I found Heart of the Desert wines years ago at a place in Ruidoso, NM called Cork & Kettle. I fell in love with their Riesling and Gerwurstraminer. I would buy them anytime I was in the area. A few years back I did a tasting at Cork and Kettle. I realized then that they had quite a few wines that I enjoyed. After years of drinking their wine I decided I wanted to visit the place where the magic happens. I was recently able to visit Heart of the Desert and I am so glad I did. Not only are they wine geniuses, they also grow pistachios and make a smorgasbord of pistachio products. The facility, pistachio groves, and patio are amazing! We also did a wine tasting because I had people with me that had never tried their wines. Kelly did our tasting and I cannot say enough nice things about her! Check this place out, y’all! You can visit their actual winery or you can order online! Use my code RWF10 for 10% off your first order! Here’s a list of my favorite wines:
WHITE WINES
*1. Pistachio Rosé- semi-sweet with a slight nutty flavor. You’ll definitely taste some vanilla as well. It’s so unique!
*2. Malvasia Bianca- Fresh and fruity with overtones of honey, this semi-sweet wine pairs well with spicy dishes.
*3. CHARDONNAY – We’ve tried Chardonnay all over the US and this is THE BEST! Medium dry, crisp wine with rich varietal flavors.
4. GEWÜRZTRAMINER- A well structured semi-sweet wine with a bright finish. Spicy aromatic bouquet. This wine pairs well with fresh fruit and cheese.
5. RIESLING – my first love affair with HOD! A crisp semi-sweet taste with a bouquet of white flowers and ripe pears.
6. WHITE ZINFANDEL- Our White Zinfandel is a floral, moderately sweet wine with hints of strawberries and melon.
RED WINE
*1. VIVA LA ROJA – This is a light red. Not near as “heavy” as other reds. A sweet red wine blend bursting with berry flavors. Best served cold.
2. MERLOT – A dry wine, soft, fruity and smooth with ripe berry components in the bouquet.
3. ROYAL ZINPHONY – The newest member of the Heart of the Desert family blends a classic Cabernet Sauvignon with a fruity Zinfandel to create a lovely flavor profile.
*4. CORAZÓN GITANO – Y’all, this wine is so good! This medium dry wine is a rich blend of grapes with overtones of deep red berries, dark plum and tart cranberry.
5. CABERNET SAUVIGNON-Dry with the taste of dark cherry, cedar and black currant.
6. SYRAH – A rich, dry wine with intense color and flavor. Our Syrah pairs well with spicy, ethnic dishes.
So, confession, I just listed ALL of their wines because they are ALL good! Don’t worry, If you see an * by the number that is how I indicated my favorites! View their catalog by clicking here!
While you are at HOD, try the pistachio gelato. It’s uhhhhmazing! It’s creamy with just the right amount of sweetness and pistachios.
Also, while you are in the area, drive to Cloudcroft and get pizza at the Cloudcroft Brewing Co. Its all so worth the drive!
Lastly, HOD is really close to the White Sands National Park. So cool to see as well!
My Traveling Appetite 