10/05 Bridget Perrault, New Mexico Wine Growers Association, Steve Evans

Bridget Perrault - Executive Director - NEW MEXICO WINE GROWERS ASSOCIATION

New Mexico's sun-soaked soil and cool high-desert nights frame the modern return  of wine making to the oldest wine producing region in the country. High desert  climate and ideal soil feed Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Johannisburg  Riesling, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Zinfandel and other classic  grapes and fruits to produce award-winning wines. The first grapevines 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 Arteaga, 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. The cuttings brought  by the missionaries were a variety of Vitis vinifera, commonly called the "mission grape". This variety is still grown in New Mexico today. Historians  think it is a European variety from Spain, called Monica. These same historians generally agree that the first California vines were  planted in 1769 at the Mission of San Diego de Alcala. Wine production began at Senecu in 1633 and continued for over 40 years,  providing the sacramental wine for New Mexico. By 1800 New Mexico was wine country. By this time, a strip along the Rio  Grande extending roughly from Bernalillo to Socorro and from the vicinity of  Mesilla to El Paso had well established vineyards.
             
 

STEVE EVANS -  THE MOVIE GUY

GREAT MOVIES OPENING THIS WEEKEND AND BOX OFFICE PREDICTIONS AND HOPES. FIND OUT WHAT MOVIES ARE WORTH YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY. GET SET FOR THE WEEKEND.