In Mesilla, winemakers craft dry wines with distinctive desert sunset aromas, while Portales's alkaline soil yields rich French American hybrid grapes. The industry has evolved dramatically since its revival in the 1970s, growing from just a handful of independent farmers to numerous wineries and tasting rooms throughout the state! You'll find everything from award-winning sparkling wines produced in the traditional méthode champenoise to innovative blends that showcase New Mexico's unique, desert terroir.
Pioneering vintners like La Chiripada and La Viña first revived the tradition in 1977, paving the way for Vara Winery & Distillery and Vivác. Today, each winery adds its own character to the New Mexico landscape—Black Mesa crafts thirty different wines and five local ciders in Velarde. Jaramillo Vineyards offers "in-between" wines for those who prefer neither sweet nor dry from their historic Belén hotel tasting room. Rio Grande Winery captures the essence of desert sunsets in their distinctive dry vintages.
With a flourishing multigenerational community of winemakers and a steady flow of festivals and events, New Mexico's wine culture continues to evolve while honoring its centuries-old roots. The New Mexico Wine Trail below offers a roadmap to dozens of unique wineries for visitors to explore. See you there!
Ride along as host Michael Newman visits some of New Mexico's unique wineries and tasting rooms.
Wineries, Vineyards, & Tasting Rooms.
