NM wineries see sales growth

Albuquerque wineries are seeing their sales increase by double digits even as the economy slips and sputters.

The St Clair winery near Old Town reports that it's sales increased 30 percent in 2007 and that so far this year sales are up 15 to 20 percent.

Being a local product, and being able to come up and taste our wines,?said Florent Lescombes of St. Clair, explaining the popularity of his product.

Across town, the family owned Gruet Winery expects to bottle 200,000 more bottles in 2009 and will be adding a new product later this year.

The New Mexico Wine Growers Association says the state抯 26 wineries produces 350,000 gallons of wine a year.