Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Staff photo: Jackie Johnson Doug Redmond planted over 150 vines on his land this spring in preperation for his new winery, which will open after the vines have had about three years to grow.
The first commercial winery to come to Portales is in the process of being built.
Doug Redmond, the owner of 3 Mules Winery, said he began planning the business in September.
“I have an acre and a quarter of grapes planted on my land, and in three years, the 155 vines will produce 1,500 bottles of wine,” he said.
Redmond said there are seven varieties of grapes for both red and white wine.
“I started planting the vines in April, and they began budding the first week of May,” he said. “I feel lucky that we’ve gotten so much rain lately to help the growth get started.”
Redmond said the vines are doing well.
“The climate here is great for growing wine,” he said. “We have warm days and cool nights, which help nurture the growth and develop the grapes.”
Redmond, who was previously in the beer and distilled spirits business in Georgia, said wine has always intrigued him.
“It’s just been something that I’ve wanted to do,” he said.
link Staff photo: Jackie Johnson
Doug Redmond planted over 150 vines on his land this spring in preperation for his new winery, which will open after the vines have had about three years to grow.
Redmond is currently looking for locations to open a tasting room and event space in town while he waits for the vines to start producing.
“I plan to have that opened later on this year; probably around the October or November time frame before Thanksgiving, and I will have wines from cooperating wineries in New Mexico and Oregon,” he said. “My plan is that the new facility will house both wine and distilled spirits production.”
Redmond said the space will be a fun place where people can hang out and have the opportunity to come taste wine, and it will also be available to rent out for events.
According to Redmond, the wine industry has always been very important economically for New Mexico.
“I think eventually, the winery will probably draw some tourist traffic to the Portales and Clovis area,” he said.
Redmond said his goal with the business is to keep developing.
“I want to continue to grow the grapes and expand my vineyard space,” he said. “I want to produce good quality New Mexico wine and distribute around the Southwest.”
