According to Stan Larson, all occurrences of "grapes" in the Book of Mormon are contained in biblical quotations. It could conceivably be argued that such quotations refer only to the Old World plants. The four instances of the term "grapes" in 2 Nephi 15:2-4 are imbedded within a thirteen-chapter-long quotation from Isaiah. . . . Native grapes were used in northern Mexico (La Barre, "Native American Beers," American Anthropologist 40 (April-June 1938): 232). In the sixteenth century Diego de Landa mentioned the existence of wild vines with edible grapes, though Mayan wine or balche was made by fermenting tree bark, honey, and water (Landa's Relacion de las cosas de Yucatan, 92, 198). [Stan Larson, Quest for the Gold Plates, pp. 179-180]
According to Joseph Allen, if the Mesoamerican culture pattern is followed, the "wine in abundance" produced by king Noah (Mosiah 11:15) may have been made from the maguey plant or from something similar. The maguey plant is a relative to the century plant and has a large center with the appearance of a giant pineapple. The unfermented pulque juice is processed into Tequila or Mescal. In the Guatemalan climate, fruits of all kinds, including grapes, are grown today. [Joseph L. Allen, Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon, p. 174]
According to Richard Hauck, another interesting factor that many further correlate Mixco Viejo as ancient Nephi came from a North American residing in Guatemala City. About five years ago he was involved in developing agricultural and commercial contacts throughout the country. At that time he made a pertinent comment. . . . He said that the Mixco Viejo locality is the only place in Guatemala where the climate permits the successful cultivation of grapes. I wondered what grapes had to do with the Nephites at ancient Nephi. His response made me laugh. He states that if the wine bibbers in King Noah's court were actually drinking wine and not the traditional Mayan liquor made from fermented agave plants, they were cultivating grapes; since Mixco Viejo is the only place in Guatemala where grapes can be produced, Mixco Viejo is a viable candidate for ancient Nephi. [F. Richard Hauck, "In Search of the Land of Nephi," in This People, Fall 1994, pp. 62-63]
Mosiah 11:15 He made wine-presses, and made wine in abundance ([Illustration]): The most popular fermented drink in modern times is pulque, made from fermented juice of the agave plant. In central Mexico its use was very ancient, although other wines were also made. Incidentally, the Spaniards spoke of the plantings of the agave cactus as vineyards (recalling Mosiah 11:15). [John L. Sorenson, Images of Ancient America, p. 45]