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were selections from the Deli at Sassella, sister to Gruet decided to plant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
topped-ranked Sassella restaurant. We had enjoyed grapes. Two of his children, Laurent and Nathalie
a stunning dining experience there earlier in our trip. Gruet, then moved to New Mexico to run the enter-
How did a premium sparkling winery make its prise, and the rest is history.
home in New Mexico? French-born Gilbert Gruet After tasting our eight wines and a couple of bonus
was traveling through the southwest with his family offerings, we couldn’t leave without one of our fa-
in 1983. They came across a group of European vorites. Surprisingly, that bottle of sparkling Pinot
winemakers who had successfully planted vineyards Noir Rose made it home and is laying in our wine
in Engle, about 170 miles south of Albuquerque. cooler for a special occasion.
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