TLR and DQ's Blue Corn Bourbon

The stop sign this morning hosting the TLR sign is at U.S. 64 and N.M. 434, north of the main part of Angel Fire. TLR means "The Lone Ranger," a movie in production starring Johnny Depp as Tonto.

We were told that today's filming was somewhere near Cimarron. The people sharing the Sunset Grill with us last night at dinner appeared to be movie production staff. The Grill is at the base of the Angel Fire ski hill.

We first found TLR signs a couple of weeks ago as we drove along N.M. 485 from N.M. 4 toward the Gilman Tunnels. I had noticed the signs but could conjure no meaning. Then, an open area was parked with trailers and RVs. My observation was, "Movie shoot." Some people wee chatted with at the tunnels said it was "The Long Ranger."

DQ is the Don Quixote Distillery and Winery (http://dqdistillery.com) and, specifically for us, means the Don Quixote Blue Corn Bourbon Whiskey, which we learned existed yesterday. Cindy Capelli told us about DQ when we visited yesterday at the Vivac

winery. Capelli's new business is New Mexico Wine and Scenic Tours (www.newmexicowinetour.com). At Vivac she was leading two young women from Bristol, UK, who are on a two-week tour of the American southwest.

DQ has a two-page feature in the just released September issue of New Mexico Magazine.

The idea of bourbon made from blue corn gets two reactions. First is, huh? Then comes, cool.

DQ's new semi-Santa Fe tasting and sales outlet is located along U.S. 84/285 at the exit to go to Los Alamos.

Winery Closed, Gate Gorgeous

We learned about the Guadalupe Vineyards (guadalupevineyards.com) today at La Ventana in Grants where we lunched. Guadalupe bottles were tucked into nichos at La Ventana.

La Ventana served us a very nice rolled chicken enchilada with tomatillo sauce and a turkey sandwich with avocado and jalapenos.

Returning to Albuquerque, we opted for a part of the scenic route and exited I-40 where the sign said, “San Fidel.” Just east of downtown San Fidel, a sign pointed us to Guadalupe winery. The road was San Jose Loop, a well maintained one-lane gravel road. San Jose (St. Joseph), it seems, is big in San Fidel with a school and a church.

We looped. The winery was closed. Not surprising given it was 4 P.M. on a November Thursday. However, the website claims, “Our tasting room hours are Wednesday thru Sunday, 12 noon to 5:00 pm.” But the gate was gorgeous. Note the small photovoltaic collector providing gate power.