A New Mexico winery has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the federal government to expand production of its chile-infused wines.
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced the funding during a visit to St. Clair Winery in Deming on Wednesday.
With the funding, the New Mexico Democrat said the winery will be able to boost revenues and grow its customer base for its chile-infused line of wines by reimbursing production, marketing and distribution costs.
The winery's chile wines are made using hot peppers from the Hatch Valley in southern New Mexico.
The grant was awarded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program that helps agricultural producers grow their businesses by turning raw commodities into marketable products. The grants often support development for niche and specialty products in rural communities.
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