Casa Rondeña Winery

Reviews

• ★★★★☆ Syrah Shining River Visited May 15, 2017

  Didnt Find Any Wine I Liked, Had A Strict No Photography Policy

  I stopped here completely by chance while driving around the Albuquerque area doing photography. The property was very scenic, and its appearance from the road was actually what caught my attention and made me want to stop.
  
  Unfortunately, the experience started off on an awkward note. As soon as the staff noticed we had cameras, we were asked if we had been taking pictures outside. We were told that photography was not allowed on the property without a permit from the owner. We were also told that the owner was very strict about the policy because the property is rented for events and a lot of money has been invested into maintaining its appearance.
  
  The way this was handled left us feeling uncomfortable. At one point, it seemed like they might actually ask us to delete photographs we had taken while standing there. I understand that a private property may have rules regarding photography, particularly if it is used for private events, but this was something we had no idea about when we stopped.
  
  We decided to stay and try some of the wines while we were there. I'm more of a white wine and sweet wine drinker, so I focused primarily on those. The wine selection was roughly split between whites and reds, although most of the wines leaned toward dry or semi-dry rather than sweeter styles.
  
  I tried three wines during the visit, including the Syrah and Shining River, which was a blend. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the third wine. None of the wines really stood out to me. The staff spoke highly of the wines and compared them favorably to wines from California and other countries, but I didn't find them particularly impressive. I'll admit the confrontation about the photography somewhat marred the entire experience and made the visit awkward and uncomfortable.
  
  The pricing also seemed high to me, especially considering the location and the fact that this isn't an established wine destination like Napa or Sonoma. Most bottles started around $20+, with some going considerably higher. The Port was around $45 a bottle. Thats not expensive for high quality wine, but its well above the average price from vineyards in Texas or New Mexico.
  
  Many times I buy a bottle blindly, or if its pretty good, will take a bottle home with me. But these were priced that unless I found one I particularly enjoyed, I wouldn't be buying taking any with me.
  
  In the end, the combination of the wine, pricing, and photography restrictions made this a disappointing stop. The property itself is beautiful, and that's what initially drew me in, but unfortunately the overall experience fell short of what I had hoped for.
  
  Obviously, there are no photos with this review, and I don't see myself returning in the future.

  — Paul