Contributor Jill Johnson of Wine Enthusiast included Gruet Winery in her report of “America’s Top Urban Wineries.”
She writes of Gruet:
“Gruet Winery may be surrounded by desert landscape in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but its roots come from patriarch Gilbert Gruet’s Champagne house, Gruet et Fils, in Bethon, France. Its sandy loam soils, high elevation (ranging between 4,245–5,110 feet) and dramatic day-night temperature changes make an ideal climate to grow the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier used in its méthode champenoise sparkling wines.
Founded in 1984, the winery has just over 400 acres under vine in three vineyards: Gruet Vineyard (near Truth or Consequences), Luna Rossa (close to the Mexico border) and The Pueblo of Santa Ana (outside Albuquerque). Gruet Winery’s portfolio of vintage and nonvintage sparkling wine is produced and distributed at the Albuquerque winery. Last year’s production totaled 175,000 cases—a record for the winery. From the vintage Blanc de Blancs to the Grande Reserve (aged en tirage for six years), Gruet’s wealth of offerings show that the desert is anything but desolate.” —Jill Robinson
See the full report at http://www.winemag.com/listicle/the-countrys-top-urban-wineries/