Heart of the Desert Vineyard

Heart of the Desert Vineyard

About

Warmed by the bright sun in southern New Mexico, Heart of the Desert's award winning pistachios and wines are grown here at Eagle Ranch.

Location Description

We have locations in Alamogordo, Las Cruces and Mesilla, New Mexico.

Features

  • This family farm is the site of New Mexico's oldest and largest producing pistachio groves.

Additional Information

  • Meeting / Conference Facilities:
  • Caves:
  • Wedding Facilities:
  • Picnic Facilities:
  • Dog Friendly:
  • Winery Tours:
  • Wine Tasting:
  • Art or Architecture:
  • Organic / Biodynamic:
  • Awards:
  • Wine Club:
  • Lodging / Bed & Breakfast:

Average Bottle Price

$ 14

History

George, an Air Force officer stationed at Holloman AFB in 1969, had been raised in rural Nebraska. A longtime family goal was to return to the field of agriculture after military service. So, in the early 1970’s, after the family determined that they wanted to stay in the Tularosa Basin, the search for a crop that would grow in desert conditions began. While the Schweers were researching, they received a phone call from Harvey Widner, employed by a contractor at Holloman AFB, who had heard of the Schweers’ project via the “Holloman Wireless.” Harvey had also studied desert crops and had planted 400 seedling pistachio trees. When the contractor left Holloman in 1974, Harvey offered to sell his 400 two-year-old trees to the Schweers, and a family farm was born! Little did they know what was in store!

Estate Vineyards / AVA

A vineyard of 12,000 vines was planted in 2003, adding to the diversity of the farm. The yield of their first crop was encouraging and prompted the addition of another 6,000 vines,planted in 2005, and another 6,000 vines, planted in 2011. The vineyard currently has 24,000 vines. The seven different varieties of grapes vines harvested each year are Chardonnay, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Shiraz, Riesling, Malvasia Bianca, and Gewürztraminer, making the production of a wide range of wines possible.

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Hours

Mon - Sat: 8:00 am - 6:00 pm Sun: 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

Address

7288 Hwy 54/70
Alamogordo, New Mexico 88310
United States

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