Santa Fe Day trip to Northern New Mexico Wine Country

Northern New Mexico wine country makes a fine day away from Santa Fe, especially when the route includes the Santuario de Chimayo and three very different wineries. You get a taste of local faith, farming, and wine in one outing, rather than spending the whole day in a tasting room.

I like the small group of up to 13 and the relaxed 45-minute winery stops. I also like that guide Jerard brings food, handles the winery tips, and comes from a local family company. The main drawback is the price: at $250 per person, this is not a cheap outing, and much of the six to seven hours is spent traveling between stops.

Key points at a glance

• Three wineries in one day: Visit La Chiripada, Vivac, and Embudo Valley Vineyards, each with red and white wines.
• A meaningful cultural stop: Spend about 30 minutes at Santuario de Chimayo, a famous chapel on the High Road.
• Food is included: Snacks and small bites are provided, including food at the Vivac stop.
• Beer is available: Vivac Winery offers a beer option if wine is not your only interest.
• Jerard leads the outing: He is a local guide from the family-run company and pays for the included food and winery tips.
• Simple Santa Fe logistics: Meet at La Fonda on the Plaza at 10:30 a.m. and return there after the tour.

Why this day trip works beyond the wine

The appeal here is the combination. Northern New Mexico wine country is not just a series of tasting counters. You travel along the High Road, pause at one of the area’s best-known chapels, and then visit three wineries with different sizes and personalities.

That variety matters. La Chiripada is described as the oldest continuously operating winery and vineyard on the route. Vivac brings a different angle, with vineyards at one of the highest elevations in the United States. Embudo Valley Vineyards gives you a final tasting of red and white wines before the ride back to Santa Fe.

I like the way the day moves between cultural history and agriculture. The Santuario de Chimayo gives the trip a sense of place before the wine begins. The wineries then show how growers and makers are working with a high-desert setting that many visitors may not associate with wine.

You should also expect a social day. The group is capped at 13, which is small enough for conversation but not private or fully flexible. If you want to linger at one favorite winery, the fixed schedule will not allow much room for that. If you want an easy way to sample several places without planning a driver, the format makes sense.

Leaving Santa Fe for the High Road

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

The total outing lasts about six to seven hours. Since the three winery visits total about two hours and 15 minutes, the rest of the day includes driving, the Chimayo stop, and the transitions between locations. That is worth keeping in mind when comparing this with a simple tasting-room visit.

The High Road is part of the experience, not just a way to reach the wineries. The tour description promises a quick stop at the Santuario de Chimayo along the way. You should treat the drive as part of the day’s regional setting, while remembering that the supplied details do not promise a narrated scenic tour at every point.

Jerard’s role adds a personal touch. He is a local guide whose family runs the company, and he is described as happy to discuss many subjects as you travel. He also knows local history and traditions. That can make the drive more useful than a quiet transfer, particularly if you enjoy connecting the wine country to northern New Mexico culture.

Thirty minutes at Santuario de Chimayo

The first stop is Santuario de Chimayo, with about 30 minutes to look around. Admission is free, so this is a worthwhile inclusion even for people who are mainly booking the tour for wine.

The chapel is famous, and the stop gives you a chance to see a place of local religious importance before moving on to the vineyards. It also breaks up the journey early in the day. Thirty minutes is enough for a focused visit, but not enough for a long, unhurried exploration.

I would plan to use this time carefully. If you want a quiet look at the chapel, avoid spending the entire stop on photos or conversation. The tour does not present this as a full historical visit, so expect a concise introduction rather than a long guided lecture.

This is also the clearest cultural part of the experience. The wineries show one side of northern New Mexico, while Chimayo connects you with local tradition. For many people, that makes the day more memorable than three tastings alone.

La Chiripada, the first tasting

La Chiripada Winery is the first wine stop, with about 45 minutes for tasting a range of red and white wines. It is described as the oldest continuously operating winery and vineyard in the area, giving this stop a sense of continuity and place.

The timing should feel manageable. Forty-five minutes is long enough to sample several wines without turning the visit into a marathon. It is also short enough that you will not spend the entire afternoon at the first property before seeing the others.

This is a good opening winery because it gives you a reference point. You can begin comparing the style of the reds and whites here with what comes later. I like that the tour does not assume one winery tells the whole story. You get a first impression, then have two more stops to test your palate.

The practical limitation is that three tastings in one day can add up. Snacks are included, which helps, but you should still pace yourself. The tour includes all wine tastings, yet it does not promise that every wine available at each winery will be sampled.

Vivac Winery at high elevation

Vivac Winery is the second stop and another 45-minute visit. Its vineyards are among the highest-elevation vineyards in the United States, making it an especially interesting stop for anyone curious about how altitude shapes wine growing.

The tasting includes a variety of wines, along with snacks and small bites. A beer option is also available here, which is useful if one person in your group prefers beer or wants a break from wine.

This stop may appeal most to people who enjoy contrast. La Chiripada gives you an older winery setting, while Vivac offers a notable high-altitude point of view. The trip becomes less about checking off tasting rooms and more about comparing different approaches within the same northern New Mexico region.

Food matters here. Small bites make the stop feel more like a pause than a quick sample at a counter. The information provided does not specify the exact menu, so do not book this expecting a full lunch. Think of the food as snacks that support the tasting.

The stop can also suit mixed-interest groups better than a wine-only itinerary. The beer option is limited to Vivac, so do not assume beer is available at all three wineries.

Embudo Valley Vineyards, the final pour

The last winery is Embudo Valley Vineyards, where you will try a selection of red and white wines for about 45 minutes. By this point, you will have sampled two other producers, so this stop works as a final comparison.

A three-winery day is useful for understanding range. One place may appeal to you for its setting, another for a particular red, and another for its whites or overall atmosphere. The schedule does not guarantee a private tasting or a purchase opportunity, but it gives you time to form your own opinion.

The order also keeps the day from feeling repetitive. Each stop has a different point of interest: long-running vineyard history at La Chiripada, high elevation at Vivac, and a final tasting at Embudo Valley. The tour provides the structure, while you decide which wines and settings suit you best.

If you are a serious wine collector looking for extended time with a single producer, this may feel too brief. If you want a broad introduction without arranging several appointments yourself, the 45-minute format is more practical.

What the $250 price really covers

At $250 per person, this is a premium day trip. The value comes from more than the wine itself. Your fee covers the guided outing, all wine tastings, snacks, and small bites, with a local guide handling the day’s winery expenses and tips according to the available details.

You are also paying for convenience. The tour begins and ends at La Fonda on the Plaza, so you do not need to plan a route through three wineries or work out how to get back to Santa Fe after tasting. For a group that wants to drink responsibly without assigning a driver, that convenience has real value.

The small group helps justify the price as well. A maximum of 13 people is more personal than a large coach trip, though it is not the same as hiring a private guide. Group discounts are available, so it is worth checking the total cost if you are booking for several people.

I would consider the price fair for someone who values the combination of transport, guide service, tastings, food, and cultural sightseeing. It is less compelling if you plan to buy several bottles, want a full meal, or care most about spending a long time at one winery. Gratuity for Jerard is not included, so add that to your budget.

The pace, group size, and practical feel

The tour runs six to seven hours, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and returning to the same meeting point. That start time gives you a relaxed morning, but it also means the day will take up most of your afternoon.

A maximum of 13 participants is one of the strongest practical features. The group is small enough for a more conversational guide experience, and Jerard’s willingness to discuss many topics should suit people who like an informative ride rather than a silent transfer.

Still, a group tour means you share the schedule. The Santuario stop is about 30 minutes, and each winery gets about 45 minutes. You cannot count on extending a tasting because your group is enjoying one particular place.

Most people can participate, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The supplied information does not give detailed mobility guidance for the chapel, wineries, or vehicle, so anyone with specific access needs should ask before booking.

Confirmation is provided at booking. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, and the company requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not met, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this Northern New Mexico outing

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a gentle introduction to New Mexico wine without renting a car or planning several tastings. It also suits couples, friends, and small groups who enjoy a mix of food, scenery, local tradition, and conversation.

It is a particularly good fit for:

• Wine drinkers who want to compare three producers in one day
• Visitors staying in central Santa Fe
• People who prefer a small group to a large coach
• Mixed groups, thanks to snacks and the beer option at Vivac
• Anyone interested in adding Chimayo to a wine-country day

I would hesitate if you want a full sit-down lunch, a private tour, or a long technical discussion at every winery. The food consists of snacks and small bites, and the tour is designed for variety rather than deep time at one property.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the easy version of northern New Mexico wine country: a central Santa Fe pickup, three tastings, food, a famous Chimayo chapel, and a local guide who takes care of the day’s moving parts.

The best reasons to go are the range of stops, the small group, and Jerard’s local connection. The main question is value. At $250, you should want the complete package, not just wine. If you do, this is a well-shaped day trip with enough culture and regional character to keep the ride between tasting rooms worthwhile.

FAQ

How much does the Santa Fe wine tour cost?

The tour costs $250 per person. Group discounts are available.

How long does the experience last?

The outing lasts approximately six to seven hours.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 10:30 a.m.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet at La Fonda on the Plaza, 100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501.

Where does the tour end?

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

How many wineries are included?

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

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. A beer option is also available at Vivac.

Is the guide’s gratuity included?

No. Gratuity for the guide is not included.

What is the cancellation policy?

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.