Vara Winery & Distillery

Great selection of appetizers.The service was attentive and informative. The ambiance is a clean and modern Santa Fean vibe. The sparkling wine tasting is a must try. The brut rose was my favorite.

A pelting Saturday evening rain forced me into Vara Vinoteca, where I went to end the night in Santa Fe before scurrying back to my close-by hotel. Vara sells its own wines here, which its website says come from grapes grown in New Mexico and in Spain. So I tried the red wine flight, which goes Grenache, Carignane, Tempranillo, and then a better Grenache to finish. The first Grenache had no fruit and hardly any tannin, for a borderline harsh mouthfeel - I wouldn't even serve it if I were them. There was a bit more to the 2nd and 3rd selections, and fortunately the final Grenache was actually a wine with a bit of complexity. Not everything has to be a California wine. But what I can't understand are the marcona almonds I ordered, which were so sticky with dried honey that they were served with a spoon so as not to get on my hands. On top of that, they were stale. Can I trouble you for some freshness when I eat out? Why not just drizzle on the warm honey right before serving? I'm also concerned by the spirits selection where one name, Taylor Garrett, supplies more than half the menu. Surely you could add some variety here, for someone who knows what they're ordering?The people behind the bar look and talk like they're in their early 20's. Basically, I think Vara is at best a place to pregame at. Try something else first.

This review is for tasting only as we didn't eat here. Loved it. The atmosphere was stunning. Service was great. I ordered a bubbly flight and my husband and ordered a red flight. Great price. Very pleased.

We made our first visit yesterday and the wine was so good and atmosphere so warm and welcoming we came back today. Good selection of wine, something for everyone. Great service too with a tapas menu that looks fabulous. Highly recommend!

My husband and I had a delightful time having tapas and wine flights after the sun set. Between the two of us, we tried both the red and red reserve flights. We were a little disappointed that the papas bravas was unavailable that evening, but our other tapas were delicious. The serving of Marcona almonds was enormous.To the ageist boomer who complained about the staff all being in the 20s: they need to work for a living even if you don't; I found them all to be prompt, capable, and charming.

Great wine tasting room in downtown Santa Fe. Everything closes early on Sunday and this was open until 9pm. Great wine and small bites to select from. This place has great ambiance and is also reasonably priced.

Stopped in while I was in town for business, and so glad I did. It was on a Friday early afternoon around 2:30pm, I was the only one in for a while then some more people trickled in. I was glad to enjoy the place all to myself for a while and get some fun pics. The location is fabulous, walking distance to The Lensic and the plaza. My server was Ashley and she was absolutely personable and vivacious! We hit it off immediately and she made the experience extra special. The interior design and layout of seating is so nice! The food, drinks, and cocktails are delicious and memorable. I had the STUFFED PIQUILLO PEPPERS, they had whipped artisanal goat cheese, arugula, and Spanish sherry dressing. I also had the GAMBAS PICSNTES, which is grilled shrimp, roasted tomato salsa, sweet bell pepper salsa, on grilled bread. I enjoyed a delicious glass of Tempranillo... my fav red wine! Everything was phenomenal! I'll definitely be back!

Our bachelorette party of 8 had a last minute cancellation at another wine bar and I was scrambling to find somewhere else to go- I came across Vara Vinoteca and despite the few (but high) reviews, I contacted them and they were able to accommodate our group. The service, food, and wines were fantastic. Not only that, but they went above and beyond to make our bride feel special- they comped a cocktail and dessert for her! Thank you Nathan and Paula for the fantastic experience!

LOVE this wine bar! Great service, nice selection of tapas, and delicious wines. What more could you ask for!

Cocktails are fabulous and creative. Food is great and more would be better. The guys and gals that work there are unbelievably into what they are doing and really want to make you happy.