HISTORY OF WINEMAKING IN SOCORRO NEW MEXICO :

The first vines planted in what is now the State of New Mexico were brought in 1629 to Senecu, a Piro Indian pueblo south of Socorro, by Fray Gracia de Zuniga, a Franciscan, and Antonio de Arteage, a Capuchin monk. San Antonio de Padua Mission, at Senecu, was located on the east bank of the Rio Grande, slightly north of the present small village of San Antonio.

Wine production began at Senecu in 1633 and continued for over 40 years, providing the sacramental wine for New Mexico.

In 1880, the railroad came to New Mexico and vineyards expanded rapidly southward to Socorro. Mission, Muscat of Alexandria and Black Hamburg were the major vines planted.

In 1883, at Polvadera, just north of Socorro, a ditch company was organized, bringing 3000 more acres of land into production, at a cost of $3,200. Along with other crops,

100,000 grapevines were planted.

In 1890, expansion continued in the Lemitar area north of Socorro. Vineyards of Muscat, Muscatel, Flame Tokay and Mission Grapes were planted.

In 1895, the Socorro Gullion carried the following news item: Jose Lopes of Lemitar, who has several small vineyards in the area, reportedly harvested more than 20 tons, which he said, sold easily at good prices. San Pedro (near the original pueblo of Senacu) becomes a large producer of wines. Julian Montoya of San Pedro advertised native wine for sale. It was said that the favorite wine of Archbishop Lamy had been from the San Pedro winery.

In 1943, the greatest Rio Grande flood of the century destroyed vineyards throughout New Mexico’s wine country. Wineries that had been producing wine for over fifty years in Los Lunas, Polvadera, Socorro, and San Pedro were out of business. What remained of the old commercial wine industry in New Mexico never recovered from these floods. Occasionally a very old vine can be found surviving in the valley near a ditch bank, but most have disappeared, as has most of the old wine making equipment.

Small wineries began opening up ago almost 30 years later. Production of wine increased from 20,000 gallons in 1980 to 700,000 in 1990. Farmer John Sichler of Bosque, in Socorro County, planted 300 acres, mostly French hybrids, near Belen.

To promote the wine industry within the state, the wine festival concept was developed and annual festivals are held throughout the state. In 2002, Socorro held its first wine and brew festival, Socorro Fest. It’s a day spent feasting, dancing and enjoying live entertainment on the Historic Plaza.

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