Mesilla Valley AVA

Mesilla Valley AVA (wine region)
Type	American Viticultural Area
Year established	1985[1]
Country	USA
Part of	New Mexico, Texas
Total area	280,000 acres (1,133 km2)[2]
Size of planted vineyards	40 acres (0 km2)[2]
Grapes produced	Black Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Malvasia, Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscat of Alexandria, Primitivo, Riesling, Sangiovese, Viognier, Zinfandel
v · d · e

The Mesilla Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located primarily in the state of New Mexico with a small area in the state Texas.^[3] Spanish explorer Don Juan de Oñate arrived in the area in 1598 and named a Native American village in the valley Trenquel de la Mesilla, from which the valley as a whole became known as Mesilla Valley. Although viticulture began in nearby El Paso as early as 1650, grapes were first planted in the Mesilla Valley only in the early twentieth century, near the town of Doña Ana. The climate in the Mesilla Valley is very dry and hot.^[2]

See also

• New Mexico wine
• Texas wine

References

1. ^ Code of Federal Regulations. "§ 9.100 Mesilla Valley." Title 27: Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Part 9 — American Viticultural Areas; Subpart C — Approved American Viticultural Areas. Retrieved Nov. 15, 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Appellation America (2007). "Mesilla Valley (AVA): Appellation Description". Retrieved Nov. 14, 2007.
3. ^ "The Wine Growing Regions of Texas". Texas Wine / Texas Dept. of Agriculture. 2006. http://www.gotexanwine.org/findwinesandwineries/appellations.html. Retrieved 2007-12-16.