VARA Winery & Distillery Employee Directory

Beverage ManufacturingNew Mexico, United States11-50 Employees

VARA Winery & Distillery operates as an urban winery and craft distillery in Albuquerque, New Mexico, blending traditional New Mexican winemaking with modern techniques since 2016. The company sources a diverse range of grapes from around the world and nearby, producing wines at its Albuquerque production facility. A team of experienced winemakers—Laurent Gruet, Bob Lindquist, Louisa Sawyer Lindquist, and Djuna Benjamin—oversees the winemaking process, while head distiller Djuna Benjamin crafts spirits with a New Mexico emphasis, prioritizing ingredients sourced from the state when possible.

The business is a relatively small producer in the beverage manufacturing space, integrating historical winemaking traditions with contemporary craft approaches to wines and spirits. In 2025, VARA closed its San Francisco Nob Hill offices, while its Albuquerque operation remains active.

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