Mesilla Valley is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) located in the Mesilla Valley landform that extends along the Rio Grande River encompassing an area from the vicinity north of Las Cruces, New Mexico within Dona Ana County on a 50-mile (80 km) north–south axis toward the Mexican border, across the state border to El Paso County, Texas and the vicinity of El Paso. It was established as the nation's 76th, and the initial appellation in New Mexico and Texas, on February 14, 1985, by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. George Newman, President of the Las Cruces Chapter of the New Mexico Wine and Vine Society, proposing a viticultural area located in New Mexico and Texas named "Mesilla Valley."
Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Syrah are the most important grape varieties planted there. The plant hardiness zones are 8a and 8b. The climate in the Mesilla Valley is dry and hot.
⭐ Core Definition: Mesilla Valley AVA
- ⭐ Core Definition: Mesilla Valley AVA
- Mesilla Valley AVA in the context of Rio Grande Valley (landform)
Mesilla Valley AVA in the context of Rio Grande Valley (landform)
The Rio Grande Valley is the river valley carved out by the Rio Grande as it flows through the American Southwest and northeastern Mexico, forming a part of the border region. In the US state of New Mexico, the river flows mostly north to south, and forms a valley from near Cochiti Pueblo to the state line near El Paso, Texas, along the floors of the large sedimentary basins of the Rio Grande Rift, and includes the narrow sections between the basins. It has been historically settled first by the Pueblo peoples, the Spanish, the Mexicans, and finally Anglo-Americans. As the largest river in the state, some of New Mexico's most populous cities are located wholly or partially in the valley, including Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city.
The Rio Grande Valley is vital to the state's surface and groundwater municipal water supply, recreation, and agriculture, including irrigated farmland, the Rio Grande Valley AVA, the Mesilla Valley AVA, and the largest acreages of land for growing chile peppers and pecans in the United States, accounting for 77% and 14% of US production, respectively.
View the full Wikipedia page for Rio Grande Valley (landform)