new business in Albuquerque. (Thanks Howie, Xavier and Doug.) Satisfied with life. A really great experience. read more

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We had reservations since the end of September! We could hardly wait and Friday finally came! I arrived early found a quick parking and was immediately greeted when I entered. They sat me at our table where I was greeted by our wait staff and offered water. I sat and drank my water as I waited for my cousins. The atmosphere is just very soft and rustic. People were talking but it wasn't overly loud. I took a quick look at the food menu and was immediately in love with all the selections of tapas. My cousins arrived and we each ordered a flight to taste. All of us stuck with the Reds. The wines were a great selection of their reds. I ended up purchasing a bottle of the Cariñena to take home. We ordered some sides to pair with our wines. Pan con tomate, papas bravas, fried brussel sprouts, and some albondigas. These were a perfect selection to pair with our wine. The food was delicious and we left nothing but of course room for dessert. We finished our meal with leche frita. Again delicious and it completed our meal perfectly. We enjoyed the atmosphere and catching up on life. Service staff were awesome with the exception of a minor little glitch. I joined the wine club and am excited to take my husband this Saturday to pick up my selections. We will definitely be back for another cousin outing. read more

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:: My husband and I just became members and decided to give to their brunch a try. We were very well welcomed even though we were the only people having brunch. Starting on Monday, they will be serving only in their outdoor area. Calling ahead for reservation is encouraged. Everything was delicioso. Their food is made at a food truck. Don't expect the normal brunch's large portions. The concept of tapas stays and I recommend to make the avocado toast and the papas bravas your side dishes. I Am all about brunch cocktails, so to start, very lady like, I ordered the Pink Drink Effect-- if the color pink would have a flavor I bet it must taste like this cocktail... A-mazing. But, if you want a more refreshing drink with a kick of spice, in my opinion, The Silverhead Escape is the perfect Albuquerque summer brunch cocktail. Anyways, we were treated like royalty, we had time to chat with our servers and learned more about the business and its process and we ate and drank exceptionally well. Take a look over my pictures so you can see that what I'm saying is true! read more

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This was a fantastic experience of Spanish wines and amazing food. We found this place on OpenTable and decided to give it a go. Service was top notch, with one server walking right up with a brand new bottle of water when I finished my last sip saying "I gotcha!". Wine flights were super affordable giving 4 tastings for $14. Each wine came with a paper charm that explained the tasting notes and origins of the wine. We had the elote, the arugula salad with the orange honey vinaigrette (yum!), the bread with tomato spread, and the pork chop that was braised in Tempranillo. The pork chop was hands down the best chop I've ever had. It was presented by the chef who humbly said "sorry it took a while this was a big chop" Let me tell you the best things are worth waiting for. This chop was so juicy and well seasoned. We will be back! read more

A comfortable wine tasting room, some popcorn (truffle oil, sea salt, shaved Manchego cheese & thyme), a flight of red wines and a great staff made for a good afternoon of wine tasting. read more

VARA - Balloon Fiesta Park - A bottle of 2018 Tempranillo to go - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Went today for lunch. Our reservation was at 12 and the only option on open table was for outside. Would hare prefaced inside for this hot day but it was comfortable because still hadn't hit the heat of the day. We enjoyed one experience and will definitely be back. I had a flight that was chosen by me - cava, rose, temparilio and a dessert wine. Hubby had a cocktail with their gin, jalapeño and soda. The wines were all good and I would oder any of ' them again. Followed up with a Spanish 75 which was good though a little sweet for my taste. Finished up with a shot of their whiskey-neat. It was smooth but ran a little sweet for my tastes. Food- we did eat. We had the truffle popcorn which was delicious as well as the green Chile bombas and the albondigas. Everything we had was well spiced, delicious, and subtle flavors so you could enjoy and pick out each of the flavors outlined on the menu. We finished or experience with the fried milk custard which was amazing. Nicely balanced, not too sweet and the tarragon cream served along side was amazing. That on a bowl of fresh berries would be awesome. We we had great service and bought wine for hone. We will definitely be back to try more menu items. read more

This is one of my favorite vineyards in the Albuquerque area. They do nothing but Spanish style wines. They are well balanced and full bodied. They also do a whiskey and have not had a chance to try it out yet but can't wait. They partner with a great food truck so in nice weather nothing like good wine and good food. read more

One of my favorite places for many reasons! 1. Quiet place to sit on a grassy patio with a view 2. Great food: paella, ceviche, gazpacho, etc. 3. Their Silver Brut Cava Reserve is a party in your mouth! 4. Locally owned business!! A hidden gem just on the cusp of the north valley off Osuna. One of the best patios in abq based off noise, ambiance, and accessibility (just off bike path near balloon fiesta park). People will be impressed by what the chef can do in the kitchen. Great portions and pairings for their vino & cocktails! A must-try when in ABQ! read more

Today, I tried a smorgasboard of cheese, olives, meat, and nuts along with a flight of reds and a sip of my boyfriend's sangria. I really do like to try a bit of everything and I will return to get a more fair sampling of what they offer. Like many wineries, their flight included some of their lower end wines and some of their better wines. I'm rather partial to their better wines. The Especial is the best but it is also pretty close to their next best wine. They cost nearly the same. The board was typical. The sangria was very good and I would definitely have more. Their menus contain many options that all sound very good. There is Sunday brunch offered, and dinner after 4pm most days of the week. Other than that, you can order a variety of wines, cocktails, or spirits. They offer flights of wines or spirits. If it's not dinner time yet, but you want a larger amount to eat, there is a $38 platter with three different types of appetizers on it and you can get the price of it reduced to half with the purchase of a bottle of wine. We made reservations to be sure there was room inside, though we may have been able to walk in, as this was a Friday during the day time. We hardly had time to don masks as the entryway was small and there was no wait. There were no problems with crowds. read more

While visiting here for a work trip in Albuquerque, someone local recommended this spot for dinner. They aren't open on Tuesdays so we planned it as a Happy Hour Event for a Wednesday night for about 16 people. They were pretty busy for a Wednesday night and it's a little far out from the city, traffic in the afternoons. It was a cute spot located in a little shed area with outdoor tasting areas too, I heard when it's not daylight savings time it has a great sunset view. They have a full bar and a food truck type of area where they get their food from. They don't split large group checks. We all got some white wine, the server recommended their cucumber gin drink which was really good! She also recommended the paella for sharing, people got the potato bravas, people also got the chicken, and I got a charcuterie board to share with the table. Definitely tapas and small eats. It looks like a nice date night spot and it was pretty busy. Good drinks, a bar area and a nice spot for some small celebrations. read more

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Heads Up! You can no longer Buy a BOTTLE of their Wine or Champagne to just Sit-Sip & Share with your table without paying the Bottle Price PLUS a $30 Corkage Fee ( per Bottle!) - makes it exorbitant & Not customer friendly from my perspective. Sorry guys- too many other nice options- at those prices especially... you used to be classier & more Fun. Good Luck with THAT decision flying with your other peops- I'll just Cha-Cha On read more

We have been planning on paying a visit to VARA for a while and COVID didn't stop us. We called in and ordered the tapas and a large paella, a bottle of Tempranillo and a Taylor Garrett whiskey. The meals and the wine were very good. The whiskey needs more work. This whiskey was developed using an accelerated aging process and it did not deliver for me. I hope to try more of VARAs menu and their other wines in the future. Recommend. read more

VARA - Balloon Fiesta Park - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

We loved our server until she had to leave early and we got a subpar one after her. The place is quiet and has great views. The wine selection is amazing but don't go there hungry if you're a vegetarian, not very many options. I don't have a picture of the Brussels sprouts because we ate them so fast but that was the best thing we ordered from the night! read more

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I've only been here twice (yes, it was within a week of each other but who's counting?) so I'm averaging both experiences. The first time I met up with a friend and it was pretty empty. Excellent friendly and knowledgeable service. Great wines with a sangria that is to die for. I'm partial to the their sparkling, rose, and sangria but there really is something for everyone. I tend to be pretty finicky when it comes to sangria since it normally is far too sweet but this one is not and is served with a cinnamon stick- perfection! They sell them in giant magnum-sized bottles for $49, I believe. 2nd time, I wanted to surprise the hubby with paella since he's never had "real" paella. I was told this was excellent paella but I beg to differ whoever is spreading this rumor. For good paella, I'd be willing to pay the price but this was highly mediocre (I think $11 for a small plate, $18 for a large). The rice was extremely mushy and actually tasted watered down. It was lacking flavor, salt, heat, just the little something something you'd expect. Or just missing a lot. It's like 50-60% paella. Not a ton of sea food for the price either. We split the large plate (which may or may not be enough depending on how hungry you or your table are if you're splitting) and there were only like 2 mussels, a couple (non-shelled) shrimp, a couple small pieces of chicken and some shriveled chorizo. Meh. I'm willing to try their "Vrunch" but am highly skeptical of it based on the paella experience alone. The place was PACKED. Service was still friendly and informative but they had their hands full so it was a tad slow and for the flight we ordered to share, they were only bringing us out 1 glass at a time so it seemed like we were waiting forever between things. I would highly recommend this place during slower times (mid weekend afternoons or so) but the atmosphere is excellent for the evening with the cool lighting, the music, etc. If you just want a nice leisurely time with a glass of wine, a busy night might be ok. All in all, i definitely recommend though for a great selection of Spanish wines! read more

VARA - Balloon Fiesta Park - Weekly goings on - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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social distancing Outdoor seating Beautiful weather Twinkly lights Wine flights Tapas Bravas that made my mouth numb (in a very pleasant way) Nuff said? read more

VARA - Balloon Fiesta Park - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Thank goodness Vara Winery hosted a Yelp event to showcase their stellar wines and food, or I may never have stumbled across this little hidden gem on the far north side. I have to say, these guys blow the other Albuquerque wineries out of the water in terms of awesome, awesome, wine. I sampled four very fine vintages - a Rose, a Tempranillo, a Grenache, and a Brut, all of the Spanish style. The staff are knowledgeable and engaging, and really excited to tell you all about what they do and their mission to put New Mexico, the cradle of North American wine, on the map as a top-shelf wine-making region. I'm not a tremendous wine snob, but I am particular in that I like to drink the tasty ones. I've been to several Abq wineries, and in each case I think "well, I'd really love to support this business, but I really don't care for their wine." Vara, however, did not disappoint me. Let me just say that the Rose is out-of-this-world delightful. I don't think I've encountered a better one, though admittedly, I tend to veer away from them since I've never had one I really liked. Vara's is crisp and sophisticated, dry, and a beautifully refreshing body. The bubbly Brut was equally crisply fresh and divine; it's one that deserves drinking on more than just special occasions... it is sooo good, and quite affordable! I generally favor reds, and the Tempranillo and Grenache were a great pleasure to sip as well. I walked out having bought a bottle of the Rose and the Tempranillo (I have a Brut at home). Vara has ambiance to spare. The atmosphere is really unique and lovely, in the industrial style of an aircraft hangar, with those aluminum walls and the warehouse feel. The craft tables and chairs are hammered metal or wood plank, gorgeously stylish, to go along with the lovely Spanish guitar music emanating from above. Their courtyard is green and shady and it, along with the wine garden tent, are ideal lounging spaces for a reception or party, and especially for enjoying the sunset views. The food we sampled, though minimal, was delicious and I can't wait to go back to explore their brunch offerings. Vara is open daily from noon to 4:00 for drinks and tapas, with extended hours for dinner Wednesday through Saturday. They have an apparently extremely popular Friday night Paella (call in advance to request vegetarian options), and they feature a Sunday brunch with delightfully fancy sounding dishes like Cerviche, and salmon with poached egg, and Spanish style french toast. I cannot WAIT to bring my husband here! If you can't make it way out there for the dining, you can can find their wines in many of the local hotels and restaurants, at a number of retailers (including Costco), and even at some breweries, like Il Vicino and Steel Bender. Vara will also soon be serving local beers on tap, including Steel Bender and Canteen. Personally, I'm on the lookout for the Vara brandy, which I hear is coming soon. If you're a lover of the wine, do not miss this one. read more

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5.0 star rating 5/23/2019 This beautiful location holds a great ABQ secret that I just found out about at our recent Yelp event at Vara Winery. Whats the secret? An absolutely beautiful patio with a stunning sunset view, where you can sit and sample some of the delicious wines Vara is making. And BOOM, they've got to die for food to go along with your wine! There's a tapas platter and Pan Con Tomate available all day every day, and Wed, Thurs and Saturdays from 5-8PM there's an extensive menu of appetizers to choose from. I'm personally recommending the incredible Chicken Pintxos and Ceviche Mixto, but everything on the menu looks mouth watering. I sampled three wines, and my favorite was the upscale Garnacha (I like a little oak in my wine, and this one had lovely oak tones and a smoky feel). Prices are upscale for ABQ, but the view alone is worth it. I'll heading back on Sunday to check out their "Vrunch" menu which goes from 12-3 pm. Thanks to the very nice folks at Vara Wines for hosting our elite event, I learned a lot and had a super time! read more

VARA - Balloon Fiesta Park - Look at that lovely little patio! Not shown is the amazing view of the west side. Sunsets are gonna be spectacular here! - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I attended my first Yelp Elite Event last night at this winery! Between the food, the wine, and the scenery, I could not have asked for a better experience. Everything was top notch and the owners were so hospitable. We started off our night with a sample of the ceviche from the food truck. It was the perfect balance of savory and freshness! Next a tri-tip was brought out with a seasoned potato. This was my favorite sample of the night! The meat was cooked absolutely perfectly and the seasoning was perfect. The chef also brought out some aioli French fries that were incredible. Each fry was so crispy, I couldn't get enough. Lastly we samples a chicken skewer and again, the flavor of this thing was mind blowing. Cooked and seasoned perfectly, I was in heaven! My favorite wine of the night was the Garnacha. I ended up buying a bottle for later on this week! We also got a tour of the distillery and winery, but my favorite part was the view they have of the mountains and of the Bosque. I can't wait to come back to this place for their brunch! read more

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By far one of the best dining experiences you'll have in New Mexico. Vara produces delicious Spanish wines and distlles their own rum, rye and gin and make creative cocktails. They serve up a delicious menu of Spanish tapas and paella. They are perfectly situated with views of Northand South valley that is for perfect sunset dining. read more

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They don't offer the paella anymore which in my opinion was the show. Small selection of foods that seem overpriced when you factor in quality, taste, and portion size. read more

It was so pleasant to find a winery in Albuquerque who is concentrating on finesse and the quality of the grape to make wines. They are sourcing product and winemaking for some of their wines from the wonderful winemaker at Qupe from CA. Great choice! Their love at Vara for Spanish wine is clearly a passion! Importing from Spain for their Tempranillo is brilliant. Their cava is beautiful with the complexity and blend using Chardonnay. Their Albariño was and immediate hit showcasing a beautiful nose, crisp and finish. Sunday's they have an inexpensive tapas truck doing brunch with several shady tables and peaceful surroundings. The tasting room is small but there are tables and the staff can give a great experience. They need to have baskets of crackers and more spit buckets, and tasting sheets, otherwise it is an upscale experience to indulge yourself & friends. Our host Martin was eager to please! read more

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Tried a custom flight of wines and the Malvasia blew me away! Fruity without being sweet. Totally enjoyable. Ordered the Tapas Board and it had a nice selection of Spanish cheeses, olives, meats and nuts. First time at Vara and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. read more

They're changing their operation across the board and it shows. This location is laying off most of its employees, and this is also painfully apparent. From their careless attitude to sloppy attire, not where I want to spent $13 on a tapa and $15 for a flight of 3 tastings. The food is good, the wine is good, a bit pricey for New Mexico and this somewhat obscure location. This place is just giving "too big for their britches" and I'm not interested in coming along for their ride. read more

Very small menu, not a very fun atmosphere. The don't have always the paella and that's what we went there for.