It has taken Sheehan Winery over a year to make it to the high country, but the long-anticipated Grand Opening of their Red River tasting room in the Alpine Lodge complex was worth the wait. Now they’re looking forward to the winter on West Main Street.
Maker of 35 different wines, 20 are open at any given time in the tasting room, including NM award winners.
Sheehan Winery has been highly visible at Red River festivals like Art & Wine, Aspencade and Oktoberfest. “Red River has been very good to us!”
Sean Sheehan became involved in the wine business in 2005 while studying chemistry at the University of New Mexico. While working at “a fancy restaurant” he was invited to the Casa Rondeña Winery in Los Ranchos NM (in the North Valley), a promotion for the purpose of showing the restaurant staff a good time.
After asking the proprietor a number of chemistry questions, he was offered a job. He jumped at the opportunity and worked as a chemist and lab guy. It became a passion and he planted his first grapes in 2009. He secured a federal license for making and selling. Sheehan has vineyards in Corrales, Bosque Farms and in Albuquerque’s South Valley. He also sources high quality grapes from small growers throughout the state.
“Our wines are made exclusively from New Mexico-grown grapes.”