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 Lire version francaise
After more than 70 years of not producing wine, Chihuahua is experiencing a renewed interest in growing grapes for commercial vinification.
A group of enthusiastic entrepreneurs is actively working on finding out which grape varieties are best suited for the State's climate and identifying the lands that could support grape growing.
The earlier-than-expected result: consumers can already buy Chihuahuan, limited-edition bottles of wine in some restaurants and wineries, with fascinating prospects for the budding local wine industry.
Gilberto Pinoncely and Maria Elena Esquer lead the group of investors behind Bodegas Pinesque, a start-up winery in Chihuahua City that has already launched its first wine brand, 5 de Pinesque.
Pinoncely had been making wine for personal consumption and gift-giving for 17 years, "almost in a boutique sense" -- in low volumes, but of a very high quality.
Now he is projecting to make about 6,000 liters of wine and up to 60,000 liters in three years.
In a long and patient survey, the group planted 15 grape fields throughout the State, looking to find the grape varieties that could have the best results locally.
As part of the project, Bodegas Pinesque will look to eventually be supplied by small growers, whom it intends to support in building their own warehousing facilities.
Blessed with ideal soil and climate conditions --as the State's wide landscape and soil range could only allow--, Chihuahua is turning out to be a winemaking powerhouse waiting to happen.
 The State's potential for viticulture has now intrigued the government, universities and investors alike.
The Agricultural Sciences Department of Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, the State's main university, has been researching viticulture techniques in Deming, New Mexico, where small wineries have accumulated valuable experience on growing grapes in an extreme desert environment.
UACH indends to import that knowledge and adapt it to local conditions.
Pinoncely's group has been supported by Desarrollo Economico de Chihuahua, and has made several research trips to wine-producing regions of Argentina and Chile, widely known for their quality wine.
And Chihuahuan wine producers are also receiving expert advise from South American and French experts.
One region of particular interest in Chihuahua is located off federal Highway 45, linking Chihuahua City with Ciudad Juarez.
What started as an experiment in Hacienda de Encinillas in 2004, is now a world-class, artisanal Chihuahuan wine sold only at some choice Chihuahua City restaurants.
Aged in French oak wine barrels, the wine produced by Viñedos Encinillas has distinctive cherry and raspberry notes attesting to the care of oenologist Luis Enodi and agronomist Tomas Caraveo.
After planting half an hectare with cabernet sauvignon and half with pinot noir, they determined that the former adapted best to the local climate.
Now Viñedos Encinillas is promoting its two wines: Encinillas, a cabernet sauvignon, and La Casona, a cabernet sauvignon-merlot.
Interestingly, Viñedos Encinillas is located at the same latitude as Shiraz, Iran's historical wine-producing region and reputedly the place where the earliest sample of wine was found.
Logo and photos courtesy of Bodegas Pinesque
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Get over stereotypes! There is a couple of things you'd want know about the largest state of Mexico
Chihuahua is developing an aerospace cluster. Our universities are training aerospace engineers and technicians right now.
We are developing micro-electromechanical systems at the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez. Many national and international companies with operations in the State are potential beneficiaries of our projects. 
The most important archaeological site of Northern Mexico is located in the State of Chihuahua, at Paquimé
In Juarez, just across from El Paso, Texas, there is a museum with original parts of the great supersonic passenger jet