The Vineyard Restoration Fund was designed to rebuild the economic and agricultural roots of the New Mexico's wine industry. The “Vine Fund” is a $1MM grant program that was created by the Legislature in 2022 and New Mexico Wine was awarded the RFP to manage these funds. New Mexico Department of Agriculture and New Mexico State University oversee the program and report monthly to New Mexico Department of Finance Authority.
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Eligibility
2023 planting
- New Mexico Winery with active license and established 3+ acre vineyard.
- Copy of a New Mexico Winegrowers license + site inspection.
- New Mexico Vineyard who currently grows grapes for the industry with 3+ acre vineyard.
- Contract with a licensed winery who buys your grapes + site inspection.
- New Mexico Winery with active license who wants to plant/expand a vineyard to 3+ acres.
- Copy of New Mexico Winegrowers license + site inspection + mandatory workshop
- New Mexico farmers with experience, land, and water rights and an interest in grapes.
- Site inspection + sales contract with a winery or proof of application for a New Mexico Winegrowers license + mandatory workshop
- Beginning Grape Grower / New Farmer planting a vineyard.
- Site inspection + copy of vineyard/winery business plan + mandatory educational workshop
The Vine Fund grant program does allow for collaborative and cooperative applications. Projects that do not meet the Eligibility requirements can be submitted to the Review Committee for conditional approval. Ineligible entities include out-of-state applicants, non-commercial growers, and others who do not meet the minimum qualifications.
Criteria
- Up to $50,000 per application year at a maximum of $5 per vine. Via reimbursement only.
- Example 1: Grape grower buys 25,000 vines at $4.25 a vine and planted in March of 2022. Grape grower is eligible for reimbursement of $4.25 a vine for 10,000 of the ordered and planted vines, totaling $42,500.
- Example 2: New Mexico licensed winery orders 5000 new vines to be planted in 2023 at $6.50 each. Winery is eligible for only $5.00 per vine, totaling $25,000 in reimbursement. Winery will be reimbursed after vines are planted.
Required Paperwork
- Complete Application
- Complete Grape Survey
- Map, survey, arial photography, or plot of vineyard where grapes will be planted.
- Site visit of the vineyard by a member of the review committee or NM Wine staff.
- Invoice or bill from a certified nursery (with complete proof of payment in from of cleared checks, account records, etc):
- Bill for vines ordered for 2023 (Will be paid after bill is paid in full and vines are in the ground.)
- Invoice showing $0 balance of 2023 vines
- Copy of canceled check
- Complete proof of payment in form of cleared checks, account records, statements, etc.
- If grower selling grapes - Letter of support from the buyer, a licensed winery.
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Administrator:
Christopher Goblet | execdirector@nmwine.com | (575) 649-8994