As a Third Culture Kid with no real roots in the United States, I spent a lot of time researching housing markets before buying our rental property back in 2007. I narrowed my search to the Southwest but ultimately picked Albuquerque based on conversations with our friends Dean and Elaine Voge, who worked with us in Shanghai. Dean taught in ABQ before they headed abroad, so they were back last week to visit friends and family. Spending an afternoon with them was the highlight of our trip!

We talked about hiking or going to a museum, but Elaine proposed the perfect activity for us: wine tasting! It was perfect because Elaine, Heidi (Dean’s daughter) and I could pound the wine, secure in the knowledge that Dean (not a wine lover) would be sober to drive. Tony (also not a wine lover) enjoyed the company and Tuscany-esque setting, so everyone was happy.

Here are the wines we tried at the Casa Rondeña Winery Tasting Room:
Viognier – A dry white wine with dense flavors of pineapple and honey, Viognier is the perfect expression of the Southwestern high desert growing region showing its rich mouth-feel and crispy acidity.
Meritage – This classic Bordeaux-style wine is a blend of 48% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot. Complex with a lingering finish, the Meritage Red shows flavors of vanilla, currant, blackberry and chocolate.
Cabernet Franc – The original red wine of the Loire Valley in France, Cabernet Franc grows well here in New Mexico. It exhibits fruit-forward flavors of blackberries, dark cherry and earthiness while being medium bodied and soft on the finish.
1629– A true Casa original: spicy Tempranillo; deep, dark Syrah; dense, soft tannins of Cabernet Sauvignon – blended and named in honor of the first vinifera plantings in North America, right here in New Mexico!
Rosé – A luscious off-dry Cabernet Franc based wine with crisp hints of strawberry and plum (and cool guys like Rich & Vince say cherries and watermelon). This wine has 1.75% residual sugar.
Serenade – With its floral bouquet and lively fruitiness, the blend of 87% Riesling and 13% Gewurztraminer give a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. This wine has 2.25% residual sugar.
Animante (Port) – A deep, elegant and rich port with very soft tannins, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Cabernet Franc. (18% alcohol)

Following the tasting, we took a bottle out to the garden and enjoyed a little picnic. Uninvited to the wedding that was scheduled later in the afternoon, we drove to Albertson’s supermarket to buy cheaper wine and food for a cookout at Heidi’s house. We met the rest of her family, lounged in their lovely garden, and lingered in the drowsy comfort of happy tummies and special friends.

Tipsy and happy.

Oh! As we sampled the wines, Tony looked out the window and asked, “Isn’t that Andi?” Sure enough, it was one of our colleagues from New Delhi with two of her friends. So out of about 10 people in the tasting room, 50 percent were international teachers!