Mesilla Valley AVA
32°19′36″N 106°46′32″W / 32.326595°N 106.775436°W
| Wine region | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 1985 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | New Mexico, Texas |
| Other regions in New Mexico, Texas | Middle Rio Grande Valley AVA, Mimbres Valley AVA |
| Total area | 280,000 acres (438 sq mi) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| Grapes produced | Black Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Malvasia, Merlot, Mourvedre, Muscat of Alexandria, Primitivo, Riesling, Sangiovese, Viognier, Zinfandel |
The Mesilla Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area located primarily in the state of New Mexico with a small area in the state of Texas. 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 dry and hot.