Day Trip Through Mesilla Valley
La Viña Winery and the Organ Mountains in the background.
If you are in El Paso or Las Cruces, Mesilla Valley is one of the easiest and most underrated day trips you can make.
It sits right along the Rio Grande, stretching between the two cities, and the best way to experience it is simple. Pick a direction, get on Highway 28, and start driving. Vineyards, pecan orchards, and small tasting rooms start to appear, and the whole day takes on a slower pace that feels deliberately different from the cities on either end.
I have made this drive more times than I can count. It still does not get old.
A Simple Route To Follow
Highway 28 runs north from El Paso toward Las Cruces and is one of the more quietly beautiful drives in the Southwest. It cuts through farmland, vineyards, and pecan groves, with the Organ Mountains building in the distance as you move north. The road is two lanes and unhurried, which is exactly the right speed for this kind of day.
Most of the wineries are right along this corridor, which means the logistics are simple. You are not navigating between regions or doubling back. Just drive north, stop when something looks interesting, and figure it out from there. Plan for four to six stops if you want a full day. Two or three if you want to linger.
Tasting fees in the valley tend to run between ten and fifteen dollars, often waived with a bottle purchase. It is worth calling ahead on weekdays since hours can vary by season.
If you would rather not think about driving at all, Mesilla Valley Wine & Brew Tours runs a weekend shuttle that hits the major stops along the route. It is a legitimate option, especially if you are bringing a group or coming from out of town and do not want to navigate an unfamiliar road after four tastings. They also do private tours for larger groups or special occasions. Worth looking at before you plan the day.
Start With Food
Patio area at 40 Love within Tennis West.
Do not skip breakfast. A day of tasting goes better with something in your stomach, and this part of New Mexico has good options before you hit the road.
40 Love at Tennis West in El Paso is an easy starting point. Coffee, something light, a mimosa if the day calls for it. It sets a relaxed tone without slowing you down. If you are coming from the Las Cruces side, grab something on Mesilla Plaza before heading south on 28.
Winery Stops Along The Way
Mesilla Valley is not about one standout winery. It is about the cumulative experience of moving between them and watching a place reveal itself slowly.
Start at Zin Valle Vineyards. It has one of the better patios in the valley and an approachable, unpretentious feel that makes it a good first stop. The prickly pear rosé has become something of a calling card, and the sparkling wines are worth trying. If you are lucky, you will also meet Truffles, the winery cat, who has the run of the property and the general attitude of someone who has been here longer than you and knows it. Order a glass, sit outside, and let the day slow down before it has even started. There is also a great offering of Italian wines, too!
Between the vines at Zin Valle Vineyards. Photo by Zin Valle Vineyards.
From there, Mesa Vista Winery is a quieter stop that rewards a little patience. It is not built around presentation, and that is part of the appeal. The wines are straightforward and honest, with dry whites that reflect the desert climate well and a Malbec that holds up better than you might expect at this elevation. The owners are generous in donating proceeds from several wines to local charities and first responder foundations.
La Viña Winery is one of the oldest continuously operating wineries in New Mexico and worth seeing for the setting as much as the wine. The terrace and views make it an easy place to stop moving for a while. Grab something to eat if you need it, try a few pours, and take a beat before continuing north. You will not want to miss the spring or fall wine festival here!
Sombra Antigua has custom labels made by the owner’s son for every vintage.
If you keep going, Sombra Antigua offers a different feel from anything else on the route. It is a bit more removed, a little more raw around the edges, and often has live music on weekends. The red wines stand out here. It is the kind of place where you intend to stay for one glass and end up staying for three.
End the day at Rio Grande Winery. The views of the Franklin and Organ Mountains at sunset are unrivaled, and the winery earns its slightly more polished feel. It is a satisfying place to finish.
Not Just Wine
Part of what makes this stretch interesting is everything that is not a winery.
Public House 28 is worth a stop if you need a break from wine. It is a straightforward roadside bar with a rotating tap list and usually a food truck parked outside. It feels genuinely local in a way that is hard to manufacture. If your group is not all wine-focused, this is the stop that keeps everyone happy.
La Posta is a Mesilla and Las Cruces staple.
Before or after the wine route, spend time in Mesilla Plaza. The plaza itself has been the center of this area since before New Mexico was a state, and the buildings around it reflect that layered history in a way that is worth slowing down for. There are a handful of tasting rooms right on the square, including La Posta de Mesilla, which has been operating in some form since the mid-1800s. The food there is worth a proper sit-down meal if you want to end the day with something substantial. The chile is not optional.
The plaza also has small shops and galleries that reflect the mix of cultures that have moved through this valley over centuries. It rounds out the day in a way that makes the whole trip feel like more than a wine crawl.
Quick Facts
Mesilla Valley AVA was established in 1985, one of the earlier designated American Viticultural Areas in the Southwest
Located along the Rio Grande between El Paso and Las Cruces
Elevation ranges from roughly 3,800 to 4,300 feet
Annual rainfall averages around eight to ten inches
Over 350 days of sunshine each year
Spanish missionaries were planting vines along this stretch of the Rio Grande in the 1600s, giving it one of the longer winemaking histories in North America
Why It Is Worth The Trip
Mesilla Valley is not trying to compete with Napa or even Texas Hill Country. It is quieter, less defined, and a little more unpredictable. The producers here are working through real questions about what this place can do, and you can taste that process in the wines.
You can move through it at your own pace. Stop where you want, skip what you do not, and let the day unfold. The best parts are usually the ones you did not plan.
It is close enough to feel easy, but different enough to feel like you went somewhere. And if you live in El Paso and have not done it yet, that is genuinely hard to explain.
Quick Links
Mesilla Valley Wine & Brew Tours — mvwineandbrewtours.com
Zin Valle Vineyards — zinvalle.com
Mesa Vista Winery — mesavistawinery.com
La Viña Winery — lavinawinery.com
Sombra Antigua Winery — sombraantigua.com
Rio Grande Winery — riograndewinery.com
La Posta de Mesilla — lapostademesilla.com
New Mexico Wine — nmwine.com
