A foodie’s paradise with a rich tradition of agriculture, Las Cruces is known for its delectable local flavors. As the oldest wine producing region in the United States, Las Cruces also offers a vast variety of award-winning wines.
Dating back over 400 years, the traditions of Southern New Mexico winemaking have been cultivated and preserved, allowing for a thriving wine industry.
To discover Las Cruces wines, plan your visit to one of the following wineries—or book a longer stay to explore them all:
Amaro Winery – Locally and family owned, this winery produces, bottles and serves a variety of high-quality New Mexican wine made exclusively with grapes grown in Southern New Mexico. Visit on a Friday evening for live music and local food trucks.
D.H. Lescombes Winery & Bistro – Sample award-winning sparkling and still wines made by the Lescombes family. Originally from France, the family established the winery in 1984 and has been a local favorite since. The bistro itself serves up perfectly paired wine suggestions alongside each entree, appetizer, and dessert, promising the most out of each dining experience. The winery itself is located on 15 acres of land in the Mimbres Valley and boasts a 500,000-gallon capacity. Tours of the winery include morning mimosas, a tour of the vineyard and facility, lunch, and tastings throughout the day.
Fort Selden Winery – As Fort Selden wines are not available in stores, don’t miss your chance to taste and purchase the wines, all while exploring the scenic vineyard. Plan your visit around the annual harvest when volunteers and families are invited to participate in picking grapes, learn about winemaking and eat lunch at the vineyard following the harvest.
Luna Rossa Winery & Pizzeria - Translating to “Red Moon,” Luna Rossa’s winery and wine-tasting room features the winery’s acclaimed reds and whites made from local New Mexico grapes. Join the Luna Rossa Wine Club to take tastes of New Mexico back with you to wherever you call home.
NM Vintage Wines – An experience for history buffs and wine lovers! Sample the tasting room’s own label—Cowbelle Wines—or enjoy a selection of other New Mexico wines, as well as beers, fine cigars and tapas. Housed in an 1850s adobe and located on Calle de Principal, where the cavalry housed its soldiers, horses and burros in the 1800s, a trip to NM Vintage Wines is a historical adventure, made complete with a lively atmosphere and local flavors. Join in a local pastime and enjoy live music on the patio every Friday and Saturday.
Rio Grande Vineyard & Winery – Visit and taste wines produced from grapevines grown within the Mesilla Valley just south of Las Cruces. With a dedication to the land and a commitment to the process that produces the finest wines, Rio Grande Winery is known for its beautiful scenery and its menu featuring its own wines, as well as favorites from other local wineries. Live entertainment is a regular part of the weekend lineup, along with Sip & Paint events every other Thursday. Stop by Friday through Sunday to take advantage of the specialty dinner menu from 3:30 to 8 p.m.
Sombra Antigua Vineyard and Winery - Offering a variety of still and sparkling wines, as well as beer, Sombra Antigua offers an experiential wine tasting with music, dancing and a lively atmosphere. To immerse yourself into the experience even more, plan around the winery’s annual camping night. Make the most the drive outside city limits and take the scenic route on Highway 28 through the area’s famous Stahmann pecan orchards.
La Viña Winery - A must-see stop, explore New Mexico’s oldest winery and host of the state’s oldest wine festival which takes place annually in October. La Viña was started in 1977 in a small adobe building with 14 acres of vineyards. Plan your visit around the spring or fall festival or come anytime to sip award-winning wines on the expansive patio with local live music every weekend.
Heart of the Desert Pistachios & Wines – In nearby Alamogordo, experience an incredible (and delicious) celebration of Southern New Mexico’s agricultural traditions by enjoying both locally-grown pistachios and local wines. After successfully establishing itself as New Mexico’s first and largest producing pistachio grove, Heart of the Desert introduced wine in 2002. Enjoy a variety of wines from Eagle Ranch Winery and stock up on tastes of New Mexico to take home.
Whether you prefer reds or whites, sparkling or still, a visit to local wineries offers a chance to taste them all, tour the vineyards and get a look at the history behind Las Cruces wine. To learn more, go to https://www.lascrucescvb.org/explore/wineries-breweries/.