Out In The West Texas Town of El Paso
Location
Located in far west Texas around the town of El Paso, the Mesilla Valley AVA straddles Texas and New Mexico encompassing vineyards in both states. Primarily situated in New Mexico, the Mesilla Valley AVA covers roughly 215,000 acres total with 40,000 acres in Texas. Of that sizable chunk of land, a mere 40 acres are dedicated to the cultivation of grapevines.
The Mesilla Valley viticultural area is located within Dona Ana County, New Mexico, and El Paso County, Texas.
Climate
The climate in the Mesilla Valley AVA is extremely hot and dry lending itself to varieties that are drought tolerant. Irrigation is difficult in the region due to the lack of readily accessible water. Locations closest to the Rio Grande Valley are the most favorable for grape growing.
The one aspect of the region that vinegrowers have in their favor is the cooling breeze that funnels through the valley. This keeps the relatively warmer air moving through and allows the grapes a chance to develop decent levels of acidity.
Varieties
The latest information available lists the following varietals as being planted in some quantity. Black Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Malvasia, Merlot, Mourvèdre, Muscat of Alexandria, Primitivo, Riesling, Sangiovese, Viognier, and Zinfandel.
Considering the rather harsh climate of the region, the grape varieties that make the most sense to me are Mourvédre, Sangiovese, Viognier, and possibly Muscat of Alexandria. These varieties fair best in warm to hot weather and are fairly drought tolerant.
Producers
Currently, there are only two wineries in the Texas portion of the Mesilla Valley AVA. Of those two wineries, only one, Zin Valle Vineyards, has an estate vineyard.
Zin Valle Vineyards - Texas
Amaro Winery - New Mexico
La Viña Winery - New Mexico
St. Clair Winery - New Mexico
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