Polychrome Brings Natural Wine to NM

IN BOSQUE FARMS, Polychrome is bringing a little punk rock to the wine world. Friends Zac Webb and Timothy Eyster, who met in Albuquerque’s late-’90s music scene, have traded guitars for grape presses. “There’s this odd overlap between natural wine and punk rock,” Webb says. “It’s alive, vibrant—the imperfections are what make it unique. It just feels like a lot of fun.” Launched in 2023, Polychrome is the state’s only winery devoted exclusively to natural wine, loosely defined as vino made from sustainably grown grapes, fermented without additives like commercial yeasts or sugars, and receiving minimal intervention in the cellar. The process often yields unconventional flavors, colors, and textures. The friends bought their Middle Río Grande vineyard from a farmer cultivating varietals rarely seen in New Mexico, like tempranillo and Marquette. “We work with what’s here,” Eyster says. “It’s challenging, but it leads to diverse wines you won’t get anywhere else.” For the holidays, the pair recommends their Pinot Meunier—bright, fruit-forward, and funky enough to keep things interesting—alongside turkey and cranberry sauce. As a festive opener, try the new sparkling Pinot Meunier, a white pét-nat. “The reception has been better than we ever expected,” Webb says. “People are excited to taste something fresh.”