Central New Mexico (CNM) Community College in Albuquerque recently celebrated the opening of its Brewing, Distilling, and Wine-Making Facility.
Located where the old CNM bookstore used to be, the facility complements related courses and programs the community college offers in support of the growing brewing industry, a news release from the college said. The facility features all the equipment needed for the school’s beverage production classes and is the site for its training programs.
“We’re beyond excited to launch the facility and give our students access to cutting-edge commercial equipment that will be foundational for their training,” Victoria Martínez, associate dean for Culinary, Beverage, and Hospitality in the School of Business & Information Technology, said in the release.
The college has been working to support the booming brewing industry in New Mexico by offering many related courses as well as entire programs on the subject. The new state-of-the-art beverage facility includes the renovation of 10,000 square feet and another 9,500 feet in new construction. It's large enough to house all of the equipment for the college’s Beverage Production and Management classes and serve as a training venue for students in the Distilled Spirits Technology and Wine Technology programs. The Wine Technology program will be offered this fall, and the equipment will help students process approximately five tons of fruit and produce both sparkling and still wines.
CNM launched its distilling program in January to support the spirits industry in New Mexico.
“Distilled spirits are enjoying a revival across the country and they’re set to absolutely take flight here in New Mexico so we wanted to find a way to meet the needs of this growing industry,” Martinez said.
New Mexico is the oldest wine-growing region in the United States and in 2029 will celebrate 400 years of wine production.
“The industry is working hard to elevate New Mexico wines and take them to the next level and our program is a big step in that direction,” Martinez said.
The college's Who We Are page offered additional information about the school.
"CNM is the largest higher education institution in New Mexico in terms of undergraduate enrollment," the website said. "Representatives from local businesses and industries help CNM develop programs to ensure that students acquire skills needed for success in the workplace. The college has many transfer articulation agreements with four-year institutions around the state, including the University of New Mexico.
"Authorized by the New Mexico Legislature in 1963, CNM was approved by district voters in 1964 to provide adults with the skills necessary to gain employment and succeed in the workforce. Accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1978, degree-granting power was approved for CNM by the State Legislature in 1986, signaling the college’s transformation into a full-fledged community college.
"Since its inception, CNM's career-technical programs in business, health, technologies, and trades have continually been redesigned to provide students with the most current and relevant skills needed by local employers."
