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.
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.
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