REMEMBERING A BEAUTIFUL SPIRIT

Nalini Harshadray Patel

March 28, 1953 — January 22, 2021

Loving mother, keen businesswoman, adventurer — Nalini Patel was a shining example of resilience and love for all who were fortunate enough to know her.

A native of Kenya, she left her home in the early 1970s during a tumultuous time in the nation’s history. After settling in the UK, a family member suggested she meet Ray Patel, a fellow refugee from Africa. Their initial date quickly blossomed into deep and lasting love.

During the early years of their marriage, Ray and Nalini lived near his family in Vancouver, British Columbia. Natural adventurers, they made forays into the United States, looking for a place to put down roots together. New Mexico called to them, with its starkly beautiful vistas and never-ending sun. Together, Nalini and Ray established a successful collection of boutique hotels there.

Guests of our tasting room will most certainly remember her kind and engaging ways — she loved nothing better than to chat with visitors, making sure they understood how important and welcome each and every one of them was. Every conversation with her felt like a warm embrace. Her enthusiasm for the winery, and the daily encouragement she gave Akash, have undoubtedly made us who we are today.

Nalini’s drive, legendary warmth, and ability to build a thriving business while raising her young family are qualities her children admired and adopted in their own lives. Her positive spirit and gentle persistence will reverberate for generations to come, in her children, Amita, Eshita, and Akash, and grandchildren Ava, Ethan, Averi, Evan, and Gianni.