When it comes to sparkling wine, there are always the usual suspects, Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, and California Champagne, but what if you want something a little further off the beaten path.  While it may not be the first place you think of, New Mexico has started turning out some great sparkling wines, lead by Gruet.  It isn’t totally surprising since New Mexico used to produce wine back before prohibition (and actually had been making wine before California).  Since Gruet actually lead the charge to make sparkling wine, it only seems right to have the first New Mexico wine on First Pour Wine be Gruet Demi-Sec.

Sight:  Light gold, with hundreds of teeny, tiny little energetic bubbles.

Smell:  Green apple, lemon zest, a hint of chalky earthiness and stone fruit make up a fairly light, but elegant nose.  Lingering elements of white grape  and flowers are on the edges.

Sip: Starts out bright, with huge amounts of bubbles exploding in every direction.  It calms down and gets round with a hint of sweetness, bringing out flavors of ripe white grapes, honeysuckle flowers, unripe peaches, and hints of dusty earth.    The peach flavors have  lot of bite to them, but are very clear.

Savor:  The ending channels the peach strongly, but fades fast, leaving a fun brightness behind that lingers for a moderate finish.

Gruet Demi-Sec is a delightful surprise.  Not overpoweringly sweet, it pulls in a good amount of fruit and terroir, and has an amazingly happy number of bubbles.  At only $12 a bottle, this is a really fun choice for New Years Eve or your holiday brunch.  All year round, it could also make a great base for a French 75 or other sparkling cocktail.  Definitely worth a try if you want to have a wine from New Mexico.

Verdict:  White Grape, Peach, Billions of Bubbles, Touch Sweet
Price: $12
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Available at Wine Library