When Gilbert Gruet, founder of Gruet et Fils in the Champagne region of France, decided to price land for his new vineyards, he found the Champagne land was for too expensive to purchase. In 1984, he scavenged the state of New Mexico for land and purchased a vineyard in Engle, near the town of Truth or Consequences, about 3 hours south of Albuquerque. The vineyard has a sandy loam soil and sits at an altitude of 4,300 feet. The hot daytime temperatures drop 30°F overnight allowing the grapes to maintain their natural acidity.
They produce four still wines, but are best known for their sparkling wines, which can compete with any in North America and can even give many Champagnes a run for their money. Gruet grows only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and produce their sparkling wines in strict adherence to the méthode champenoise, the long-standing tradition upheld in Champagne. Gruet has recently planted Syrah vines and hopes to provide a line of Syrahs in the near future.
Gruet Winery was the Winegeeks.com Producer of the Month in August, 2005.
United States → New Mexico
8400 Pan American Freeway N.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87113
United States
| Gruet Methode Champenoise Rose NV | New Mexico | Sparkling | |
| Gruet New Mexico Barrel Select Pinot Noir 2004 | New Mexico | Red | |
| Gruet Chardonnay Barrel Select New Mexico 2005 | New Mexico | White | |
| Gruet Gilbert Gruet Grande Reserve 1999 | New Mexico | Sparkling | |
| Gruet Grand Rosé 2001 | New Mexico | Sparkling | |
| Gruet Rosé Brut NV | New Mexico | Sparkling | |
| Gruet Demi-Sec NV | New Mexico | Sparkling | |
| Gruet Blanc de Blancs New Mexico 2000 | New Mexico | Sparkling | |
| Gruet Chardonnay New Mexico 2004 | New Mexico | White | |
| Gruet Chardonnay Barrel Select New Mexico 2003 | New Mexico | White | |
| Gruet Brut New Mexico NV | New Mexico | Sparkling | |
| Gruet Blanc de Noirs New Mexico NV | New Mexico | Sparkling |