Eagle Ranch Pistachio Groves and Heart of the Desert Vineyards
Tasty nuts are the crop at Eagle Ranch Pistachio Groves and Heart of the Desert Vineyards, where you can buy pistachios baked into cranberry biscotti, pistachio-filled chocolate candies, and the nuts themselves, as well as the wines being produced in the proprietary winery. Linger in the coffee shop or art gallery. George and Marianne Schweers own the family farm here, which has been growing pistachios—an unusual crop for New Mexico—since 1972. The ranch has 12,000 pistachio trees and is the largest such grove in the state; a vineyard was planted in 2003 and is now producing wines—their signature wine is a crisp Pistachio Rosé, a Zinfandel–Chenin Blanc blend with a hint of pistachio essence. They offer free wine tastings daily, but not until noon on Sunday. If you have an RV and would like to camp overnight, ask for permission at the store to camp at the picnic area—there's no charge for self-contained vehicles.
