Vara Winery & Distillery

4.6

308 Reviews

$31 to $50

Winery

Top Tags:

Vara is your destination for fine Spanish and American wines, artisanally crafted spirits, tasty tapas and dramatic sunsets. Relax on our patio with a flight of wine that connects the rich histories of Spain and New Mexico while honoring the birthplace of the American wine experience. Sip on a cocktail crafted from our unique selection of Vara's handcrafted brandies, rums, gin or Taylor Garrett Whiskey while enjoying a pan of paella or savory tapas. Vara satisfies the senses. You can sit on our patio with panoramic views of the valley or relax in our cozy indoor tasting room with a glass of wine. Come take a tour of our winery and distillery and stay for the the food, wine, and spirits!

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Feb 1, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(505) 898-6280

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Cuisines
Winery, Tapas / Small Plates, Distillery
Hours of operation
Bar Tue 11:00 am–6:00 pm Wed–Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
Phone number
(505) 898-6280
Website
http://www.varawines.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Private party facilities
We are not accepting private events at this time.

Location
315 Alameda Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113
Neighborhood
Albuquerque
Cross street
Located on the north corner of Alameda Park Dr NE & Alameda Blvd NE
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

Guided Wine Tasting
$30.00 per person
Multiple dates available
WINE CLASS EXPERIENCE, an in-depth guided wine presentation with Vara's Wine Educator. Explore six different wines in a communal setting, including wines that aren't usually offered by the glass. Great for groups and individuals alike. Classes are offered Tuesday - Friday at 1:00 pm. $30 per person with a small snack plate included. Reservations recommended. Tasting Hours are open to walk-ins 11am-6pm on Tuesday and 11am-4pm Wednesday-Saturday. Please note: dining is not available during this time. Get Details at https://varawines.com/wine-tastings/

Popular dishes

Vara Wine Flight #00$14.00
Select any Four Wines
Vara Wine Flight #01$14.00
Silverhead Brut Cava, Silverhead Brut Rosado Cava, Silverhead Brut Reserva Cava, Viña Cardinal - NM
Vara Wine Flight #02$14.00
Viura 2019, Garnacha Rosado 2020, Garnacha 2019 ESP, Tempranillo 2019 ESP
Vara Wine Flight #03$14.00
Garnacha 2019 ESP, Cariñena 2019 ESP, Tempranillo 2019 ESP, Monastrell 2018 USA

Beers

Featured New Mexico Beers$7.00
On Tap; selections vary

What 308 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.5Food
4.6Service
4.3Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

New Mexico
Good for groups
New Mexico
Great for fine wines
New Mexico
Great for outdoor dining
New Mexico
Great for scenic views
Albuquerque
Best Overall
Albuquerque
Good for groups
Albuquerque
Healthy
Albuquerque
Great for fine wines
Albuquerque
Great for outdoor dining

Sort by

Filters

SC
SharonC
Denver
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on January 20, 2023
overall3food4service2ambience2
We had a gift card. The first server we had didn’t even take my husbands food order. The food was very good just not much of a choice. The last server was very good. We had a total of three
AC
AmyC
Central Coast
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My husband is a French snob when it comes to wine and VARA is by far his favorite wine and spirits in New Mexico! We also love the Spanish tapas menu, especially the papas bravas and the "pan con tomate". Such a sophisticated restaurant yet the staff are approachable, friendly and efficient. I love having a wine flight with lunch/dinner!
KW
KimW
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on January 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Great wine and delicious tapas. Perfect for a date night or a fun night out with friends.
N
Nadia
Portland
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on January 7, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience5
Great service and great ambiance!
R
Rando
Washington DC
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on December 31, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience4
Great cocktails and wine, great and helpful service. Good food.
DH
DanielH
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on December 30, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience4
Stevie was great, very kind and helpful, and the door was very good. Cocktails and wine were great.
T
Travelmama
New Mexico
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience4
Great food, great prices, and a fun experience. Love Vara!
MS
MelissaS
1 review
2.0
1 review
Dined on December 22, 2022
overall2food2service2ambience5
Vara has an amazing ambiance, pricy for what you get, drinks are marginal.
DW
DavidW
Nashville
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 18, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great atmosphere, service, and wine. We look forward to getting back with friends and family coming into town.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New Mexico
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everyone we spoke to was very polite, friendly, had chill-vibes, and had great recommendations. Highly recommend for anyone.
C
Cece
New Mexico
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 11, 2022
overall4food3service4ambience4
They ran out of salad, we got last two cream brûlée and last two bottles of a wine we wanted to buy. Charcuterie board was good.
YT
YanceyTaos
New Mexico
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on December 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great atmosphere. Excellent staff and service. Tapas great and wonderful selection of wine.
AB
ABQLaurel
New Mexico
5 reviews
2.0
5 reviews
Dined on November 26, 2022
overall2food1service4ambience3
Go here to taste wine and drink with friends. Don’t bother with the tapas. The evening was cold and we never warmed up during our dinner the day after Thanksgiving. I expected to feel cold, as I remembered the concrete floors, the cement and glass walls and the high industrial ceilings. So I dressed warmly. The service was attentive and fairly competent if inexperienced. That is also what I expected in post covid Albuquerque. We had two wine flights which were excellent and enlightening. One whiskey drink using their artisanal spirits was also enjoyable. I had no idea until one of the staff informed us that Vara has no kitchen. That changed everything. We had a cheese and meat board and everything was refrigerator cold. The menu mentioned M’Tucci,s bread but a very chilly lavash came with it instead. We requested the promised bread and it “took time”, as promised. The brie was too cold to spread, the other two cheeses were nowhere near room temperature. The other two tapas we ordered were well done. Flank steak was perfectly cooked and sliced. The chicken skewers delicious,too. We sent the dessert back. It was nearly frozen and impervious to our spoons. The problem servings were removed from our bill and we left with an excellent bottle of whisky.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 23, 2022
overall5food5service3ambience3
Second visit to Vara. First time we had a very knowledgeable server and that was really fun! She recommended delicious pairings. This time service was subpar and our server wasn’t very knowledgeable about wine in general it seemed. Regardless, the paella was delicious and the wine was delicious and I will be back!
SS
SidneyS
New Mexico
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on November 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great wines! Fun and quaint little tasting room. Patio was closed because its too cold right now but it is beautiful in the summer!
RR
RRM505
New Mexico
13 reviews
4.0
13 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
The staff are always friendly and helpful. The wine is amazing and the food delicious.
B
Barbara08
New Mexico
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on November 12, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food! Beyond service. This must be approx 10th time we go and it’s keeps getting better and better. Incredible paella and vino.
SW
SusanW
New Mexico
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 28, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
We were very pleased with the total experience except for the asparagus dish. It was tasty but not worth the money. The asparagus were so small in size, which is fine,except there were about 8 of them.
MS
MariaS
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 26, 2022
overall5food3service5ambience5
We went to our first ever Wine Tasting and this one at VARA was guided. We learned so much about wine, all thanks to Jenny, our guide. Jennny was very knowledgeable and made the experience fun and interesting. We loved it!! We tried 6 different wines along with snack so we can taste the difference of the wine tastes with food. Although we didn't get to try their food yet, we definitely will come back for dinner.
DB
DominicB
New Mexico
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on October 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
It’s a great place to dine Food, wine and waitstaff are all terrific. The ambiance leaves a little to be desired until you remember that it is a working winery and distillery. That makes the experience more enjoyable.
CC
CCox
New Mexico
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 19, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We did the guided wine and cheese tasting, and as this was our first experience, we weren't sure what to expect. We loved it! Jennie, our wine educator, was personable, knowledgeable, exciting, and quirky in all the best ways. We already want to go back and do it all again... as well as try out their dinner menu.
SS
SusanS
Monterrey
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on October 8, 2022
overall4food4service4ambience4
The service and food are always good. We had the Paella and several small dished. It was perfect for our party.
B
Barbara08
New Mexico
22 reviews
vip
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on October 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing experience each time. Worth the drive from Santa Fe
B
Bnavdez
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on October 1, 2022
overall5food4service4ambience5
As authentic as it gets from Spain here in Albuquerque. Food is always good, set in a nice location. As long as you understand that paella takes time to prepare, you will be waiting a bit, but it's time for you to taste the wine.
J
Julie
Richmond
18 reviews
vip
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on September 24, 2022
overall4food5service4ambience4
Really enjoyed our tapas!
JT
JorgeT
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
About my 10th visit, so obviously I like everything about the place. And the wine flights are so yummy and so much fun! Our server, Ms. Ulibarri, was outstanding!
RT
RhondaT
New Mexico
7 reviews
3.0
7 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2022
overall3food4service3ambience3
This was our first time to Vara and this is what we learned: 1. You must have a reservation.They will only make a reservation for up to 8 people. 2. You have 2 hours to eat/drink only. 3. No separate checks. One check per table. The wine was good. The food was mostly good but not really a place I would choose for dinner. I noticed the first and last glasses of wine on the flights were my favorites. It was casual and family friendly. The portions are small (tapas) and are to be shared. We enjoyed the salad, goat cheese/peppers, tomato toast, Paella. One person ordered the steak but was surprised nothing came with it. Was tasty.
OT
OpenTable Diner
New Mexico
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
Try the wine flights and distillery flights it gives so much more insight on what VARA has to offer. It's great place and nice ambiance not to mention the staff is always welcoming and attentive. Can't wait to see the Sanra Fe location!
HL
HenryL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great wine, great atmosphere, nice views, the food is great! Great special on bottles of wine to take home.
P
Pancho
Seattle
50 reviews
vip
5.0
50 reviews
Dined on September 15, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
A very nice patio to have a good wine and tapas and enjoy the beautiful view. Service was excellent to make the full experience complete!
JL
JLRT
New Mexico
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 14, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Good views, good service, would recommend to a friend
l
luvgoodfd
New Mexico
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on September 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Perect outdoor dining - quiet, large umbrellas to shade the sun. The waitress was attentive. We love their small plates and excellent wines.
JP
JoanP
New Mexico
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 3, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Vara gives a very good pour even in their tasting flights. The food was unique and tasty. The service is excellent; all staff is helpful and friendly. We wish we could have been outside but that area was already full. A fun and interesting place to go.
BJ
BobJ
New Mexico
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2022
overall5food5service4ambience5
The service was good, and the food was good. The only issue we had was that we ordered a bottle of Vara's sparkling wine, and it was served too warm. An ice bucket accompanied the wine, so only the initial pour was too warm
VU
VirgilU
New Mexico
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on August 25, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience4
Very serene setting. The Reserve Grenache is always tasty. Unfortunately, the menu has been paired back due to lack of staffing, good news is the paella is still on the menu. Our service was excellent.
TP
TracyP
New Mexico
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 25, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
We will definitely return to Vara! The service was outstanding! We shared 3 tapas and loved them all. The potatoes were outstanding. Of course, the wine is hard to beat!
LF
LoriF
New Mexico
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on August 20, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server, Ethel was awesome. She said she was new to VARA but she was great. We landed up signing up for a membership. Great food, great experience.
PS
PaulaS
New Mexico
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a great venue and delicious foods and wines!
JG
JudiG
New Mexico
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience3
Jennie is fantastic. What a gem. I tell everyone I know to attend her tasting.
T
Theo
London
30 reviews
vip
5.0
30 reviews
Dined on August 11, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
short staffed so no paella. but instead all the tapas we tried were just excellent. shared with our group of six and enjoyed desserts as well. lovely place and look forward to returning.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

Vara Winery & Distillery offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (505) 898-6280.

Vara Winery & Distillery is rated 4.6 stars by 308 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Feb 1, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 6 times today

Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

(505) 898-6280

315 Alameda Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Located on the north corner of Alameda Park Dr NE & Alameda Blvd NE
Neighborhood
Albuquerque
Hours of operation
Bar Tue 11:00 am–6:00 pm Wed–Sat 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Wed–Sat 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
Cuisines
Winery, Tapas / Small Plates, Distillery
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.varawines.com/
Phone number
(505) 898-6280
Private party facilities
We are not accepting private events at this time.

Vara Winery & Distillery

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Guided Wine Tasting

Vara Paella

Fried Brussels Sprouts

Lamb Merguez Sausage

Wines

Aperitif

Viña Cardinal - NM

Vermut Seco

Vermut Dulce

Vermut Añejo Dulce

Sparkling

Silverhead Brut Cava ESP

Silverhead Brut Reserva ESP

Silverhead Brut Rosado ESP

White

Viura 2019 ESP

Albariño 2020 USA

Malvasia 2020 ESP

Rosado

Garnacha Rosado 2020 ESP

Red

Garnacha 2019 ESP

Cariñena 2019 ESP

Tempranillo 2019 ESP

Garnacha 2019 Lot #0321 ESP

Monastrell 2018 USA

Garnacha Reserva 2018 ESP

Dessert

Dorado 2017 USA$100.00

Sangria

Sangria Tinto 1.75 Liter

Wine Cocktails

Silverhead Kir Royal$10.00

Silverhead Escape$10.00

Sweet & Seco$10.00

Vara Spritz$11.00

Wine Flights

Vara Wine Flight #00$14.00

Vara Wine Flight #01$14.00

Vara Wine Flight #02$14.00

Vara Wine Flight #03$14.00

Beers

Featured New Mexico Beers$7.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Screening

FAQs

Does Vara Winery & Distillery offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Vara Winery & Distillery restaurant rated?

Is Vara Winery & Distillery currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Takeout

Dining areas

Additional information