Santa Fe Day trip to Northern New Mexico Wine Country

Northern New Mexico pours its own story. This six-to-seven-hour outing combines the scenic High Road, the Santuario de Chimayo, and three small wineries, giving you a full day beyond Santa Fe without the work of planning tastings or driving between them. I especially like the three-stop winery mix and the fact that wine tastings and snacks are included. The main drawback is price: at $250 per person, plus a guide gratuity, you will want to spend most of the day focused on wine and relaxed sightseeing.

The schedule also has a friendly, personal feel. Guide Jerard runs the family company and has been praised for handling the practical details, including food and winery tips. You should also know that each tasting lasts about 45 minutes, so this is a steady day of sampling rather than a slow, all-afternoon stay at one vineyard.

Key points at a glance

• Three very different winery stops: La Chiripada, Vivac, and Embudo Valley Vineyards offer a useful range of settings and wine styles.
• A quick visit to Chimayo: The Santuario de Chimayo adds an important northern New Mexico cultural stop before the tastings begin.
• Snacks are included: Food and small bites are provided, with Vivac specifically offering snacks alongside its wine.
• Small-group format: The maximum group size is 13 people, a manageable size for conversation and questions.
• A family-run experience: Jerard serves as guide and handles the day with a personal touch.
• Simple Santa Fe logistics: Meet at La Fonda on the Plaza at 10:30 a.m. and return to the same point.

Leaving Santa Fe on the High Road

The day begins at 10:30 a.m. outside La Fonda on the Plaza, at 100 E San Francisco Street. That central meeting point is useful if you are staying in downtown Santa Fe, and the location is near public transportation.

From there, the route heads north toward wine country along the High Road. The drive itself is part of the appeal, since the trip moves from Santa Fe into the smaller communities and valleys of northern New Mexico. The provided schedule does not give exact driving times between stops, so expect the six-to-seven-hour total to include both road time and the visits themselves.

A small group can make a major difference on an outing like this. With no more than 13 people, you should have a better chance to hear the guide, ask about the wines, and settle into the stops without the feel of a large coach tour. Still, group size can vary below that maximum, and the pace is shared with the other people in your van or vehicle.

Jerard is worth noting. He runs the family business and has been described as warm, willing to discuss many subjects, and familiar with local customs and history. That matters here because the day is not only a sequence of tasting rooms. The best part of a northern New Mexico outing is often the connection between place, food, faith, farming, and family, and a local guide can help connect those pieces.

A short pause at Santuario de Chimayo

The first stop is Santuario de Chimayo, with about 30 minutes set aside and no admission fee. This is a quick visit, so you should not expect a long guided tour or extensive free time. Instead, think of it as a meaningful pause before the wine portion of the day.

The sanctuary is one of the best-known religious sites in New Mexico. Its importance comes from local devotion and tradition, not from grand size. The setting gives you a chance to see a quieter side of northern New Mexico before moving on to vineyards.

Thirty minutes is enough for a brief look, but it may feel short if you want to study every detail or spend time in reflection. Keep that in mind if the chapel is your main reason for booking. For most people, though, the stop works well as an introduction to the area and a change of pace from Santa Fe.

This is also one reason I like the route. The day does not treat wine country as an isolated attraction. You see a place of local importance first, then visit vineyards that are part of the region’s agricultural identity. That mix gives the outing more character than three unrelated tastings.

La Chiripada Winery, the first tasting

La Chiripada Winery is the first wine stop, with about 45 minutes for tasting. It is described as the oldest continuously operating winery and vineyard in New Mexico, which gives this visit a strong sense of place and continuity.

You will taste a selection of red and white wines. Since the visit is relatively short, this is a good time to pay attention to what you like rather than trying to remember every label. If you already know your favorite wine styles, tell the guide or tasting staff early. If you are less sure, use the first stop to set a baseline for the rest of the day.

The order of the stops is helpful. La Chiripada provides a starting point, and the later wineries can then be compared against it. One of the appealing features of the route is that the three places are not presented as identical tasting rooms. The experience gives you a simpler first stop, followed by a mid-size winery and a more polished setting, creating a useful variety across the day.

The 45-minute limit also keeps the tour moving. That is good if you want to see several wineries in one day, but it leaves little room for a long vineyard walk or an unhurried meal at this particular stop. The focus is tasting and conversation.

Vivac Winery at high elevation

The second winery is Vivac Winery, described as one of the highest-elevation vineyards in the United States. That detail gives the stop a clear point of difference from the others. You are not just tasting another flight of wine. You are visiting a vineyard shaped by a high-altitude setting.

Vivac includes snacks and small bites with the tasting, and beer is available as an option. This makes it an especially useful stop for anyone in your group who enjoys beer more than wine, or who wants a little variety during a day built around alcohol.

Food matters more than it may seem. Three tastings can feel light if there is nothing to eat, especially across six or seven hours. Having snacks at Vivac, with additional food provided during the day, helps make the pace more comfortable. It also lets you think about how the wine works with food rather than treating each tasting as a quick sample.

The stop lasts about 45 minutes. You might have time to sit outside, depending on the conditions and the arrangement that day. Pleasant August weather made outdoor seating especially enjoyable on one reported outing, but you should not count on a particular temperature or seating setup. The practical lesson is to dress for the day and let the setting be a bonus.

Vivac is likely to be the most distinctive winery stop for visitors interested in geography and growing conditions. At the same time, the tour description does not promise a specific wine list, so you should book for the overall experience rather than one particular bottle.

Embudo Valley Vineyards closes the tasting route

The final winery is Embudo Valley Vineyards, where you will sample more red and white wines. After the first two visits, this stop gives you another chance to compare the region’s offerings and decide which styles appeal to you most.

The schedule allows about 45 minutes here. That keeps the final tasting from becoming an exhausting marathon, but it also means you should not expect an extended winery meal or a long private session. The value comes from the range of three stops rather than from spending hours at one property.

The winery sequence has been described as a variety pack: one simpler setting, one mid-size stop, and one fancier experience. That is a smart arrangement for a first look at northern New Mexico wine country. You get contrast in atmosphere as well as wine, and you are less likely to feel that every stop repeats the same experience.

If you are a serious wine enthusiast, you may wish for more technical detail, longer tastings, or extra time at the winery you like best. This is still a day trip built for variety and ease, not a specialist’s vineyard research tour. You are paying for the route, the guide, the food, and the chance to compare several places without arranging separate bookings.

What the $250 price really covers

At $250 per person, this is not a budget outing. The price makes more sense when you add up what is bundled into the day: all wine tastings, snacks and food, a guide, and a planned route through three wineries plus Chimayo.

Gratuity is not included, so you should budget separately for the guide. The guide has been described as handling winery tips during the day, but that does not replace your own gratuity for the service. If Jerard is guiding your trip, his local knowledge and personal attention are part of what may make the price feel worthwhile.

The strongest value is convenience. You do not have to choose three wineries, coordinate timing, arrange a route, locate food between tastings, or decide who will drive. You also get a small-group setting rather than a large excursion.

The weaker value is time at each winery. At roughly 45 minutes per stop, you are paying for breadth, not depth. If your ideal wine day means lingering at one vineyard with a long lunch, this may feel expensive and rushed. If you want a well-organized introduction to several northern New Mexico producers, the price is easier to justify.

Who should book this day trip

I would recommend this experience to you if you want wine without renting a car or planning the details yourself. It suits couples, friends, and small groups who enjoy trying both reds and whites, eating snacks along the way, and learning about local places from a guide.

It is also a good choice if you want your wine day to include more than tasting rooms. The Chimayo stop adds cultural context, while the High Road provides a change from Santa Fe’s urban setting.

You may want to skip it if you do not drink alcohol, since wine is the central focus and three tasting stops make up much of the day. It may also be a poor fit if you dislike group schedules or prefer to spend an entire afternoon at one vineyard.

The activity is offered in English, confirmation is provided when you book, and most people can participate. The maximum is 13 people. Those details make it fairly easy to assess before you commit, but the booking requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met and the outing is canceled, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

The cancellation terms are generous if your plans are firm enough to decide early. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Practical advice for making the most of the day

Start with a light meal before meeting at La Fonda, but do not overeat. Snacks and food are included, and the day is built around tastings rather than one large lunch.

Use each winery as a comparison point. Notice which reds or whites you prefer, how the settings differ, and whether you enjoy the simpler stop as much as the more polished one. You do not need to pretend to understand every wine term. A direct question about what makes one bottle different is often more useful.

Keep your schedule open for the full six to seven hours. The tour begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends back at the meeting point, but exact return time can vary with road conditions, group timing, and the pace at the wineries.

Finally, save room for the non-wine portions. The Santuario de Chimayo is not filler. Its short visit helps you see northern New Mexico as a place with its own traditions and local rhythm, not simply as an outlying wine route from Santa Fe.

Should you book it?

Book this day trip if you want a small-group introduction to northern New Mexico wine country with food, several tasting stops, and a local guide. The combination of La Chiripada, high-elevation Vivac, and Embudo Valley Vineyards gives you welcome variety, while Chimayo adds a cultural stop that many wine-only outings would miss.

I would pass if $250 feels too high for three short tastings, or if you want a slow, single-winery day. For the right person, though, the value is in the complete package: no route planning, no driving decisions, included tastings and snacks, and a family-run guide service led by Jerard.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

The tour begins at La Fonda on the Plaza, located at 100 E San Francisco Street in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 10:30 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at La Fonda on the Plaza.

How long does the experience last?

The day trip lasts approximately six to seven hours.

How many wineries are included?

The tour includes three winery stops: La Chiripada Winery, Vivac Winery, and Embudo Valley Vineyards.

Is the Santuario de Chimayo included?

Yes. The tour makes a roughly 30-minute stop at Santuario de Chimayo, and admission is free.

Are wine tastings included in the price?

Yes. All wine tastings are included.

Is food included?

Yes. Snacks and food are provided, including snacks and small bites at Vivac Winery.

Is gratuity included?

No. Gratuity for the guide is not included.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.