Our Chardonnays and Chiles adventure begins in the historic city of Albuquerque, located in central portion of New Mexico. We will meet at 2:30 PM in the Zia Lounge of the Best Western Rio Grande Inn located in the Historic Old Town District just minutes from the Old Town Plaza. Your hosts will meet you in the lounge for introductions prior to traveling to the Casa Rondeña Winery and our introduction to the wonderful world of New Mexican Wines. Following our behind-the-scenes tour of this beautiful winery, we will then begin our wine tasting with handcrafted wines such as Cabernet Franc, Meritage Red and their impressive Founder’s Cabernet Sauvignon. Following our wine tasting, we will return to the Inn and prepare for dinner in Albuquerque’s Historic Old Town District. Dinner will be at the legendary La Placita, which was originally built in 1706 as the Armijo family home, a family well-known for sopapillias and green chile. Out front, local artisans line the brick sidewalk with blankets on which they display handmade jewelry, weavings, and other Native American artwork. After dinner, we will stroll through charming Old Town. It only takes a few steps to be immersed in the past. We will visit San Felipe de Neri Church, built in 1706 and replaced in 1796. All of the original home sites along the plaza have been transformed into galleries, shops, and restaurants. (D)

The van leaves at 8:30am for a leisurely drive traveling out of town along a stretch of Old Route 66, The Mother Road. After stops for photos along Old Route 66 we will head north along the Cerrillos Hills on New Mexico Highway 14, now called the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway. Over a millennium ago, Pueblo Indians in these hills were using stone hammers to mine for Turquoise—prized for its beauty and ability to ensure good fortune and a long, healthy life. Today Highway 14 connects long-dormant mining districts. We will stop in company-owned Madrid, NM, originally settled in 1889, where the mines produced 500 tons of coal per day. In time past, the town actually boasted tennis courts, a golf course, and a 30 piece brass band. In the1970’s, the owner of the entire town, Joe Huber sold Madrid piece by piece to artisans, craftsmen, and local characters. Galleries and gift shops now comprise the resurrected town. We will stop here for photos and lunch at The Mine Shaft Tavern, one of the last great roadhouses. Following lunch, we will continue on to Santa Fe where we will spend the afternoon in the Old Town Plaza, where we will visit the Palace of the Governors, established in 1610 and is now a museum. Optional side tours include the New Mexico Museum of Indian Arts and Crafts. After checking into our lodging for the next two nights, the El Rey Inn, we will head out for dinner at the Guadalupe Café which is located on Old Santa Fe Trail and is known for its New Mexican Cuisine. Following dinner, guests are free to wander Canyon Road and visit any of the 100 art galleries, shops, and cafes. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we travel the 48 miles to Bandelier National Monument, one of the finest examples of the ancient American Southwest civilizations. Here we will view the park video, “The Bandelier Story” then visit the museum exhibits, and walk the main loop trail thru Frijoles Canyon. Don’t forget your camera for shots that will make all your friends at home and work envious of your New Mexico adventure. Today’s lunch will be a picnic in the Cottonwood Picnic Area near the Visitor Center. Following lunch it’s back to Santa Fe and the Old Town Plaza where we visit the museum celebrating the art of one of the most revered and famous of all New Mexico’s artists, Georgia O’Keefe, who captured the light and beauty of New Mexico in 132 paintings, many of which are on display at the museum. It is on to the Loretto Chapel with its mysterious 33 step spiral staircase that has two 360 degree turns and no visible means of support. This afternoon we also visit the Amado Pena Gallery where we will be able to sample another of New Mexico’s fine wines, the wines of Santa Fe Vineyards while viewing Amado M. Pena Jr.’s colorful and irresistible paintings and prints. Founded in 1982 by the Rosingana family, it is one of the oldest modern wineries in New Mexico. We will be sampling their chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, White Zinfandel, and Indian Market White. Next, we head back to the Inn to freshen up and prepare for dinner at the Cowgirl BBQ and Western Grill. (CB,L,D)

Following breakfast, we travel north to the Village of Nambe and visit the Nambe store where they produce an unusual amalgam of metals to create brilliant bowls, sculptures, and art pieces. We then head to the Velarde Valley which serves as a historic backdrop for the revitalization of vineyards that have been well-known in New Mexico for almost 400 years. Just outside Velarde is the Black Mesa Winery where we will be treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the winery. Following our tour, we will experience some of Black Mesa’s fanciful named wines such as Coyote, a dry red wine that captures the spirit of New Mexico, Black Beauty, Antelope and Conejito White. Lunch will be a picnic lunch at the Black Mesa winery and a chance to relax or take a short walk. Following lunch, we continue our New Mexico wine tasting at Vivac Winery, which features fine wines, fine art, and homemade chocolates. Located at 6,000 feet elevation Vivac Winery is known as “the high altitude refuge.” Our final wine tasting stop this afternoon will be La Chiripada Winery which is family-owned and operated, and has grown grapes and produced wines since 1981. Shortly after leaving La Chiripada, we will arrive in Taos, New Mexico and the Best Western Kachina Lodge which is located in the Historic District of town. This unique lodge has a huge courtyard which features Indian dancers nightly in the summer months. Tonight’s dinner will be at Michael’s Kitchen which is located across the street from the lodge and is a long-time favorite of locals and visitors, alike. (B,PL,D)

Breakfast will be in the Best Western Kachina Lodge’s historic Kiva Room, followed by a group stroll to the Taos Plaza for a tour of the historic plaza including a stop in the Pueblo-styled La Fonda Hotel. Here we see a gallery filled with photos of former Taos residents, such as Dennis Hopper and Frieda and D.H. Lawrence. Around the corner from the Plaza is the Ledoux Street Galleries featuring some of the most noted New Mexico’s painters, weavers, sculptors, and artists. Lunch today is in The Historic Taos Inn at Doc Martin’s Restaurant whose seasonal cuisine is set in an elegant atmosphere after lunch we will visit the Kit Carson Home and Museum, the long-time home of Kit Carson and his wife Josefa. Next we will venture to the Taos Pueblo which was designated a World Heritage Site and a National Historic Site in 1992. This pueblo is one of the longest continuously-inhabited pueblos in North America. When we return to the lodge there will be an optional trip to the Van Vechten Museum, home to the Taos Society of Artists exhibition which includes such artists as Bert Phillips, Ernest Blumenschein, Oscar Beninghaus, Walter Ufer and others. Dinner this evening will be at Orlando’s, located on the outskirts of Taos. This small, charming family-owned New Mexican specialty restaurant features dining al fresco in a stunning outdoor garden. Its restaurant has consistently been named Taos’ Best Mexican Food. Return to motel for a second night of Indian dancers and drumming or strolling through the plaza. (B,L,D)

Ranch of the Swallows New Mexican Cuisine
Following breakfast, we will leave for Albuquerque with a stop to take a journey into the past at Rancho de las Golondrinas, “the Ranch of the Swallows” founded in the early 1700’s. Las Golondrinas was an historic paraje or stopping place on the El Camino Real, the Royal Road to Mexico City. Today Las Golondrinas is a 200-acre living history museum with numerous historic buildings, craftspeople, and artisans. After our trip to yester year, we will continue to Albuquerque with lunch at Las Mananitas Restaurant, located a few blocks from Old Town, and serving excellent traditional New Mexican style meals. After lunch we will venture back to the heart of Old Town for a visit to Andrews Pueblo Pottery & Art Gallery and The Amapola Gallery both very well-know galleries. Following our visit to these galleries, we will have time for self-exploration of Old Town prior to returning to the Best Western Rio Grand Inn. Our farewell dinner tonight will be at La Placita Restaurant with time after dinner for additional exploration. (CB, L, D)

Travel
This morning’s breakfast will be at the Best Western Rio Grand Inn prior to our departure. Have a safe trip, and we will see you on your next adventure. (B)