All posts by Editorial Team

Blog, In the Press

2017 D.H. Lescombes Rosé Earns Silver in Rosé Competition in France

Each year, for the past 14 years, the Union des Enologues de France meets in Cannes for 3 days to blind taste and judge rosé wines coming from all over the world during the Le Mondial du Rosé®. Competition.

This year, there were approximately1300 entries, from 25 countries, including 776 French wines.

We entered our 2017 D.H. Lescombes Rosé Syrah and were excited to have been awarded a Silver Medal, the only medal awarded to a U.S. Winery.

“Our goal is exhibiting excellence, here is another example. This is great recognition for our team, putting New Mexico on the map. Hard work pays off! – Josh Gomez, Winery Operations Manager 

The wines were evaluated by 67 judges, from 18 countries.

The Judge’s Notes: With its beautiful raspberry color with coral fragments, this wine reveals an elegant nose of ripe red fruits like cherry and raspberry. With aeration, violet completes the aromatic palette. The flavors are in perfect harmony with the aroma. One finds the sweetness of raspberry and sour cherry, all supported by a citrus freshness on the finish. A fruity dessert rosé that will delight all connoisseurs.

Pictured from L to R: Florinco Luna -Cellar Associate, Jordan Cardenas -Cellar Associate,Raul Rosas -Cellar Master, Justin Lawrence- Lab tech,Melissa Porter- Winemaker, Memo Rivera- Cellar Associate,Roger Lopez -Cellar Associate, Joshua Gomez -Winery Operations Manager

“I’m extremely proud of our entire viticultural and winemaking team for their continued efforts to craft the highest quality New Mexico wine. This award shows that our wines can compete side-by-side  with the best wines in the world, and it’s a reflection of the amount of work our team puts in.” – Vice President, Florent Lescombes

“As I reflect on the years that have gone by,  one thing that has never left is the passion to create quality wine for the world to enjoy with friends and family while making memories. I can truly say hard work pays off. -Melissa Porter, Winemaker 

The new vintage Rosé will soon be available to the public at all St. Clair Winery locations.  
Special Events

Supporting New Mexico Autism Society

Just in time for National Autism Awareness Month, we will be pairing with the New Mexico Autism Society for our upcoming wine release party.

Release Party to benefit local NM Autism Society for autism awareness monthThe new vintage, 2013 D.H. Lescombes Petite Sirah Limited Release, has proven to be one of our most highly acclaimed reserve wines.

The Release Party will celebrate and unveil the newly bottled vintage while also raising funds for the local non-profit. Release party guests will be able to enjoy a glass of our new release alongside wine-inspired hors-d’oeuvres selected by our chefs, including steak bites, special chocolate-based appetizers, a selection of manchego, gouda, blue, and cheddar cheeses, and much more. Release Party guests will also have the opportunity to purchase bottles ahead of the public release on May 15th, allowing guests first access to the limited supply.

“Our D.H. Lescombes Limited Release wines are a selection of the best varietals grown and crafted in New Mexico,” noted Melissa Landeros, Winemaker. “The entire process-from the vineyard, to the barrel aging, to the bottle-is controlled and monitored carefully to ensure it reaches its full potential.”

The admission fee of $15 per person is being donated in full to the New Mexico Autism Society, based in Albuquerque, with local chapters in many communities statewide.

“All funds stay in New Mexico and are used to support our mission of making a difference in the lives of those affected by autism,” stated Sarah Baca, Executive Director of New Mexico Autism Society. “We serve locally through legislative advocacy, educational workshops, first responder training, social outings and support groups.”

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by repetitive behavior patterns, difficulties with communication and social interaction and is often accompanied by sensory irregularities. Today, 1-in-68 are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder-or ASD. It’s often referred to as an ‘invisible disability’ since a person’s physical appearance is typically unaffected. This disability and many others like it can get in the way of day to day life and so luckily for these people there is a lot of support online. For example, many can access a disability insurance quote online to find out if they qualify for this support and if they do, it will enable them to live a much more comfortable life and not feel chained down by their disability.

“As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I’m extremely proud we are able to support this cause,” said Daniel Gonzales, Creative Content Manager. “Not only will this help raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding autism, it will also help fund programs that benefit those in New Mexico who live with ASD.”

What: Release Party for D.H. Lescombes 2013 New Mexico Petite Sirah Limited Release

Where: St. Clair Winery & Bistro in Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Farmington

When: April 23 in Albuquerque, April 24 in Las Cruces, April 26 in Farmington; 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Why: Benefits New Mexico Autism Society

Tickets: Available here

For more information about the New Mexico Autism Society, visit nmautismsociety.org.

Awards

New Mexico State Fair and San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Results

We’re happy to share the news of our recent medals for our award-winning wines!

lescombes family makes award winning wines in new mexico

Our award-winning wines have consistently been ranked among the best in New Mexico. In 2017, we submitted some of our top wines to the New Mexico State Fair Wine Competition in Albuquerque, ranked as one of the top 10 best state fairs in the nation, as well as the 2018 San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo wine tasting competition. Our wines brought home Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, and a BEST OF SHOW award.

We are committed to making high-quality wines in New Mexico, made exclusively with our New Mexico-grown grapes. Our visionary founder, Hervé Lescombes immigrated from France with wife Danielle and children in 1981. Hervé had operated a successful winery in France, but with a thirst for a new adventure, decided to pursue growing grapes in America’s desert southwest.

While crafting local wines in the Mimbres Valley in Deming, New Mexico, the Lescombes family legacy is preserved by Florent and Emmanuel Lescombes, sons of Hervé Lescombes who carry on the family’s six-generation history of winemaking.

“Our passion for making great wines is only surpassed by our desire for them to be shared in good times with family and friends.”-Florent Lescombes, Vice-President

Great wines begin at the vineyard. With 180 acres of vineyards located in the high desert of the Pyramid Valley, just outside Lordsburg, New Mexico, we’ve found the ideal climate and soil to grow the best quality grapes.  Viticulturist,  Emmanuel Lescombes, manages the operations of our vineyard, which yields 7-10 tons of grapes per acre on average.

Our team’s hard work, passion, and skill have paid off. Enjoy the fruits of our labor and check out our many medals and awards!

lescombes family vineyard is located near lordsburg just inside grant county

2017 New Mexico State Fair Wine Competition Awards
St. Clair Kiva won a Gold medal and BEST OF SHOW
2015 St. Clair Bellissimo won a Gold medal
2016 D.H. Lescombes Rosé won a Silver medal
2013 D.H. Lescombes Cabernet Sauvignon won a Silver medal
2015 D.H. Lescombes Chenin Blanc won a Silver medal
2014 St. Clair Malvasia Bianca won a Silver medal
St. Clair Port won a Silver medal
2015 D.H. Lescombes Pinot Noir won a Silver medal
2015 St. Clair Cabernet Sauvignon won a Bronze medal
2015 St. Clair Chardonnay won a Bronze medal

2018 San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo Wine Competition Awards
St. Clair Kiva won a Gold medal & TOP OF CLASS, Dessert category
2016 D.H. Lescombes Rosé won a Bronze medal
2016 D.H. Lescombes Chardonnay won a Bronze medal

Herve Lescombes master wine maker in New Mexico. His New Mexico wines have been on the shelf since 1984. He planted his first American vineyard in 1981 in New Mexico after immigrating from France.Interested in learning more about our family and our wines?

Vineyard and Winery Tours are available and include a tour of the vineyard, the winery, and the Lescombes home located at the vineyard, which has an underground wine cellar fully stocked with the best variety of vintage wines.

Just like New Mexico’s first vintners, our goal is to produce great wines and food for you to enjoy in the company of friends and family.

Enjoy pairing these award-winning wines with delicious appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and entrées prepared by our master chefs at our Bistro restaurant locations in Albuquerque,  Alamogordo,  and Las Cruces.

Visit us at our D.H. Lescombes Winery & Tasting Room located at 7075 Hwy 549 SE in Deming, NM. Deming is located in Southwest New Mexico, a land of an ever-present sun, flowing desert landscape, and home of the largest winery in New Mexico. You can also buy our wines online at www.lescombeswinery.com/shop.

How many of this year’s award winners have you tried yourself?

Blog

Lescombes Family Vineyards & Winery Tour

Book a Lescombes Family Vineyards & Winery Tour and enhance your wine knowledge and appreciation of New Mexico wines as you learn about the Lescombes rich family heritage.  It’s an experience you will remember for years to come.

Your Lescombes Family Vineyards & Winery Tour will be off to a good start with a Mimosa Meet & Greet at:
D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro in Las Cruces at 8:30 a.m. or at D.H. Lescombes Winery Tasting Room in Deming at 10 a.m.

 
Sip on award-winning Soleil Mimosas accompanied by snacks.   Soleil is a French word meaning “Sun.” Our Soleil Mimosas are a blend of premium wine and fresh-squeezed fruit juice.  A juicy, refreshing wine cocktail that’s sure to tickle your taste buds with its subtle hints of white flowers and orange zest.

“I found that each flavor had a good mix of fruit and a crisp white wine flavor.” – Ashley Gill

Travel with us to our vineyard, located in the high desert of the Pyramid Valley,  located 47 miles west of Deming,  just outside Lordsburg, New Mexico, where we’ve found the ideal climate and soil to grow the best quality grapes.

Let us take you on a journey through 200 acres of wine grapevines. Get to know Viticulturist,  Emmanuel Lescombes, or another company representative, as you are guided and educated on grape planting, the life cycle of wine grapes, vineyard maintenance, the process of harvesting, and shares some of the rich Lescombes family history.

You’ll be invited into the vineyard home of founder, Hervé Lescombes, to sip vintages selected from his personal underground cellar, connecting memorable wines to a memorable visit.

Feast your eyes on stunning art displays throughout the enchanting home, built by Hervé himself! Then gather around the table to enjoy a deliciously paired lunch, surrounded by your new-found friends in the home’s unique atmosphere.

“The best part of the tour was the genuine lunch with the winery owners” – Tour guest

After an exquisite lunch, travel to Deming for a tour of the winery, situated on 15 acres. Our knowledgeable guide will take you behind the scenes to learn more about the art of wine blending, fermentation, aging, and the bottling process.
Enjoy private tastings and an exclusive wine barrel tasting experience. Set your eyes upon New Mexico’s largest fermenting tanks. Our winery is composed of over 50 tanks, each up to 16,200 gallons in capacity.

Before ending your tour, rest and relax in the tasting room. Enjoy a tasting at our wine bar or purchase a bottle to take home. Our Tasting Room Specialists are available to answer any questions you may have about any of the over 40 different wines we produce. Stroll through our gift shop complete with gourmet snacks & unique gifts and indulge in a cheese nosh.

 No matter the season, there’s always something magical happening at the vineyard!

Winter– Beat the winter woes with good times! This time of year makes the vines look sturdy and tranquil. Even though the grapevines are dormant this time of year, there is still a lot of work that is getting done. While the vegetation is dormant, it’s time to cut away what is not useful from last year and establish the possibilities for this year. From a mass of branches per vine, the pruner’s choices have a crucial influence on quality, health, and yield.

Spring– The vineyard awakens to the sun and warmth of the season. You will appreciate the enchanting beauty of the budding process. Indulge your spring senses and discover delicious New Mexico wines while getting an up-close and personal view of the vines coming to life.

Summer– The vines are in full bloom. The buds are bursting, marking the beginning of seasonal growth. There’s a lot of vineyard maintenance happening, aimed at limiting yields and promoting good-quality fruit.

Fall – Experience firsthand the excitement of harvest. The season usually begins in late July and lasts through the end of September. The viticulturist and harvesters work around the clock to harvest the grapes at the right time, using our state of the art mechanical harvester.

“This is an amazing tour. I recommend it for anybody who wants to learn more about wines, meet incredible people and just have an amazing time” – Tour Guest

“I loved & enjoyed the tour. If you ever get the opportunity to come, it’s worth it. You’ll really enjoy it” – Tour Guest

“I liked the familiarity of the people who were involved in hosting the tour and the wines tasted great. It was all very good”-Tour Guest

We look forward to sharing great wines, our history, and wine industry insights with you!

Lescombes Family Vineyards & Winery Tours are Perfect for :

  • Corporate Team Building
  • Mommy’s Day Out
  • Bridal Parties
  • Ladies Day Out
  • Romantic Getaway
*Corporate, Private, and Group Tours Available by request
*Complimentary transportation is optional

Book your unforgettable experience or for a custom private tour, call us at 575-546-1179. Or find out more information and available dates for our scheduled tours.

Employment Opportunities

Santa Fe General Manager Employment Opportunity

We are seeking for a passionate, dynamic and experienced individual to assist in the leadership and the daily operations of our new Wine Bar in Santa Fe, NM.  Mentoring, coaching and supporting the staff to provide the best and most memorable experiences to our guests. This position will build a strong business by innately delivering beyond-expectation guest service, bringing or fostering relationships in the community, passionately articulating the winery story, and creating a positive energy in our retail experience. This candidate is well spoken, polished, and demonstrates warmth and grace with partners, staff, and visitors. He/she is hard-working and a self-starter, desiring a more entrepreneurial environment where he/she takes ownership for the operation to build the business and deliver results, within the overall mission, values, and structure of our company.

The ideal candidate is accomplished at wine service, highly knowledgeable of the wine landscape and plugged into the local wine and food scene. Wine certified is a plus. Experience managing and executing service in a restaurant, retail situation or tasting room is a must. The primary mission is to execute a great, sit-down tasting experience, converting visitors to fans.

This candidate will be extremely flexible and enjoy a “high-change” environment where priorities shift from day to day. Candidates, who connect through positive and respectful interaction, inspire greater success and create extraordinary experiences, solutions and ideas will be at the top of our list.

For a full job description and to apply, click here. 

Special Events

D.H. Lescombes Mourvèdre Limited Release

D.H. Lescombes Limited Release Mourvèdre Wine Release Party To Benefit Roadrunner Food Bank

The Lescombes family have recently announced the upcoming release of one of their most highly-anticipated wines. D.H. Lescombes Limited Release Mourvèdre has been sold-out for over 8 months due to its high-demand and limited-availability. A Release Party—slated for mid-January—is in the works to celebrate and unveil the newly bottled vintage.

From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, January 22nd at St. Clair Winery & Bistro in Las Cruces, and Tuesday, January 23rd at St. Clair Winery & Bistro in Albuquerque, release party guests will be presented with a glass of the new release, 2014 harvested New Mexico Mourvèdre, alongside a selection of perfectly paired hors-d’oeuvres, including bacon-wrapped pecan pesto steak skewers, Akaushi beef sliders with avocado crema, wild mushroom and rosemary risotto, and a selection of specialty cheeses. Release Party guests will also have the opportunity to purchase bottles ahead of the full release, which won’t be until mid-February, giving guests the first chance at the limited supply of coveted juice.

We have partnered with Roadrunner Food Bank to donate the admission fee of $15 per person to the local non-profit, which provides and distributes food to local communities across the state.

“Every dollar donated helps to provide five meals to the hungry in New Mexico,” stated Wally Verdooren, Chief Development Officer at Roadrunner Food Bank.

“We’ve paired with Roadrunner Food Bank before and we value and respect the wonderfully positive things they do to impact our local New Mexico communities by helping those in need,” reflected Florent Lescombes, Vice President at St. Clair Winery.

The D.H. Lescombes label, initially launched in 1991, was created by Hervé Lescombes as a way to honor and preserve the family’s winemaking legacy. Named after his late wife, Danielle, and himself, D.H. Lescombes has since been passed down to his sons, Florent and Emmanuel, the sixth-generation of the winemaking family. Along with the new vintage also comes an elegant new black and gold label.

“Our D.H. Lescombes Limited Release wines are of the highest caliber,” noted St. Clair Winery Operations Manager Joshua Gomez, “we craft them in small batches with the upmost attention to every detail, and we are confident that the newest release will be among the best we’ve ever made.”

D.H. Lescombes Limited Release Mourvèdre consistently wins top awards across the country, including a gold medal in San Francisco and two best of class medals—one in Long Beach and one in Houston.

What: D.H. Lescombes 2014 New Mexico Mourvèdre Limited Release

Where: St. Clair Winery & Bistro in Las Cruces & Albuquerque

When: Jan 22 in Las Cruces, Jan 23 in Albuquerque; 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Why: Award-winning, highly-anticipated wine; Benefits Roadrunner Food Bank

 

Blog

5 Christmas Wine Pairings

The right Christmas wine pairings can enhance a dish to perfection. While there are no hard and fast rules on matching food and wine because it’s ultimately a matter of personal taste, we’ve compiled 5 pairings that will enhance your Christmas dinner experience.

Ham is traditional for Christmas dinner. Try pairing it with St. Clair Riesling. The wine’s acidity will cut through the sweet, aromatic flavors of a honey glazed ham.
If you’re serving brisket or pot roast, you can’t go wrong with St Clair Cabernet Sauvignon. While the wine is moderate in tannins, the meat is high in protein and fat. Together they balance out perfectly.

 

Spicing it up? For tamales or any spicy dishes, we recommend DH Lescombes Petite Sirah. Its flavors of dark fruit, smoke, and toasted wood will compliment the many spices of chile dishes.    
Room for dessert? Try pairing butter cookies with St. Clair Chardonnay. The hints of vanilla and brown sugar flavors will bring out their butteriness.
                                                                                                                                               
Still not sure what to choose? A little spritz will liven up the dinner and dessert table. We recommend keeping sparkling wine on hand such as DH Lescombes Imperial Kir because it pairs well with a wide array of foods, including desserts.   Sparkling wines have higher acidity and lower sugar levels than table wines. These two extremes complement elements in almost any food.
Now that you’ve brought the perfect wines home, enjoy sitting around the table with family and friends sipping on good wine and savoring good food. 

Eat, Drink & Be Merry!

                    
                                                                                                                                             

 

Blog

Cold Stabilization Process

Currently, our wines are going through the cold stabilization process. This process can take from 3 weeks to 3 to 5 months.  

Cold stabilization of wine is a method used to keep tartaric acid crystals from forming after the wine as been bottled. This process is referred to as cold stabilization because it is the act of cooling the wine that causes tartaric acid to form tartrate crystals, also known as wine crystals or wine diamonds.

If wines are not cold stabilized there is a chance that these crystals will form when consumers place bottles of wine in the refrigerator or store it for long periods of time. While the crystals are harmless it can be rather unsettling to find what looks like broken glass in your wine if you don’t know what it really is.

Uncategorized

St. Clair & Community Come Together For Local Cancer Support

The annual St. Clair Winefest was held the first weekend in October, with proceeds benefiting Deming & Luna County Cancer Support for the seventh year in a row. The local non-profit provides a variety of support to cancer patients in the community. They also provide outreach services for general education, early detection, screening programs, transportation assistance, and general cancer awareness.

Photo courtesy: Daniel Gonzales/St. Clair Winery. Pictured are St. Clair Winery Staff presenting this year’s donation to the Cancer Support of Deming & Luna County, Patient Advocate Joanna Costilla and Board Members.

This year’s Winefest donation was $9,300.04, almost $4,000 more than last year’s donation of $5,433. Major growth is attributed to the community support that has grown every year since its inception.

“It’s awesome to see how giving the Deming community is,” noted Ray Trejo, Board President of Cancer Support of Deming and Luna County, “We appreciate St. Clair putting this great event together.”

Each year since 2010, we at St. Clair have paired with the organization to donate the proceeds from the annual Winefest, which has become a destination for those looking to have a great time while supporting a great cause. The largest portion of the fundraising stemmed from the Silent Auction, which is full of donated items from local businesses. We also donated admission fees, pink ribbon sales, and vendor fees for the good of the cause.

“It’s amazing to see the support from all the local businesses that donate to the silent auction,” said Joanna Costilla, Patient Advocate from Deming & Luna County Cancer Support. “We’re extremely grateful to St. Clair for hosting this event and the generous amount of work they put into donating to help those in need. We’re also grateful to the community who continually supports the organization and our local cancer warriors.”

“This year we were determined to make this event bigger and better than ever,” said Naomi Morales, St. Clair Event Coordinator. “The community came out in support and had a great time.”  

Reach out to Deming & Luna County Cancer Support at (575) 546-4780 for donations or support. They are located inside the renovated train depot at 217 N Country Club Rd.

 

 

 

Uncategorized

Roadrunner Food Bank and St. Clair Winery Working Together to solve hunger

Donation coincides with “Hunger Action Month”

Left: Wally Verdooren, Roadrunner Food Bank’s Chief Development Officer Right: Florent Lescombes, St. Clair Winery Vice-President

Las Cruces, NM – A yearlong effort that started as a desire to help a local cause has paid-off in a big way for a
local New Mexico food bank—and in turn, many New Mexicans in need. St. Clair Winery announced a donation
of $8,328 for the local non-profit, Roadrunner Food Bank, though a unique partnership. The announcement
comes just in time for “Hunger Action Month,” which is a time for Americans to stand together and take action
to fight hunger by donating or volunteering.
Through the partnership, formed in early 2016, St. Clair Winery pledged to donate $1 per bottle sold of their
new release wine, ‘Bistro Red.’ The Roadrunner Food Bank logo is prominently placed on the wine label to help
raise awareness around the issue of ‘food insecurity’ in New Mexico, and show the monetary support provided
for the cause.
“We distribute five meals for every dollar,” said Wally Verdooren, Roadrunner Food Bank’s Chief Development
Officer, “this means over forty thousand meals are made possible through this gift, and we thank St. Clair
Winery for it.”
In Dona Ana County alone, Roadrunner Food Bank supplies many known food pantries such as Casa de
Peregrinos, El Caldito Soup Kitchen, Salvation Army and many others who contribute toward the initiative to
solve hunger in New Mexico. And it doesn’t stop there.
“We have soup kitchens, shelters, churches and other affiliated distribution partners in every county in New
Mexico,” explained Verdooren. “In addition, we do an average of 150 mobile food pantries per month, where
we bring a traveling food pantry to areas in-need, both big cities and rural areas alike.”
Roadrunner Food Bank’s mission complements the deeply embedded family-values and community mindset of
St. Clair Winery and its founders.
“Our goal was to find a way to make an impact locally,” said St. Clair Winery Vice-President, Florent Lescombes.
“We chose to partner with the food bank specifically because they impact those in-need across the entire state.”
Melody Wattenbarger, president and CEO of Roadrunner Food Bank said, “Partnerships like this one help us
extend our ability to reach more of our hungry neighbors. As one of the hungriest states in the country, every
dollar we raise helps in our mission to end hunger.”
Each of the St. Clair Winery locations in Deming, Albuquerque, Farmington and Las Cruces have the Bistro Red
wine available for purchase. Many New Mexico grocers—who are also Roadrunner Food Bank contributors, such
as Albertson’s, Fiesta Foods, Toucan Market, and others—are also retailing the uniquely labeled wine.
For details about volunteering or supporting the Food Bank, visit  http://www.rrfb.org/ or call 505.247.2052
For more information on this partnership visit www.stclairwinery.com/feednm