It was monks who brought wine to New Mexico, religion that carried it through prohibition, and now—more than 400 years later—the state’s wine culture is a mix of international flavor and careful cultivation that has connoisseurs around the world recognizing it with awards and accolades.

While new regions seem to be cropping up all over the United States, it’s New Mexico’s longstanding tradition of winemaking that sets its wine scene apart from the rest. Unlike new regions that import grapes or use recently transplanted vines, here, the wines produced have been developed over centuries, with the grapes becoming uniquely shaped by the landscape and the flavors reflecting the culture, making the taste 100 percent authentic to New Mexico. 

The history of New Mexican wine dates back to before the French Republic, making these wineries home of the first cultivated vineyards in the United States. Not prohibition but rather a massive flood in 1943 nearly ended the state’s wine initiative, setting development back thirty years. Emerging again in the 1970s, production has since flourished all over the state, and the late reawakening has kept New Mexican wine under the radar, making it a delightful discovery for visitors.

It was monks who brought wine to New Mexico, religion that carried it through prohibition, and now—more than 400 years later—the state’s wine culture is a mix of international flavor and careful cultivation that has connoisseurs around the world recognizing it with awards and accolades.

While every wine has its own flavor—and every person his own palate—there are a few key features of the production and wine in New Mexico that do stand out:

  • Grapes are grown at a higher altitude. (Ex. Gruet Winery grapes grow at 4,300 feet.)
  • Shorter growing seasons mean the wines are lower in alcohol content.
  • The taste is closer to French wines than nearby California’s flavor profile.
  • The state is divided into microclimates that create different flavors in the grapes.

With many different geographic regions scattered around New Mexico, there are various options to enjoying its wines, from vineyard visits to annual festivals. Want to explore on your own? Consider paying a visit to one of these spots beloved by oenophiles:

  • La Chiripada Winery. The oldest winery in the northern region, La Chiripada offers a tasting room with half a dozen wines included in each mixed red and white tasting.
  • Black Mesa Winery. Winning gold in the Tasters Guild International wine competition and double gold in the 2012 Indy International Wine Competition, this wine room, set up in a small adobe house, is a must-stop in the region. 
  • Gruet Winery. The big dog of the New Mexico wine scene, Gruet is run by a French winemaker who also owns a family vineyard in France. The winery was named 2010 U.S. Wine Producer of the Year at the International Wine and Spirit Competition and ranked as one of Wine Spectator‘s Top 50 Wines of 2011.
  • St. Claire Winery and Bistro. More restaurant than tasting room, St. Claire is a 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Award-Winning winery that houses four different family wineries.

In addition to wine tours, New Mexico boasts wine festivals spread out across the year in each of its major cities: Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos and Las Cruces. Also, if you want to try a wide variety of the state’s wines, your best bet is the New Mexico Wine Festival, one of the top Southwestern wine events. 

Sponsored by New Mexico Tourism.