Central New Mexico Community College recently opened a new on-campus training facility for students interested in the state's beer, wine, and spirits industry.
“It’s completely hands-on. We are using the same equipment that you will find in any professional brewery,” said Beverage Production and Management Program Lead Instructor, Antonio Fernandez, according to a KRQE report. He also shared the department's excitement about the renovated facility inside the old bookstore on CNM's main campus.
When the program launched in 2016, students would take trips to local breweries to gain skills and knowledge. Now, they will be able to train within their own campus thanks to the new $12 million facility, which opened March 29.
Initially, the program started with courses focused on brewing beer, according to KRQE. Recently, however, CNM expanded and launched its distilled spirits technology program, which teaches students to make whiskey, vodka, and gin. Currently, the school is introducing wine-making equipment for the launch of its wine technology program.
“I’ve been really pleased and proud with the product that our students have been turning out to this point," Fernandez said. "The quality [of] the product that they make is on par with any commercial and professional brewery distillery and winemaking so far."
The community college hopes to produce well-trained professionals as New Mexico's beverage production industry continues to grow. Fernandez said the program currently has over 100 students enrolled.
"I do want to have some experience before I do open my own brewery," said Dayjah, a CNM student in the program. "Only a small scale, nothing big production. Here, at the school, they do teach you big production and small. I am lucky to get that experience."
The program runs in each school term, with the next session of beer production classes launching May 1. The wine technology program will begin in the fall semester to coincide with grape harvesting, KRQE reported.