D.H. Lescombes pops the cork off the bottle near RR

ALBUQUERQUE — Just a short drive across the Rio Rancho border into Albuquerque’s Cottonwood area will take those with refined tastes to finer dining at D.H. Lescombes.

The winery and bistro sits just adjacent to Perfection Honda and can be entered from The American Road, which runs right past Intel. Now, it is open to the public, and the owners, managers, staff and customers are tickled pink, red and white about it.

“We’re certainly excited to be here and hopefully, y’all will be able to make it out and love the fact that we’re in the business of bringing people together,” COO Wayne Moore said.

The restaurant will have events and deals coming up for the holidays as well.

“Come see us for Christmas. We are ready to rock and roll,” wine manager Kendra Montoya said.

Montoya was enthusiastic about the new location.

“There’s nothing like this on the West Side. We are going to be number one, baby,” she said.

D.H. Lescombes is a French winemaking family-owned business. According to the website, there have been six generations of Lescombes running it. Hervé Lescombes, founder of the business, was at the Oct. 29 grand opening.

He started the Domaine de Perignon winery in Burgundy, France. “He was drawn to New Mexico due to its similar climate to his native Algeria, where he and his ancestors grew grapes and made wine for generations. In 1981, he made his first plantings in New Mexico. Later in 1984, his first vintage was bottled,” the company’s website reads.

“Over the past few years, my brother Emmanuel and I have taken over managing the business while our father spends his time enjoying the vineyard from his on-site home and wine cellar he built himself. My brother, Emmanuel, is the viticulturist and oversees the vineyard’s operations, while I manage the winery. The careful balance of nature and nurturing, both in the vineyard and winery, leads each wine to its full potential. Our passion for making great wines is only surpassed by our desire for them to be shared in good times with your friends and family,” Florent Lescombes, president, wrote on the website.

There are locations all over the state. Before the West Side/Cottonwood opening, the closest one was in Albuquerque’s Old Town, which is more than a 40-minute drive for most Rio Ranchoans.

For more information, visit lescombeswinery.com.