The mixed half case includes:Velarde Chardonnay '11, Burd Pinot Grigio '10, Viognier '12, Montepulciano '10, Petite Sirah '09, and Black Beauty.

The tasting for up to eight will take place at Black Mesa Winery's tasting room in Velarde, NM and you can pick up your wine then.  You and your group can also take a 10% discount on any other wine you chose to purchase that day.

About the Chardonnay: An un-oaked Chardonnay, that allows the full taste of the Chardonnay grape to come bursting through. Crisp citrus and ripe apple. This one is made to go with food. It will do well paired a broad range of entrees, from chicken to fish.

About the Burd Pinot Grigio: Grapes from here at the winery. Crisp, fruity, tastes of apples and tangerines. A wine to sit and sip or pair it with a light salad or white fish entree.

About the Viognier: Full-bodied white wine. Rich flavors of melons and citrus peel, with a long, slightly dry finish.

About the Montepulciano: A dry, red wine with flavors of tart cherries and plums on the palette. This medium-bodied wine with light tannins pairs well with red-sauce entrees--especially those from Italy and Spain!

About the Petit Sirah: The wild rose and boysenberry nose jumps out of the glass in this superb 2009 release. Hordes of wild berries play on your palate, accompanied by a touch of mocha. The superb balance of tannin and fruit commands your attention, entreating you to another sip. The fruit-filled finish is long and satisfying, displaying hints of cracked pepper, mocha and spice.

About the Black Beauty:A little sweetness, a little chocolate, a little naughty, could lead to dancing! Our famous and unique dessert wine. Black Beauty is a rich red wine, infused with a chocolate flavoring to push the natural chocolate essence.

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Black Mesa Winery in Velarde, half way between Taos and Santa Fe, produces Pinot Grigio, Syrah, Montepulciano,and Riesling grapes. The Velarde Valley produces Riesling, Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah with more acres and varietals being planted every year.

Black Mesa Winery began producing wines in 1992 as the result of a long time dream of Dr. Gerhard and Connie Anderson.  In 2000, Jerry and Lynda Burd purchased the winery and have carried on and expanded that dream to produce over 25 wines from grapes grown in northern and southern New Mexico.  All wines produced are from New Mexico grapes.  When asked about the large choice in wines in the Tasting Room, Jerry says, "I can't make up my mind.  I have a palate that enjoys many different wines and styles of wines and so do our customers."

Wines offered along with the most popular Black Beauty, a deep red, chocolate flavored dessert wine, include Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Primitivo, Chardonnay, Malbec, Pinot Grigio, Montepulciano, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and Viognier.  Many of the wines are blends including the dry reds Coyote and Antelope, initially blended by the Anderson's. Conejito White is a sweet blend of Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.  Mesa Rosa and Santa Fest are sweet rose' blends.

Black Beauty continues to be the most popular wine. It is a deep red, chocolate flavored dessert wine which pairs very well with cheese cake and strawberries. There is also a rich, chocolate sauce to pour over ice cream made from Black Beauty wine.

Unusual wines include both a red port and a white port, along with a dry sherry-style wine.  A pallette-pleasing  late-harvest dessert wine, Cosecha Ultima, is made from all northern New Mexico grapes picked in mid-November each year. All the wines are produced at the winery and are bottled and cellared in buildings adjacent to the Tasting Room.