FROM ENTICING effervescents to sultry natural wonders, New Mexico’s homegrown wine scene has never been hotter. This Valentine’s Day, pop a cork, clink a glass, and let the good times flow with a local vino at one of these romantic date spots.

Indulge in Polychrome’s Marquette 2023, a lush, medium-bodied black wine with seductive notes of cherry, vanilla, and cola. Photograph courtesy of Polychrome.

MARQUETTE 2023, POLYCHROME (BOSQUE FARMS)

If you like your wine dark and mysterious, this deep-hued beauty is for you. From New Mexico’s first natural wine label, Polychrome, Marquette 2023 is a lush, medium-bodied black wine with seductive notes of cherry, vanilla, and cola. Using pesticide-free grapes grown at their Bosque vineyard in the Middle Río Grande Valley, Polychrome crafts this wine with an open fermentation on-skins method, which allows for natural fermentation without additives. The grapes are pressed into stainless-steel tanks and aged for nearly a year. (Bonus: Polychrome has some of the prettiest, New Mexico–centric labels around, making any of their bottles a great Valentine’s gift.) Date spot: Corner Office (Taos). Located less than a block from Taos Plaza, this intimate wine bar and store is a natty wine lover’s paradise. Before Polychrome’s debut in 2024, only out-of-state labels graced the shelves at Corner Office—now New Mexico has officially joined the party. Cozy up to the restaurant’s wooden bar and pair the Marquette with small plates, like roasted carrots tossed in a black-garlic vinaigrette and cast-iron charred octopus on a bed of creamy polenta.

Enjoy flights from over 50 New Mexico wineries at New Mexico Wine Studio. Photograph by Gabriella Marks.

CRUCES SUNRISE, AMARO WINES (LAS CRUCES)

Blushing pink with a golden glow, this rosé practically radiates romance. Cruces Sunrise captures the magic of New Mexico’s most breathtaking time of day with a light body and a whisper of sweetness. It’s the perfect partner for spicy dishes, creamy pastas, or even a decadent bite of dark chocolate. Amaro Winery is a family-run gem, founded by award-winning vintner Bernd Maier. The Las Cruces tasting room serves as a lively local hub where wine tastings, live music, and country line dancing set the mood. Date spot: NM Wine Studio (Albuquerque). This fun, interactive wine bar in Old Town is perfect for playful couples looking to sip, swirl, and learn. Choose from a flight of wines sourced from more than 50 New Mexico wineries or get handsy with the studio’s interactive wine table. Created by Corrales-based design firm Ideum, the touch-screen experience guides you through the flavors and aromas of each wine, while providing information about its local winemaker. Want to impress your date? Sign up for a 90-minute tasting class and become a sommelier in the making.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Vara Winery’s New Mexico Sparkling Brut 2023, featuring delicate notes of green apple, honeysuckle, and lemon. Photograph courtesy of Vara Winery & Distillery.

NEW MEXICO SPARKLING BRUT 2023, VARA (ALBUQUERQUE)

Nothing says Valentine’s magic like a bottle of bubbles. New Mexico Sparkling Brut 2023 is the first 100 percent New Mexico–grown sparkling wine from Vara Winery & Distillery, made in the traditional méthode champenoise by acclaimed winemaker Laurent Gruet. This crisp, refreshing sparkler blends chenin blanc, listán prieto, and pinot meunier, sourced from vineyards in Anthony, Vado, and Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. With delicate notes of green apple, honeysuckle, and lemon—and just a hint of sea-kissed salinity—this vibrant bubbly puts your love on full display. Need extra convincing? In January, it took home double gold at the 2025 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition! Date spot: Vara Vinoteca (Santa Fe). For a date night that oozes elegance, head to Vara’s Santa Fe tasting room, where a recently revamped food program by chef Jon Helquist (formerly of Chez Panisse) elevates the experience. Pair the crisp brut with indulgent fried chicken croquetas and a rich Hatch green chile béchamel—because opposites attract.

Read more: Innovative New Mexican chocolatiers are handcrafting mouthwatering confections using cacao, an ancient ingredient with roots in the Southwest.