Exploring a surprising viniculture destination: New Mexico
Discovering the Rich Wine Culture of New Mexico
New Mexico, the fifth-largest state in the US, has a rich history that dates back nearly 400 years. This southwestern state is not just known for its diverse topography, including rolling sand dunes, prehistoric petroglyphs, fairytale caves, and dormant volcanoes, but also for its thriving wine industry.
Wine production in New Mexico began in 1629, when two Franciscan monks established a vineyard in a Native American pueblo. Since then, the state has grown to become a foundational American wine region, with over 50 wineries and tasting rooms spread across its territory.
As travelers make their way from Albuquerque to Taos, they pass by prehistoric adobe buildings, Native American pueblos, and old Spanish settlements where wine grapes have been grown for centuries. The easiest place to try New Mexico's wines is the city of Albuquerque, with its high concentration of tasting rooms around the Old Town Plaza and access to picturesque vineyards within an hour's drive of the city.
One such winery is Las Nueve Niñas Winery, nestled in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, offering Spanish slow-roasted pig at its rustic cellar door. Another notable winery is Vara Winery, which blends Spanish and American winemaking techniques and sources grapes from New Mexico and California. Vara Winery also offers flamenco performances at its three contemporary tasting rooms, two in Albuquerque and one in Santa Fe.
Vivác Winery in Dixon, overlooking the jagged peaks of Barrancos Blancos mountain, is another unique destination. It collaborates with Robert Mirabal, a Grammy Award-winning Native American musician, to produce chokecherry wine.
The wine industry in New Mexico has come a long way from its early beginnings. By 1880, New Mexico was the fifth-largest wine producer in the country, with over 3,000 acres of vineyards producing 908,000 gallons of wine. However, a series of devastating floods and the rise of competitors like California led to a decline in the industry.
Today, most of New Mexico's 56 wineries are small businesses, producing fewer than 7,000 cases a year. This includes wineries with winemakers of Native American, female, and Hispanic descent, reflecting the state's demographics and the industry's diversity. Chris Goblet, executive director of New Mexico Wine, notes that the industry's diversity mirrors New Mexico's demographics, with a high percentage of Hispanics.
One such winery that embodies this diversity is Gruet, known for producing sparkling wines using traditional methods such as méthode champenoise. Their wines have gained recognition both nationally and internationally, illustrating both historical influence and contemporary innovation in New Mexican wine production.
The northernmost wine region of New Mexico offers full-bodied, complex wines, with grapes like Merlot and Riesling grown at high altitude. Taos, inhabited by Native Americans since 1450, is a hub for alpine sports enthusiasts and spiritual wellness seekers, and is also known for its winemaking region.
New Mexico's cuisine is a bright and colorful melange of Native American, Mexican, and Spanish flavors, making it a perfect pairing for the state's wines. Whether you're a wine enthusiast or just looking to explore the rich history and culture of New Mexico, the state's wineries offer a unique and memorable experience.
- The history of wine in New Mexico dates back to 1629, with two Franciscan monks establishing a vineyard in a Native American pueblo, making it one of the foundational American wine regions.
- As travelers journey from Albuquerque to Taos, they pass through ecosystems similar to those that the early wine producers encountered, including prehistoric adobe buildings, Native American pueblos, and old Spanish settlements.
- Beyond wine tasting, some New Mexico wineries offer experiences that showcase the state's rich culture and history, such as Spanish slow-roasted pig at Las Nueve Niñas Winery or flamenco performances at Vara Winery.
- The unique terrain of New Mexico, especially the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, provides a distinctive environment for winemaking, resulting in full-bodied, complex wines like those produced by wineries in Taos.
- New Mexico's thriving wine industry is a reflection of its diverse community and lifestyle, with many wineries owned by Native Americans, females, and Hispanics, such as Gruet Winery, known for its nationally and internationally recognized sparkling wines.
