What is the Mesilla Valley known for?

Along the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico near Las Cruces, the warm Mesilla Valley is a historic winegrowing area producing full-bodied reds and a range of warm-climate varieties.

What is its historical significance?

This stretch of the Rio Grande is part of the oldest winemaking region in the country, with roots in the early Spanish missions of the 1600s.

What makes its growing conditions distinctive?

A hot, sunny, high-desert climate with irrigation from the Rio Grande ripens robust red varieties, while elevation preserves acidity.

When is the best time to visit the Mesilla Valley?

Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures, and the historic plaza at Mesilla makes a charming base.

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New Mexico · Las Cruces & the Mesilla Valley

Las Cruces & the Mesilla Valley

Beneath the Organ Mountains along the Rio Grande, the Mesilla Valley's long, sunny season ripens warm-climate wines at some of New Mexico's oldest vineyards.

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Wineries

12+

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Best For

Rhone reds, dessert & sparkling

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Tasting Fees

$8-$18

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From Major City

45 min from El Paso

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Vibe

Desert & historic Mesilla

Did You Know

The Mesilla Valley AVA, established in 1985, straddles the Rio Grande in southern New Mexico around Las Cruces.

About Las Cruces & the Mesilla Valley

Las Cruces anchors the Mesilla Valley, the warm southern heart of New Mexico wine country where the Rio Grande winds beneath the jagged Organ Mountains. Recognized as an AVA in 1985, the valley combines a long, hot, sunny growing season with cool desert nights, ideal conditions for ripening bold, warm-climate wines just north of the Texas and Mexico borders.

The region's history runs deep. Historic Mesilla, a former stagecoach stop on the Butterfield Overland route, sits amid some of the state's oldest vineyards, and La Vina, near Las Cruces, ranks among New Mexico's oldest working wineries. Nearby, New Mexico State University supports growers with dedicated viticulture and enology research.

Winemakers here favor Rhone-style reds, robust Bordeaux varieties, and sweet and fortified wines that suit the desert climate, with sparkling wine an increasing focus. Just 45 minutes from El Paso, the valley pairs tasting rooms with the food and culture of historic Mesilla, while the Mimbres Valley around Deming to the west adds another layer of southern New Mexico wine to explore.