NMSU Tests New York and Canadian Grapes

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Cheers. Researchers at New Mexico State University's Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas are conducting trials on twelve grape varieties for use in New Mexico's wine industry. Anna María Pérez-Wright has more.

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Local connoisseurs may soon enjoy Canadian- and New York-style wines made in New Mexico, thanks to a grape variety trial underway at New Mexico State University's Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas. Superintendent Mike English says the center imported varieties new to the state to determine winter hardiness, yield, quality, disease and insect problems.

"There's about a dozen or so varieties that we have collected from around the country, from Missouri and from New York and from Canada to take a look at their viability of growing those grapes here in New Mexico."

The center planted the new varieties in 1998 and English says this fall marked the first season the half-acre plot produced enough grapes to begin making wines.

"We're looking for a high-quality grape that will produce a high quality wine. And when we're talking about quality, we're also talking about the economics of it. Is it good enough to sell? Is it good enough to make a good, high-quality wine to compete in the wine industry?"

English says the grapes are doing well in the mid-Rio Grande Valley, where it's neither too cold nor too hot. For N-M-S-U's College of Agriculture and Home Economics, I'm Anna María Pérez-Wright.