August is New Mexico Wine Month
New Mexico's Governor Susana Martinez has proclaimed August to be New Mexico Wine Month. We'll drink to that!
“New Mexico wineries are key to both the tourism and agricultural industries in our state,” Governor Susana Martinez said. “The industry is increasingly robust and is fueled by a new generation of innovative winemakers – and it helps to show all New Mexico has to offer.”
The state has more than 60 wineries open to the public, and its history of wine making makes it the oldest wine making region in the country. New Mexico’s history with wine spans more than four centuries – wines were produced here starting with mission grapes brought by Spanish colonists from New Spain. Included with the colonists were Roman Catholic monks, who needed wine for daily mass, and lead them to plant a variety of wine grapes in the fertile New Mexican soils.
Today, visitors in Tularosa can sample wine made from grapes traced back to those grown by Franciscan monks centuries ago. Southern New Mexico is the oldest winegrowing region in the United States, and is still a large producer today.
Throughout the month of August, wine aficionados will delight in the dozens of events commemorating New Mexico Wine Month. There are community festivals such as Cloudcroft's Art and Wine in the Cool Pines, and the Summer Wine Festival in Taos Ski Valley, as well as gatherings like the Harvest Celebration of the Chardonnay at Shattuck Vineyards in Caballo, and the 8th anniversary party at La Esperanza Vineyard and Winery, in Hanover.
Of course, wine-related celebrating goes on after August is over, with the Harvest Wine Festivals in Albuquerque, and Las Cruces on Labor Day Weekend. Not that we need an excuse to go to New Mexico, but if you do, these sound like good ones.
For details on New Mexico Wine Month, and New Mexican wines and wineries, please visit http://www.nmwine.com/